INDIAN SCHOOL MUSCAT

SENIOR SECTION
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
CLASS XII
FLAMINGO: A THING OF BEAUTY

JOHN KEATS

A Thing of Beauty is a poem written by the famous romantic poet, John Keats. The poem tells
about how nature and its wonder mesmerize us and take away all the sorrow that surrounds us from
time to time. This poem is an excerpt from Keats‟ poem „Endymion‟. The poem is based on a classical Greek
myth of the love of the Moon Goddess Cynthia, for a young shepherd prince, Endymion. His poem makes use
of allegory to signify the quest of the human soul for ideal Beauty. (Allegory is a demonstrative form of
representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message
by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation.) Endymion stands for the poet as a man,
Cynthia for ideal Beauty, the Moon for the manifestations of the Beauty in Nature.

Theme: The theme of the poem rests in the opening line of the poem. A beautiful object is treasured in our
mind because it provides us eternal and everlasting joy. This happiness never fades into nothingness but
multiplies manifold whenever it flashes on our mind.

Background: Endymion is an epic poem in English. This poem by Keats is based on the Greek
mythology of Endymion, the shepherd beloved by the moon goddess Selene. We see an elaboration
of the original story and the moon Goddess Selene is named as “Cynthia”. The poem equates
Endymion‟s original romantic ardor with a more universal quest for a self-destroying transcendence
in which he might achieve a blissful personal unity with all creation. Endymion in Greek mythology
is a story of a handsome youth who spent much of his life sleeping. There are different views related
to Endymion. According to some tradition Endymion was the king of Elis. Several traditions say that
he was offered by Zeus to choose anything he might desire and Endymion in order to remain young
forever chose an everlasting sleep. While some tradition says Endymion‟s eternal sleep was a
punishment given by Zeus, because Endymion fell in love with Zeus‟s wife Hera. Selene was deeply
in love with Endymion, some say Selene had cursed Endymion into everlasting sleep so that she can
enjoy him all by herself. Selene‟s love for Endymion made her visit him every night while he was
asleep. But in the poem Keats emphasizes on Endymion‟s love for Diana rather than on hers for him.
Keats transformed this tale into prose to express the loves that have been felt on imaginative
longings. This theme of love is determined in the adventure of the Endymion quest by Diana. In the
search for Diana, Endymion falls in love with an earthly maiden. But in the end Diana and the
earthly maiden turn out to be one and the same.

Poem: Keats describes a thing of beauty as emanating joy forever. Its beauty only increases and it
will never cease. The benefits proffered by a thing of beauty are listed as giving sound rest with good
dreams and well-being. The earth minus the beautiful things is a despondent, spiteful place thriving
in callous insensitive dearth and is harsh toward human beings. Every day human beings face
gloomy days packed with unhealthy spite and darkness. However, in spite of all, a thing of beauty
helps remove the dark cloud that burdens our souls. Hence, the poet says that we – human beings –
each day create an ornate band, made of all the lovely things we see. This band keeps us bound to the
despondent earth – as we would otherwise be hopeless.

This closing paragraph simply tells us some of the beautiful things on Earth. After all, beauty lies in
the eyes of the beholder – Everyone can highlight something beautiful in anything. The examples
cited by the poet are as such: the sun, the moon, trees, flowers, streams, musk-rose blooms,
architectural sepulchers, even fairy tales or heroic legends. The ‘simple sheep’ are human beings –
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the poet sympathizes with the innocence of human beings. Keats sees the beauty in innocent humans
seeking solace in nature, and Mother Nature in its own way sprouts a shady abode of relief and
consolation. The expression „Lily of the valley‟ is quite well known and rouses images of a delicate
lone white flower holding up its head amidst a setting of thorns and barbs and everything contrary in
nature to delicateness – so too are the daffodils mentioned in the poem. The poet also sees beauty in
the death of martyrs and legends. ‘The mighty dead’ are those martyrs who have died bravely for a
cause. We honor them by erecting magnificent, grand sepulchers in which beauty is seen. If one
looks around, there are innumerable beautiful things to notice – they seem to flow immortally as a
fountain, from the gods above to help the pitiable human beings to cope with the harshness of life.

Explanation Lines 1-5: “A thing of beauty is a joy ………quiet breathing”. According to the poet,
John Keats, a thing of beauty is a source of constant joy. Its beauty goes on increasing. It will never
fade and pass into nothingness. A bower is a peaceful and pleasant place in the shade of a tree. It
provides shelter or protection from the hot rays of the sun. A beautiful thing also gives us sound
sleep, full of pleasant dreams, health and peaceful breathing. Beauty, hence does not lead to inertia
but a constant battle to guard our nature/earth.
Explain Lines 6-13: “Therefore, on every morrow …yes, in spite of all,” As a result of this every
morning we are weaving a flowery wreath to bind us to the beauties of the earth despite the sadness
and the feeling of depression. We all possess evil qualities of hatred and disappointment. We suffer
from lack of noble qualities and unhealthy evil ways. In spite of all this a beautiful thing helps to
remove the cover of gloom or darkness from our lives. It makes us love life despite the things that
make us sad and dampen our spirits.
Explain Lines 14-20: “Such the sun, the moon……….. musk-rose blooms” The sun, the moon,
trees old and young are all sources of happiness for us. The trees sprout and spread their branches to
provide shelter within their green covering for the simple sheep. The daffodils bloom within the
green surroundings in which they grow. The clear and small streams of water make a cooling shelter
for themselves against the hot season. The thick mass of ferns looks grand with their beautiful musk
roses.
Explain Lines 21-25: “And such too is the grandeur …… the heaven‟s brink”.
The mighty dead people whose achievements made them great and powerful inspire us through their
sagas of their noble works. Their legends and stories enthuse us and we imagine their magnificence.
A beautiful thing is also a source of joy just as the lovely tales we have heard or read give us
profound happiness. A fountain of immortality pours its sacred and immortal drink into the heart and
soul of man. This immortal drink gushing out from nature‟s endless fountain is a source of immense
joy for us.
Understanding the Text: A beautiful thing is a source of eternal joy, its attractiveness grows with
the passage of time and its impact never fades away. It is as pleasant as a cool quiet bower or sound
sleep with sweet dreams; or robust health and mental peace. It provides the beholder with a haven of
tranquility and solace.

It is the beauty of nature that keeps us attached to this earth. Every morning we collect fresh lovely
flowers and prepare garlands. The fascination for flowers is our bonding with the earth. It helps us
steer clear of despondency and disappointments. We forget all our despair, of acute shortage of noble
souls, of misfortunes that overtake us to test our forbearance. Life is full of trials and tribulations and
we often find ourselves in the midst of gloom. It is at such depressing moments that a sight full of
beauty dispels the pall of sadness from our spirits making room for hope and optimism.

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The objects of beauty are countless. These include heavenly bodies like the sun and the moon, the
old and young trees that provide cool shelter to sleep, the daffodil flowers encased in green leaves,
the streams that flow through a shady passage which they make themselves with plants, and the
bushes that bear fragrant flowers. These simple and even commonplace things lift the human spirit
filling it with joy and delight. In addition to these objects of nature, there are wonderful tales of our
legendary heroes, who lived and died heroically, which inspire us with their matchless beauty. These
beautiful things are metaphorically an endless source of nectar that pours down to us from heaven
bringing eternal joy for the soul‟s grandeur. They are like an elixir of life, a never diminishing source
of pleasure and delight, an endless fountain of joy that seems to be a precious gift from Heaven.

Reference to Context: Read the given lines and answer the questions that follow:
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.
a) Name the poem and the poet.
b) How is a thing of beauty a joy forever?
c) What do you understand by a „bower‟?
d) What kind of a sleep does it provide?

ANS:(a) The poem is „A Thing of Beauty‟ and the poet is John Keats.
(b) A thing of beauty provides everlasting joy. Its beauty never decreases but continues to increase
with the passage of time. It never fades away.
(c) „Bower‟ is the shelter under the shade of trees. It provides protection from the harsh rays of the
sun.
(d) It provides a sound sleep, full of sweet dreams, health and peaceful breathing.

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 o‟er-darkened ways
Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,
a) What are we doing every day?
b) Which evil things do we possess and suffer from?
c) Explain „in spite of all‟.
d) Find words from the passage which mean
i) Malice
ii) Disappointment

ANS: (a) Every morning, we are weaving a flowery wreath which binds us to the beauties of the
earth.
(b) Human beings possess qualities of malice, hatred and disappointment. There is a shortage of
noble qualities and men continue to be evil and unhealthy.
(c) In spite of all evils mentioned by the poet.
(d) i) Spite; ii) Despondence

3) Some shape of beauty moves away the pall

From our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon,
Trees old, and young, sprouting a shady boon.
For simple sheep;
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a) What removes the pall from our dark spirits?
b) What sprouts a shady boon for sheep and how?
c) Find words from the passage that mean
i) Covering, ii) Blessing,
d) Name the poem and the poet.

ANS: (a) A thing of beauty removes the pall from our dark spirits.
(b) The old and young trees sprout branches to provide shade and shelter to sheep. It is a blessing for
the sheep against the harsh sun.
(c) i) Pall; ii) Boon
(d) The poem is „A Thing of Beauty‟ and the poet is „John Keats‟.

4) . …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,
Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms;
a) How do „daffodils‟ and „rills‟ enrich the environment?
b) What makes the mid forest brake rich?
c) Find words in the passage which mean:
i) Small streams, ii) Shelter of thickets,
d) Cooling covert is a:
i) Simile, ii) Metaphor, iii) Personification, iv) Alliteration

ANS: (a) The daffodils bloom and are surrounded by the green surroundings. The clear streams of
water create a cooling shelter for themselves against the heat of the sun.
(b) The beautiful musk-roses help to make the beautiful forest rich in beauty.
(c) i) Clear „rills‟; ii) Covert
(d) Alliteration

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
a) Explain „the grandeur of the doom‟.
b) What is implied by „all lovely tales that we have heard or read‟?
c) What is the source of the „endless fountain of immortal drink‟?

ANS: (a) The magnificence that we associate with our ancestors and the beautiful things created
by them.
(b) All the beautiful stories that have been read or heard by us are also surpassed in beauty by the
beauties of nature.
(c) The source of the endless fountain of immortal drink is „the brink of heaven‟.

Short Answer Questions:

(Q.) List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.

(Ans): The things of beauty are the sun, the moon, old and new trees, daffodils, clear rills, musk
roses that bloom among the thick forest ferns.

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(Q.) List the things that cause suffering and pain.
(Ans)The things that cause suffering are dark phases of our life, adverse circumstances, gloomy
days, death of noble people and bad health.

(Q.) What does the line ‘Therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to
earth’ suggest?
(Ans)As a result of all the beautiful things around us, every morning we are weaving a flowery
wreath to bind us to the beauties of the earth despite all the sadness.

(Q.) What makes human beings love life in spite of all troubles?
(Ans)In spite of all the sufferings, a beautiful thing helps us to remove the cover of gloom or
darkness from our lives.

(Q.) Why is grandeur associated with the ‘mighty dead’?

(Ans)Grandeur is associated with the „mighty dead‟ because they will always be remembered for
their noble and splendid deeds and creations. They have left behind a legacy for us to enjoy.

(Q.) Do we experience things of beauty only for a short time?

(Ans) No, these things of beauty have lasting impression on us. It never passes into nothingness.

(Q.) What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth?
(Ans) The poet draws out the image of „an endless fountain of immortal drink‟ that poursjoy on us
from the brink of heaven. These are the beautiful things in nature or man-made objects that he calls
„immortal drink‟.

(Q.) How does a thing of beauty provide us shelter and comfort?

(Ans) John Keats is a great Romantic poet. He creates images that soothe our senses. Nature
bestows us with things of rare beauty. It keeps the shade of trees ready for us to be comfortable and
peaceful in it. Beautiful things also provide peace and security so that we can enjoy sound sleep. We
are able to enjoy sweet dreams, good health because of them.

(Q.) What spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits? How is it
removed?
(Ans) Man makes his life miserable and full of suffering because of his own actions. The pall of
despondence is the sadness that is a result ofone‟s own actions. A thing of beauty works wonders for
man and removes the cover of gloom from his dampened spirits.

(Q.) What is the message of the poem ‘A Thing of Beauty’?

(Ans) Keats, an ardent lover of nature, in his poem refers to the powers of nature. He urges mankind
to realise these powers and make his life enjoyable and worth living. He tells us how a thing of
beauty provides perennial joy to us.

(Q.) How do the ‘daffodils’ and ‘clear rills’ enrich our environment?
(Ans) Daffodils are lovely white flowers that bloom in green surroundings. The „clear rills‟ or clear
streams of water create cooling comfort or passage for themselves as they pass through the thick
bushes and ward away the heat of the sun.

(Q.) What is the ‘grandeur of the dooms’ and ‘endless fountain of immortal drink’?
(Ans) The „grandeur of the dooms‟ is a reference to our mighty and dead ancestors who have created
beautiful objects for us. On the other hand, the „endless fountain‟ is the everlasting joy provided to us
by the bounties of nature in the form of nectar pouring on us from heaven.

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(Q.) What makes human beings love life in spite of all troubles and sufferings?
(Ans)Human beings love life because nature is the best healer and brings beauty and joy to our life.
The memory of beautiful experiences helps us to bear our sorrows.

Read the extracts and answer the questions that follow:

1)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: yes, in spite of all,

a) What are we doing every day?

b) Which evil things do we possess and suffer from?
c) What does the expression „spite of despondence‟ imply?
d) What does „unhealthy and o‟er darkened ways‟ refer to?

2) 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.

a) How is a thing of beauty a joy forever?

b) What do you understand by a „bower‟?
c) According to Keats, what treasure does a beautiful thing store for us?
d) What does „quiet breathing‟ imply?

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,
Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms;

a) How do „daffodils‟ and „rills‟ enrich the environment?

b) What makes the mid forest brake rich?
c) What is the poetic device used in the third line.
d) Name the poem and the poet.

Answer the following in about 30-40 words.

1. What is the cause of our „gloomy days‟ and „dark spirits‟?
2. What spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits? How is it removed?
3. What is the message of the poem „A Thing of Beauty‟?
4. How do beautiful things help us to live a happy life?
5. Keats feels that Nature binds us to the Earth. How does he justify this?

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