A thing of beauty poem all question answers and a short summary of class 12 AHSEC Assam Board in English. Also previous year's paper exam important notes. Ncert solution, extra questions answer explanation and analysis. The author is John Keats.
Summary of the Poem
John Keats is one of the leading Romantic poets of English literature, his imaginative power and beautiful images used in his poems are like gems to us readers. This poem is an excerpt from his poem "Endymion: A Poetic Romance" and a famous poetic sentence in the world happens to be the first line of this poem, also the title here: 'A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Keats says that a beautiful thing is a happiness that remains forever and never fades. The joy achieved from a beautiful thing increases and never ceases to be. It makes us cheerful and helps us to breathe freely, to live beautifully. In fact, a beautiful thing can happen to be a soothing bower for us, something in which we can move about according to our wishes. It can be equal to a relaxed sleep for us which is full of sweet and pleasing dreams. A beautiful thing gives us a profusion of health and lovely breaths. In other words, it can bring to our lives everything good and positive.
Keats says that the world is full of new challenges and every day we must face a new day full of troubles. So, we need something strong and lasting that can bind us to the new day on this Earth. A beautiful thing is such a flowery band that can make us ready for any new difficult day. It helps us to keep moving in life and look forward to every moment of the future. We are surrounded by dejection and by moments of gloom. we have become devoid of nobility and goodness. There are darker nights and insecure ways of the world. But a beautiful thing can help us to smile amidst these difficult situations and man learn to live despite many unhappy and undesirable stages. Therefore the few beautiful things of the universe are surely everlasting.
The poet now goes on to name the beautiful things which he feels, giving us joy and liveliness. He talks about the age-old sun and the beautiful moon, the varieties of shade give trees - old or young whatever. The simple sheep get quiet shade from these trees. Then there are the lovely daffodil flowers living in the green world. There are mischievous clear streams of water that are able to turn the hot season into cool days for the animals hiding among the bushes, the water quenches the thirst of so many lives on earth. There are also low-lying plants inside the thickest of forests and beautiful white roses blooming here and there near those plants. The whole sight is so splendid that it can give everlasting delight to anyone. Other beautiful things described by Keats are not physical in nature. He talks about the greatness of the Day of judgment on which God rewards the greatest of people who are dead on the graves. To think about that Day after one's death is so interesting and lovely. Also, there are in our culture the numerous old stories, we hear them, are swayed away and enjoy endless delightful moments. He expresses that these pieces of foundation of some immortal drink that is being poured down on us by heaven i.e. God himself. In other words, Keats says that the beautiful things of the world are created by God to ensure pleasure, joy, and enthusiasm for human beings. we are blessed with as much happiness from these beauties on earth as the angels derive from heaven's immortal drinks.
Textual Question Answer
Think it out
1. List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.
Ans: Every little or big thing of nature is a thing of beauty and a source of pleasure. The sun, the moon, trees old and young, and daffodil flowers are all things of beauty. So are small streams with clear water, the mass of ferns, and the blooming musk-roses. They are constant sources of joy and pleasure.
2. List the things that cause suffering and pain.
Ans: There are many things that cause human suffering and pain. The biggest source of suffering is our malice and disappointment. The lack of noble qualities is another. Our unhealthy and evil ways also give birth to so many troubles and sufferings. They depress our spirits. They are like a pall of sadness over our lives.
3. What does the line, "Therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to earth" suggest to you?
Ans: John Keats is a sensuous poet. He is firmly attached to the endless beauty of the earth. The link of a man with nature is constant and unbroken. The things of beauty are like wreaths of beautiful flowers. We seem to wreathe a flowery band that keeps us attached to the beauties of this earth.
4. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings?
Ans: So many things bring troubles and sufferings. They depress our spirits. But 'some shape of beauty' brings love and happiness in spite of such unpleasant things. A thing of beauty removes the pall of sadness and suffering from our lives. It makes human beings love one another.
5. Why is 'grandeur' associated with the 'mighty dead?
Ans: The mighty dead were the forefathers who were powerful and dominating in their own times. Their achievements made them mighty and great. Their works dazzle our eyes. We wish that they would be rewarded on the 'Day of Judgement. Hence grandeur is associated with the 'mighty dead'.
6. Do we experience things of beauty only for short moments or do they make a lasting impression on, us?
Ans: John Keats makes it clear in the very first line of this poem. 'A thing of beauty is a joy forever. It is a constant source of joy. Nor does its beauty decrease. Its loveliness goes on increasing every moment. Its value remains undiminished. It never passes into nothingness. It always removes the pall of sadness that covers our dark spirits.
7. What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth?
Ans: John Keats uses various images to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth. The bounty of the earth is like an endless fountain. This endless fountain of immortal drink constantly pours from heaven into our hearts. The beauty of daffodils, rills, musk roses has been described using very suggestive and sensuously rich images.
Previous Years Paper Solutions
1. How is a thing of beauty a joy forever? (2012,17)
Ans: John Keats, a great Romantic poet, considers that a thing of beauty is a joy forever. It is a constant source of happiness and pleasure. Its loveliness increases every moment. A thing of beauty is never devalued. It never passes into nothingness.
2. Explain the line: "A thing of beauty is a joy forever? (2013)
Ans: John Keats, a great Romantic poet, considers that a thing of beauty is a joy forever. It is a constant source of happiness and pleasure. Its loveliness increases every moment. A thing of beauty is never devalued. It never passes into nothingness.
3. What is the message that Keats wants to convey through "A thing of beauty"? (2014,16,20)
Ans: Keats is an ardent lover of beauty. For him a thing of beauty is an everlasting source of joy, for its beauty never fades or passes into nothingness. According to him, a thing of beauty moves away from the 'pall from our dark spirits' making us love our life despite sorrows and sufferings.
4. What is the legend on which the poem 'A thing of beauty' is written? (2015)
Ans: The poem 'A Thing of Beauty' is based on the Greek legend, in which Endymion, a beautiful young shepherd of Mount Latmos, is loved by the moon goddess Cynthia.
5. What according to Keats never 'passes into nothingness? (2015)
Ans: According to Keats beauty never passes into nothingness.
6. Name the things of nature that are constant sources of beauty. (2016)
Ans: The sun, the moon, trees, beautiful flowers, small streams are the things of nature that are constant sources of beauty.
7. " A thing of beauty is a joy forever (2016)
Its loveliness increases, it will never
Pass into nothingness, but will keep
A bower quiet for us, and asleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing."
(i) Who is the poet of these lines and what is the title of the poem?
Ans: The poet of these lines is John Keats and the name of the poem is "A Thing of Beauty".
(ii) Why is a thing of beauty a joy forever?
Ans: A thing of beauty is a joy forever because it is a source of constant joy. Its beauty goes on increasing and never passes into nothingness.
(iii) What is a bower?
Ans: A bower is a shady place under trees that protects us from the harsh rays of the sun.
8. What increases continuously in "A Thing of Beauty"? (2018)
Ans: In a thing of beauty its loveliness or beauty increases continuously.
9.‘‘Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing (2019)
A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways
Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,
Some shape of beauty moves away from the pall
From our dark spirits.”
(i) What do we do every day?
Ans: We are weaving a flowery wreath every day to bind us to the beauties of this earth.
(ii) What removes the pall from the dark spirits?
Ans: Some beautiful shape or a thing of beauty removes the pall of sadness from our hearts or spirits.
(iii) What is the message expressed in these lines?
Ans: a thing of beauty is a joy forever. Beauty never fades. Nor is it devalued. Man's life is full of gloom and evil ways. A thing of beauty removes the pall of sadness and sorrow. It gives us joy and pleasure.
10. What, according to Keats, makes human beings love life in spite of all its problems and miseries? (2019)
Ans: Some beautiful shape or a thing of beauty brings love and happiness in human spite of all its problems and miseries.
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