FLAMINGO (POETRY) 1
A THING OF BEAUTY
- John Keats
• Summary with explanation
• NCERT Question answers
• Extra Question answers
• Extract based questions
BY POORVA CHOUDHARY
HUMAN-AT-EASE
SUMMARY WITH EXPLANATION 2
➜ This poem tells us what role beauty plays in our lives
and how it is important to us. It provides eternal joy.
➜ Beauty never fades away, but its loveliness keeps
increasing only.
➜ In this mundane world of pain and sorrow, beauty
helps us in many ways. It acts as a shady place for us,
under which we can sleep and have sweet dreams.
➜ It is like a flowery band that binds us to the earth
because no one who is born on this little planet
wants to quit it.
➜ Our life on this earth is not a bed of roses, but full of3
sadness and misery.
➜ We often find there is a scarcity of noble qualities and
we have to tread unhealthy and over darkened paths.
➜ In these moments of sorrow and pain beauty enlivens
our spirits and provides us with a few moments of
wonder and joy.
➜ There are many objects that are eternal sources of joy
like the sun, moon, young as well as old trees, which
provide shade to sheep, daffodils, pure streams with
cool water which can fresh in the heat of the summer
sun and musk-roses blooming in forests.
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➜ The poet also finds beauty in the imaginary stories
people have made about death and lovely stories that
he has heard.
➜ According to the poet, things of beauty are like an
endless fountain pouring on us from the heavens,
which signifies that God himself has made these
beautiful things so that we may have happiness, calm
and peace in our lives.
NCERT QUESTIONS Q.1. List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem. 5
Ans. The things of beauty mentioned in the poem are the sun, the moon, trees, old and young, daffodils,
green world, clear rills (small streams), the mid forest brake, musk-rose, blooms, those beautiful stories we
read, and the glory and grandeur that comes from the life of those mighty people who lived in the past.
Q2. List the things that cause suffering and pain.
Ans. There are many things that cause suffering and pain like sad and sorrowful days, cruelties, lack of
noble qualities, unhealthy and over darkened ways that we have to follow etc.
Q3. What does the line, “Therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to the earth,” suggest to
you?
Ans. The poet is deeply in love with the constant beauty of the earth.He believes that man and nature are
woven into an unbroken bond. The above line suggests the intensity and eternity of this bond. The
beautiful things present in the nature around us are like beautiful flowers. We wreathe them into a flowery
band that keeps us connected and attached to this beautiful earth.
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Q4. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings ?
Ans. We, as human beings, suffer from malice, despondence, lack of noble
qualities and so on. These things make our life sad and gloomy. The poet,
however, feels that in spite of all these sufferings, man has a hope to
redeem himself and make him love life. This hope lies in the small beautiful
things around which provide happiness and joy through their sheer charm
and beauty.
Q5. Why is 'grandeur' associated with the mighty dead’?
Ans. The mighty dead' refers to our forefathers who were powerful in their
own ways and in their times. Their values and achievements made them
'mighty and great. They were great because of their grand, dazzling deeds.
Thus, 'grandeur is associated with our dead ancestors who are remembered
for their good works.
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Q.6. Do we experience things of beauty only for short moments or do they
make a lasting impression on us ?
Ans. 'A thing of beauty is a joy forever'; it has a lasting effect on us. The
poet goes on to say that its loveliness goes on increasing every moment
and it never passes into nothingness.
Q7. What images does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the
earth?
Ans. The poet uses various images to describe the many beautiful things
existing on the earth. The sun, the moon, trees old and young, the
beautiful daffodils, small streams of clear water, thickets, forest brake,
musk roses etc. And then, there is this striking image of nature as an
endless fountain pouring into us a heavenly immortal drink i.e., nectar and
thus keeping us in a constant state of joy.
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EXTRA QUESTIONS Q1. How does beauty sustain our life on this earth?
Ans: Beauty brings us joy forever. It removes gloom from our sad lives and
lifts our spirit. It is like a quiet bower which provides us health and quiet
breathing and sleep full of dreams.
Q2. What image does Keats use to describe the beautiful bounty of the
earth?
Ans. He uses various images to describe the many beautiful things
existing on the earth. The sun, the moon, trees old and young, the
beautiful daffodils, small streams of clear water,
thickets, forest brake, musk-roses etc. - all are various incarnations of the
eternal beauty on earth.
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Q3. Why does Keats associate "grandeur' with the mighty dead?
Ans. According to Keats, there is beauty even in death. Keats has
associated mighty dead with grandeur as warrior and people who
selflessly sacrifice their lives for others are beautiful and they remain
immortal. The values and achievements of those dead made them 'mighty
and great.’ Thus, 'grandeur' is associated with our dead who are
remembered for their good works.
Q4. Why does John Keats compare beautiful things to an 'endless
fountain'?
Ans. According to John Keats, things of beauty are like an endless
fountain pouring on us from the heavens. The comparison signifies that
God himself has made these beautiful things so that we may have
happiness, calm and peace in our lives. There is no substitute for nature in
this human world.
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