4. A THING OF BEAUTY BY JOHN KEATS

COMPLETE SOLUTION OF THE POEM 'A THING OF BEAUTY'

(A) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

                      “A thing of beauty is a joy forever

                   Its loveliness increases, it will never

                  Pass into nothingness; but will keep

                    A bower quiet for us, and a sleep

                Full of sweet dreams, and health, and

                                  quiet breathing”.
              

Q1. How does a thing of beauty give joy forever?

Ans:- A thing of beauty gives us eternal and everlasting pleasure. It doesn’t stay for a moment but last for ever.

Q2. Mention any two sources of joy which a thing of beauty provides to us?

Ans:- A thing of beauty gives us unlimited joy and peace. It also gives us blissful pleasant sleep and wonderful dreams.

Q3. Explain ‘Never pass into nothingness’.

Ans:- The joy that a thing of beauty gives us pleasure, it never goes away in vain but only keeps on increasing with time.

(B) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

                  “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.”

Q1. What are the flowery bands that bind us to the Earth?

Ans:- Flowery bands indicates towards the beautiful and pleasant things. The views of these beautiful things make our mind fresh and help to strength us to love towards the Earth.

Q2. What message does the poet want to leave by these lines of the poem?

Ans:- This stanza of the poem convey that life is full of weal and woes. There is scarcity of noble feelings amongst men. In spite of these all difficulties, some beautiful things help us to vanish our sad and ill thoughts.

Q3. What is meant by ‘spite’ in the above lines?

Ans:- Spite here indicates towards hard time. It means that in spite of gloom and despair, a beautiful thing or a flowery band can make us happy.

(C) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

                       “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; the mid forest brake.’

Q1. Mention the things that give us joy?

Ans:- There are various things in the nature that give us joy, the sun, the moon, old and young trees, daffodils and blue water streams.

Q2. Name the poem and the poet?

Ans:- The poem is ‘A Thing of Beauty’ and the poet is John Keats.

Q3. Describe the role of daffodils and clear rills?

Ans:- Daffodils bloom in green surroundings. Clear rills are beautiful small streams which make a cooling shelter for us.

FROM OUT OF STANZA

Q1. List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.

Ans:- There are several things of beauty mentioned in the poem. These are the sun, the moon, old and young trees, daffodils and the greenery surrounding. The clear water streams, the forests, musk rose, the stories of our mighty dead etc.

Q2. List the things that cause suffering and pain.

Ans:- Hopelessness, sadness, lack of noble qualities, unhealthy and cruel style of living are the things which cause suffering and pain.

Q3. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and suffering?

Ans:- Human beings suffer from hopelessness and sadness. Our style of living make us sad, but in spite of all these sufferings, we get a light of hope. We get a eternal pleasure from our beautiful surroundings.

Q4. Do we experience things of beauty only for short moments or do they make a lasting impressing on us?

Ans:- The joy given by a thing of beauty is everlasting. It creates a deep impression on our mind. The pleasure it gives us never fades away; it only increases with time.

Q5. What does the line, ‘Therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to earth’ suggest to you?

Ans:- A thing of beauty gives us eternal joy. Nature gives us such many sights that give us pleasure. All these beautiful memories always stay in our mind and bind us to the Earth.