A THING OF BEAUTY
1.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.
Answer the following.
(a) A thing of beauty increases as its loveliness decreases. (True/False)
(b) A thing of beauty can never pass into nothingness. (True/False)
(c) Beauty always keeps a quiet ____________ for us to enjoy its beauty.
(d) What sort of dreams come from a thing of beauty?
Ans :
(a) False (b) True (c) bower (d) sweet
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 darkened ways
Made for our searching:
Answer the following.
(a) A flowery wreathe binds us to the earth on each day. (True/False)
(b) There is a dearth of gloomy days on earth. (True/False)
(c) In spite of despondence, a flowery ____________ binds us to the earth.
(d) There is a ____________ of noble natures on Earth.
Ans :
(a) True (b) False (c) wreathe (d) dearth
3.... 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…
Answer the following.
(a) The poet describes the daffodils as being green in colour. (True/False)
(b) What in nature makes a ‘cooling covert’?
(c) At what time of the year are the rills cool?
(d) In what kind of place do the daffodils bloom?
Ans :
(a) False (b) clear rills (c) hot season (d) Green world
4.... and clear rills [CBSE 2018]
That for themselves a cooling covert make
‘Gainst the hot season; the mid forest brake,
Rich with the sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms;
Answer the following.
(a) The rills mentioned in the passage are muddy. (True/False)
(b) The cooling effect is felt in the forest. (True/False)
(c) ____________ grow on the forest surface?
(d) The musk rose is growing as a ____________ across the forest.
Ans :
(a) False (b) False (c) musk-rose blooms (d) sprinkling
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 the heaven’s brink.
Answer the following.
(a) The great deeds of the past are referred to as ‘grand dooms’. (True/False)
(b) All men have read mighty tales and done great deeds. (True/False)
(c) In what form do the deeds of grandeur live on?
(d) The tales of great deeds are like a ____________ .
Ans :
(a) True (b) False (c) lovely tales (d) fountain
6.List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.
Ans : The things of beauty as mentioned in the poem include the bounties of nature such
as the sun, the moon, old and young trees and simple things like sheep, daffodils and
streams of water in the forest and the heroic tales of mighty heroes.
7.What does the line, ‘Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing a flowery band to
bind us to earth’, suggest to you?
Ans : The line suggests that the beautiful things that we see around us affect and influence
us and bind us closer to the earth and our life by giving us mental peace and health.
8.Do we experience things of beauty only for a short moment or do they leave a lasting
impression on us?
Ans : A thing of beauty is a joy forever. It makes an everlasting impact on us and continues
to delight us. Its worth increases as time passes by. Beauty can never diminish or fade
away. It remains intact in our memory.
9.What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth?
Ans : The poet uses various images to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth. He
mentions various beautiful things which are present around us in nature like the sun, the
moon, trees, daffodils, streams of water, the mid forest brake, musk roses, etc.
10.How can ‘mighty dead’ be things of beauty?
Ans : The ‘Mighty dead’ and their legends and tales keep instilling enthusiasm in the
reader. They are things of beauty as they inspire others to do heroic deeds in their lifetime.
11.What rich bounty has the heaven given us?
Ans : Heaven is the source of an endless fountain. It keeps pouring on us the elixir of life in
the form of nature and all the beautiful things on earth. These bring infinite pleasure to us
and also keeps motivating those who have read or heard about the heroic tales of the
mighty dead.
12. In the hot season, how do man and beast get comfort?
Ans : Man and beast get comfort in the hot season from the small streams flowing through
the thick bushes and trees that have a cooling effect.
13.How do we get joy from life which is otherwise full of sorrows?
Ans : Life of human beings is full of sorrows due to disappointments and frustrations. But
the beautiful objects of nature give us an eternal joy. Nature works as a balm on our
wounded soul and fills us with hope and optimism.
14.Which objects of nature does Keats mention as sources of joy in his poem ‘A Thing of
Beauty’?
Ans : Keats talks about various bounties of nature which act as a source of joy in our lives.
These are the sun, the moon, old and new trees, even the simple things like sheep,
daffodils, clear springs of water, etc.
15.Mention any two things which cause pain and suffering.
Ans : Human beings themselves are responsible for bringing pain and suffering in their lives.
Greed, selfishness and loss of faith bring despondency and disappointment which cause us
pain and suffering.
16.What does a thing of beauty do for us?
Ans : Human life is full of despondency, disappointments, tribulation and loss of faith which
brings sadness. It is only the beautiful things which lift this veil of gloom and makes life
worth living by bringing joy, hope and optimism in life.
17.What does Keats consider an endless fountain of immortal drink and why does he call its
drink immortal?
Ans : Keats considers the joy provided by nature as a never-ending fountain which uplifts
the spirits of humans beings. The beauty of nature is a constant source of pleasure and
delight to the human mind and is like an immortal drink from heaven.
18.How is a thing of beauty a joy for ever?
Ans : According to John Keats, beauty is intransient. It never fades away, rather increases
as time passes by. All the beautiful things have the ability to give everlasting pleasure and
so, are a joy forever.
19.What philosophy of life is highlighted in the poem?
Ans : Keats talks about the importance of nature in the poem. According to him, nature is
the most wonderful creation of God and it exerts an embalming and refreshing influence
on human beings. Nature gives us heavenly and spiritual joy.
20.Why is ‘grandeur’ associated with the mighty dead?
Ans : The deeds of the mighty dead and the heroic tales which give us pleasure when we
hear them are associated with heroes of history and legend. It is the grandeur of the mighty
dead that inspires one to do heroic deeds.
21.What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings?
Ans : It is the beautiful things around us which make human beings love life in spite of
troubles and sufferings. This sublimating effect of the bounty of nature keeps the spirit
alive and full of love for life and keeps away the gloom caused by sufferings and troubles.
22.What, according to the poet, are the things that have a sublimating effect on the minds
of human beings?
Ans : All beautiful things found in nature, which surround us, have a sublimating effect on
our minds. Even the commonplace things like sheep, daffodils, musk roses, streams of
water, trees, etc. fill our hearts with joy and delight. Nature’s beauty is evident in the sun
and the moon. The lovely tales that we hear about the mighty deeds of our ancestors also
have a soothing effect.
23.How does the poet express the idea that nothing can surpass the bounteous gift of
nature or have the same effect on man’s mind?
Ans : The poet expresses the idea that nothing can surpass the bounteous gift of nature or
have the same effect on man’s mind by comparing these bounties of nature with a never-
ending fountain of pleasure and joy. It is a gift for all the human beings, from Heaven. This
gift of nature is like the elixir of life which uplifts the spirit and energizes our mind and
body.
24.According to Keats, what spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits? How is
it removed?
Ans : Various hardships, suffering, loss of faith and disappointments due to our own
unhealthy and undesirable habits cause despondency and make us gloomy. It is beautiful
things that make life worthwhile. These things lift the veil of gloom and make room for
hope by giving us eternal joy.
25.How, according to the poet, does beauty make a permanent impression on our minds?
Ans : Beauty makes a permanent impression on our minds as it remains fresh in our
memory. In fact, the impact of the beauty of nature increases with the passage of time.
26.What is the secret of good health, according to the poet?
Ans : According to the poet, the secret of good health is sound sleep which is full of sweet
dreams. The beauty of Nature induces sound sleep in us.
27.What evil things do we suffer from?
Ans : We suffer from jealousy, wickedness, deceit, negative thoughts, disappointments,
frustrations and lack of noble thoughts.
28.What lovely tales have we read or heard?
Ans : We have read or heard about the tales of sacrifices and heroic deeds of great
warriors and selfless workers. Their death is celebrated due to the grand deeds that they
have done to make them immortal.
29.Who are the ‘mighty dead’ that are remembered for centuries?
Ans : The ‘mighty dead’ are our ancestors and great heroes who did glorious deeds in the
past. They were larger than life even in their death. Their heroic deeds made them
immortal in history.
30.In what context does Keats mention ‘immortal drink’? What is it?
Ans : ‘Immortal drink’ refers to the heavenly nectar which makes one eternal. Keats refers
to the pleasure derived from a thing of beauty as nectar. This joy is so divine that it gives
eternal happiness to the soul.
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