A THING OF BEAUTY

The Theme of the Poem

The poem A Thing of Beauty by John Keats delivers the concept that beauty can be
discovered anywhere and at any time. The content of this poem is mostly concentrated on
nature and the unexpected beauty that it brings. The topic of this poem is that beauty may
be discovered anywhere and, when appreciated, can be used to lift one’s spirits in times of
adversity. Any beautiful object is always kept in our minds since it brings us permanent
and everlasting happiness. The enjoyment that a beautiful object brings never fades away,
but multiplies many times over anytime it returns to our mind.

Summary

A Thing of Beauty is by the famous poet John Keats. Furthermore, the poet says that a
beautiful thing can give us extreme happiness and delight. Moreover, a beautiful thing is
eternal that never declines or fades. Also, a beautiful thing resembles a shady shelter which
gives us a comfortable sleep comprising of sweet dreams and relaxation. This will
ultimately lead to good health. The sight of lovely and beautiful things will live on in our
memories for the rest of our lives. Thinking about them makes our bodies and minds
healthier, as the ideas give us serenity and mental calm. The author says that individuals
have an attachment to Earthly things. This attachment is such that it has the resemblance of
a flowery wreath. Furthermore, there are traps that keep people connected to materialistic
things. This connection with materialistic things distracts humans from eternal happiness.
This is because the focus of such materialistic people will be on acquiring more and more
resources rather than on attaining eternal happiness. The world has a lot of negativity,
hatred, and greed. According to the poet, the cause of gloom and sadness is this negativity.
Moreover, one can fade away these negative vibes away with the help of beautiful things
that surround us. This is because these beautiful things bring nothing but positivity. Man
and nature are strongly intertwined. The beauty of nature is what keeps us connected to
this planet. Every morning, we select beautiful fresh flowers and make garlands. They lift
our spirits and make us forget about our problems for a while.

I. Reference to context: Read the extract given below and answer the questions that
follow.
1. “A thing of beauty is a joy forever
Its loveliness increases, it will never
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Pass into nothingness; but will keep
A bower quiet for us and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams and health and quiet breathing.
”
(a) How does a thing of beauty remain a joy forever?
(b) Mention any two sources of joy which a thing, of beauty provides to us.
(c) Explain, “never pass into nothingness.”
(d) What is meant by ‘bower’?

(a) A thing of beauty provides eternal and everlasting joy to us. Whenever we are in a
pensive mood we can relive the joyful experience and happiness it gave us.
(b) A thing of beauty gives us a quiet bower to rest peacefully, and a blissful sleep full of
pleasant dreams.
(c) The joy that a thing of beauty give us is eternal. It never loses its importance, but it
only increases with time.
(d) A ‘bower’ refers to a peaceful, quiet place under the shade of trees.

2. “Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing

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:”

(a) What are the flowery bands that bind us to the Earth?
(b) What message do the above lines convey?
(c) Why is there an “inhuman dearth of noble natures”?
(d) What do you understand by “unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways”?

(a) Here beautiful and pleasant things have been referred to as flowery bands. It is only
those things which have beauty of some or the other kind that bind us to this Earth, or in a
way, keep us going. The memory of our beautiful experiences helps us strengthen our
bond with the Earth.
(b) The message that these lines convey is that the world is full of sorrow, sadness and
depression. People have become disheartened and selfish, -and there is a scarcity of noble
people. Despite this, life is possible because there are some beautiful things around, which
help us to look towards the positive side of life. It is the beauty of these things which
brings a smile on our face and gives us happiness in our lives.
(c) Today, there are few people who can rise above petty differences and be generous
towards others. These days people are mostly selfish and do not think about others.

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(d) The unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways refer to the difficulties and misfortunes in our
life, and the dishonest and unfair means people adopt to achieve their goals.

3. “Some shape of beauty moves away the pall

From our dark spirits,”
(a) How does beauty help us when we are burdened with grief?
(b) Explain; “Some shape of beauty.”
(c) Identify the figure of speech in the above lines.
(d) Why are our spirits referred to as ‘dark’?

(a) Whenever we look at a beautiful object, we are filled with comfort and joy. When we
are burdened with grief, a thing of beauty comes as a ray of hope, and makes us forget our
sorrow and suffering at least for some time.
(b) Beauty is an abstract idea and has no specific shape. The poet here means beauty in
some form or some beautiful object which pleases us.
(c) The above lines present an example of metaphor. Our souls are filled in sadness and
disappointment which are compared to a pall or shroud covering the dead.
(d) Our spirits are dejected due to extreme sadness and disappointment which may be the
result of our own evil or bad actions. So, the poet refers to them as dark, because of the
hopelessness we feel.

4. “Such the Sun, the Moon,

Trees old and young, sprouting a shady boon
For simple sheep; and such are daffodils
With the green world they live in; and clear rills
That for themselves a cooling covert make
‘Gainst the hot season.”

(a)Name the poem and the poet.

(b)List the things that give us joy. Which of these provide respite in the hot season?
(c) Describe the role of daffodils and clear rills.
(d) What does the word, ‘sprinkling’ mean?

(a)The poem is ‘A Thing of Beauty’ written by the poet John Keats.

(b) The various objects of nature, like the sun, the moon, old and young trees in forests,
daffodils and clear water streams give us joy. Clear water streams, green surroundings and
the shade of trees in forests gives us respite from the heat.
(c) Daffodils bloom in green surroundings. Clear rills are small streams which make a
cooling shelter for us.
(d)The word ‘sprinkling’ means spreading of fragrance.

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5.
“And such too is the grandeur of the dooms
We have imagined for the mighty dead;
All lovely tales that we have heard or read;
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from heaven’s brink”
(a) Who are the ‘mighty dead’? How do we know about them?
(b) What images does the poet use to convey that beauty is everlasting?
(c) What is the effect of the immortal drink
(d) Write the words from the extract which mean
(i) stories
(ii) magnificence

(a) Our ancestors, who were great in their own ways and the dead emperors have been
referred to as the mighty dead. We come to know about them by reading or hearing
valorous tales, which speak of their innumerable sacrifices. They are a source of
motivation for all who go through them.
(b) ‘Endless fountain’ of joy is the image that has been used to convey that beauty is
everlasting. Things of beauty are an eternal source of motivation, a precious gift from
heaven which give us infinite pleasure and delight.
(c) The immortal drink that nature’s endless fountain pours on us gives us immense joy
and pleasure.
(d) (i) tales
(ii) grandeur

II. Short Answer Type Questions (30-40 Words)

1. How do beautiful things help us to live a happy life?
Answer. We derive comfort and happiness when we look at objects of beauty, and the
lasting impression they leave on our minds is a source of permanent joy. Beautiful things
bind us to the Earth and help us strengthen our relationship with nature. They provide us
relief from our everyday trials and tribulations and help us live a happy life.

2. What does Keats consider an endless fountain of immortal drink and why does he
call its drink immortal?
Answer. Keats considers nature’s beauty as an endless fountain of immortal drink. He
calls this drink immortal as the pleasure and delight given by it never passes into
nothingness. It only increases with time.

3. According to Keats, what spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits?
How is it removed?

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Answer. John Keats says that pain and suffering are a part of life. These bring us sadness
and despondence. But still, we can find hope. The hope and motivation come from nature
and remove the pall of despondence from our spirits. The beautiful sights give us
inspiration to continue the journey of life.

4. How does a thing of beauty provide shelter and comfort?

Answer. A thing of beauty provides shelter and comfort in many ways. It is like a bower, a
place under the shade of a tree where we can rest. It gives us a sleep filled with sweet
dreams. The streams and forests provide a cooling covert for us in the hot weather.

5. How is a thing of beauty a joy forever?

Answer. A thing of beauty is a joy forever because it is a permanent source of joy and
inspiration and leaves a lasting impr.

6. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings?
Answer. Human beings suffer from hopelessness and sadness. Our style/way of living
often makes us hopeless and grim. We at times also, suffer due to the self-centered and
wicked nature of others. In spite of all our troubles and sufferings, we are able to derive
pleasure from our surroundings. The
beautiful objects from nature help us shed our gloom, give us a glimmer of hope, and make
us love life amidst all troubles.

7. Why is ‘grandeur’ associated with the mighty dead?

Answer. The mighty dead are those who have laid down their lives for a great or noble
cause. Their death is replete with intellectual and spiritual beauty. Birth, growth and decay,
all are inseparable. Each has its own. beauty. Their death is grand or beautiful because it
makes them immortal through the grand tombs and memorials erected in their honour.

8. What is the message of the poem, ‘A thing of beauty’?

Answer. The message of the poem ‘A thing of beauty’ is that beautiful things are a source
of constant joy and inspiration. They give us eternal pleasure and leave an indelible image
on our minds and, therefore, every beautiful thing and aspect is worth being treasured.

9. What is the ‘endless fountain’ and what is its effect?

Answer. Here beauty has been referred to as an ‘endless fountain’, which is an eternal
source of motivation, an elixir of life and a precious gift from heaven. It gives us infinite
pleasure and delight, and motivates us to continue our journey of life.

10.What images does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the Earth?
Answer. The poet uses the image of an ‘endless fountain’, which showers bounties on
Earth. He calls this an ‘immortal drink’ from heaven. The sun, the moon, the trees, the
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daffodils, the lush green forests and streams, all reflect the beautiful bounties which God
has given us.

III. Long Answer Type Questions

1. Explain ‘An endless fountain of immortal drink’.

Answer: This line is taken from John Keats’ poem, ‘A Thing of Beauty’. That beauty is
everlasting, as it creates an eternal joy in the beholder. It is an endless fountain of joy that
is immortal as a drink pouring down on us, as a water of joy from the edge of heaven’s
cliff. The eternal joy is like a bliss of heaven on Earth. The poet here says these words in
order to explain the nature of the pleasure and joy that is created when a beautiful object is
seen by a beholder. The poet here affirms the truth that beauty is not ephemeral, but
eternal. The pleasure we receive in perceiving a beautiful object is a gift that is worth
treasuring, as the joy soothes the gloom in our minds.

2. Explain ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever’.

Answer: It is the first line of John Keats’ first epic poem, ‘Endymion: A Poetic Romance’
and of the poem ‘A Thing of Beauty.’ This line is dramatically very significant because it
is multi- layered in its meaning. It explains the effect of beauty on the soul. Beauty heals
the negative impulses of our life. It relieves us from being weighed down by worldly
worries. Keats, as a romantic poet, brings out the belief in the power of nature to heal and
give happiness. A beautiful
thing is an object of joy because it gives us mental peace and makes us happy. Its value
lies in its effect on us and it never breeds a sense of nothingness. It will not diminish with
the passage of time.

3. ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever.’ This is what John Keats says in the poem. Do
you think in the present times of acute stress and violence, proximity to beautiful
things can lead man to everlasting happiness? Discuss.
Answer: A thing of beauty gives us permanent happiness. When we look at objects of
beauty, we feel happy, and the lasting impression that such objects leave on our mind
continues to give us pleasure even when they are no longer in our sight. In the present
times of acute stress and violence, the objects of beauty attain even greater significance.
When our mind is anxious and troubled, the very sight of beautiful things often comes as a
relief and provides us comfort and happiness for the moment. Appreciating beautiful
things is like appreciating God, who has bestowed them upon mankind as a gift so that we
can derive happiness and solace from them. Proximity to beautiful things brings us closer
to the creator, in whom lies the ultimate power to grant us relief from all anxieties and
troubles. Therefore, it is sure to bring everlasting happiness at all times.

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