A Thing of Beauty

A THING OF BEAUTY

Question.1. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

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) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What is the thing of beauty mentioned in these lines?
(c) What image does the poet use in these lines?
(d) What is the effect of this ‘immortal drink’ on us?
(e) Who are the ‘mighty dead’? How do we know about them?
(f) What images does the poet use to convey that beauty is everlasting?
(g) What is the effect of the immortal drink?

Answer.(a) The poem is ‘A thing of beauty’ and the poet is John Keats.
(b) The thing of beauty mentioned in these lines is the group of stories celebrating the glory of our powerful ancestors, which we have read or heard.
(c) The poet uses the image of an ‘endless fountain’ coming down to us from heaven. According to him, nature and other beautiful things around us are like a gift from God, which give us infinite delight and Joy.
(d) The immortal drink gives us immense joy, a joy that is everlasting, one that will never come to an end.
(e) 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.
(f) ‘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.
(g) The immortal drink that nature’s endless fountain pours on us gives us immense joy and pleasure.

Question.2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

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 the pall
From our dark spirits.

(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) Why are we despondent?
(c) What removes “the pall from our dark spirits”?
(d) Explain, “the inhuman dearth of noble natures.” ’
(e) What are we doing every day?
(f) Which evil things do we possess and suffer from?
(g) What are the circumstances that contribute towards making humans unhappy and disillusioned with life?
(h) What removes the pall from our dark spirits?

Answer. (a) The poem is ‘A Thing of Beauty’ and the poet is John Keats.
(b) Human life is full of trials and tribulations. We add to our troubles and make our lives more difficult by following evil ways. We hurt others as well as ourselves. This makes us despondent.
(c) The various objects of beauty around us remove the pall from our dark spirits. Beautiful things have the power to make us happy.
(d) The poet here means that the world lacks in men of noble nature or qualities. There are few people who are noble in character; most of the people are self-centred and pursue evil ways.
(e) The memory of beautiful things remains in our minds and strengthens our bond with the Earth. Every day, these bonds get strengthened by the flowery bands that we prepare.
(f) Humans suffer from hopelessness and sadness. Our poor style of living make us grim.
(g) Hopelessness, sadness and lack of noble ways are a part of human life. We harm ourselves by following unhealthy and wicked paths. These circumstances contribute towards making humans unhappy and disillusioned with life.
(h) Anything beautiful in our surroundings or even the memories of our beautiful experiences removes the pall from our dark spirits.

Question.3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

“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’?
Answer. (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 steeped 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 actions. So, the poet refers to them as dark, because of the hopelessness we feel.

Question.4. According to Keats, what spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits? How is it removed?
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.

Question.5. 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.

Question.6. 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.