A THING OF BEAUTY
What does the line, “Therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to
earth suggest to you?
Ans. It means that we get attached to the beautiful things around us and
weave a pretty band which binds us with our life, it becomes the reason for us
to live.
What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings?
Ans. The eternal beauty of various things gives us happiness and relaxation. It
makes us love life inspite of life’s troubles and sufferings.
Why is grandeur associated with the mighty dead?
Ans. The noble deeds of the brave men who sacrificed their lives are an
inspiration for us forever. The beautiful legacy of their bravery is the grandeur
which is associated with the mighty dead.
Do we experience things of beauty only for short moments or do they make a
lasting impression on us?
Ans. According to the poet, a thing of beauty is a joy forever. Even if we see it
for a few moments, it has a lasting impression on us and its beautiful memory
stays with us forever. It inspires us to live, despite the ruthlessness of life.
What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth?
Ans. The beautiful bounty of the earth is described by endless fountain of
immortal drink- which signifies that God bestows us with all his beautiful
creations which help us live despite the sad, gloomy aspects of life.
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
1. Who are the ‘mighty dead’? How do we know about them?
Ans. The mighty dead are our forefathers, who were great in their own right,
and the dead emperors. We learn about them by reading or hearing heroic
stories about their numerous sacrifices. They are a source of inspiration for
everyone who goes reads them.
2. What images does the poet use to convey that beauty is everlasting?
Ans. ‘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 gives us infinite pleasure and delight.
3. What is the effect of the immortal drink?
Ans. The immortal drink that nature’s endless fountain pours on us gives us
immense joy and pleasure.
“Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits,”
1. How does beauty help us when we are burdened with grief?
Ans. 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.
2. Explain; “Some shape of beauty.”
Ans. 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.
3. Identify the figure of speech in the above lines.
Ans. 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.
4. Why are our spirits referred to as ‘dark’?
Ans. 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.
Which objects of nature does Keats mention as sources of joy in his poem, ‘A
Thing of Beauty’? (All India 2015)
Answer: Nature is a thing of beauty and pleasure in and of itself. The sun, the
moon, old and young trees, daffodil flowers, small streams with clear water,
fern masses, and the blooming of musk-roses are among them. All of them are
works of art. They are constant sources of happiness and pleasure.
What are the things that cause miseries, sorrows and sufferings to man?
Answer: All of man’s ills are the result of his own actions. We are plagued by
malice and distress because we lack human qualities, which renders us
What does the line, “Therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to
earth suggest to you?
Ans. It means that we get attached to the beautiful things around us and
weave a pretty band which binds us with our life, it becomes the reason for us
to live.
What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings?
Ans. The eternal beauty of various things gives us happiness and relaxation. It
makes us love life inspite of life’s troubles and sufferings.
Why is grandeur associated with the mighty dead?
Ans. The noble deeds of the brave men who sacrificed their lives are an
inspiration for us forever. The beautiful legacy of their bravery is the grandeur
which is associated with the mighty dead.
Do we experience things of beauty only for short moments or do they make a
lasting impression on us?
Ans. According to the poet, a thing of beauty is a joy forever. Even if we see it
for a few moments, it has a lasting impression on us and its beautiful memory
stays with us forever. It inspires us to live, despite the ruthlessness of life.
What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth?
Ans. The beautiful bounty of the earth is described by endless fountain of
immortal drink- which signifies that God bestows us with all his beautiful
creations which help us live despite the sad, gloomy aspects of life.
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
1. Who are the ‘mighty dead’? How do we know about them?
Ans. The mighty dead are our forefathers, who were great in their own right,
and the dead emperors. We learn about them by reading or hearing heroic
stories about their numerous sacrifices. They are a source of inspiration for
everyone who goes reads them.
2. What images does the poet use to convey that beauty is everlasting?
Ans. ‘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 gives us infinite pleasure and delight.
3. What is the effect of the immortal drink?
Ans. The immortal drink that nature’s endless fountain pours on us gives us
immense joy and pleasure.
“Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits,”
1. How does beauty help us when we are burdened with grief?
Ans. 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.
2. Explain; “Some shape of beauty.”
Ans. 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.
3. Identify the figure of speech in the above lines.
Ans. 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.
4. Why are our spirits referred to as ‘dark’?
Ans. 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.
Which objects of nature does Keats mention as sources of joy in his poem, ‘A
Thing of Beauty’? (All India 2015)
Answer: Nature is a thing of beauty and pleasure in and of itself. The sun, the
moon, old and young trees, daffodil flowers, small streams with clear water,
fern masses, and the blooming of musk-roses are among them. All of them are
works of art. They are constant sources of happiness and pleasure.
What are the things that cause miseries, sorrows and sufferings to man?
Answer: All of man’s ills are the result of his own actions. We are plagued by
malice and distress because we lack human qualities, which renders us
