Saruar’s Science Palace

“She is Beauty “ by Lord Byron

Summary :
The poem is about a beautiful lady. Her beauty is contrasted
to dark and bright and the gaudy daylight. She is considered
the nameless grace, sweet, pure and dear. Her pleasant
facial expressions eloquently but innocently express her
inner goodness and peace. And she has a heart whose love
is innocent.
3. Beauty is easy to appreciate

1. Read the following text and answer the questions A and B.

Beauty is easy to appreciate but difficult to define. As we look around, we discover beauty in
pleasurable objects and sights in nature, in the laughter of children, in the kindness of
strangers. But asked to define, we run into difficulties. Does beauty have an independent
objective identity? Is it universal, or is it dependent on our sense perceptions? Does it lie in the
eye of the beholder? We ask ourselves. A further difficulty arises when beauty manifests itself
not only by its presence, but by its absence as well, as when we are repulsed by ugliness and
desire beauty. But then ugliness has as much a place in our lives as beauty, or may be more
as when there is widespread hunger and injustice in a society. Philosophers have told us that
beauty is an important part of life, but isn’t ugliness apart of life too? And if art has beauty as
an important ingredient, can it confine itself only to a projection of beauty? Can art ignore
what is not beautiful?

Poets and artists have provided an answer by incorporating both into their work. In doing so,
they have often tied beauty to truth and justice, so that what is not beautiful assumes a
tolerable proportion as something that represents some truth about life. John Keats, the
romantic poet, wrote in his celebrated ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’ ‘Beauty is truth, truth beauty,’
by which he means that truth, even if it’s not pleasant, becomes beautiful at a higher level.
Similarly, what is beautiful forever remains true. Another meaning, in the context of the
Grecian Urn an art object-is that truth is a condition of art.

Bengali Traslation:

স ৌন্দর্য হজে উপলব্ধি করা র্ায় ব্ধকন্তু ংজ্ঞাব্ধয়ত করা কঠিন। আমাজের চারপাজে তাব্ধকজয় আমরা প্রকৃ ব্ধতর আনন্দো
য়ক বস্তু ও েৃজেে, ব্ধেশুজের হাব্ধ জত, অপব্ধরব্ধচতজের েয়ায় স ৌন্দর্য খুঁজে পাই। ব্ধকন্তু ংজ্ঞাব্ধয়ত করজত সেজল আমরা ম
োয় পব্ধ়ি। স ৌন্দর্য ব্ধক স্বাধীন এবং বস্তুব্ধনষ্ঠ ত্তা? এটি ব্ধক াবযেনীন, না আমাজের ংজবেনেীলতার উপর ব্ধনর্য রেী
ল? এটি ব্ধক েেযজকর সচাজখ অবস্থান কজর? আমরা ব্ধনজেজের ব্ধেজ্ঞা া কব্ধর। আজরকটি ম ো সেখা সেয় র্খন স ৌন্দর্য
সকবল তার উপব্ধস্থব্ধত দ্বারা নয়, অনপব্ধস্থব্ধতর মাধেজমও ব্ধনজেজক প্রকাে কজর, সর্মন আমরা কুৎব্ধ ততায় ব্ধবমখ হই এ
বং স ৌন্দর্য কামনা কব্ধর। ব্ধকন্তু তখন কুৎব্ধ ততা আমাজের েীবজনর অংে হজয় োুঁ়িায় স ৌন্দজর্যর মতই, বা আজরা সব
ব্ধে, সর্মন র্খন মাজে বোপক ক্ষধা ও অব্ধবচার ব্ধবরােমান। োেযব্ধনজকরা আমাজের বজলজেন সর্ স ৌন্দর্য েীবজনর এক
টি গুরুত্বপূর্য অংে, ব্ধকন্তু কুৎব্ধ ততাও ব্ধক েীবজনর অংে নয়? এবং র্ব্ধে ব্ধেজের একটি গুরুত্বপূর্য উপাোন হয় স ৌন্দর্য,
তজব এটি ব্ধক সকবল স ৌন্দজর্যর প্রব্ধতফলজনই ব্ধনজেজক ীমাবদ্ধ রাখজত পাজর? ব্ধেে ব্ধক অ ন্দরজক উজপক্ষা করজত পাজর?

কব্ধবরা এবং ব্ধেেীরা উর্য়জকই তাজের কাজের মজধে অন্তর্য ক্ত কজর একটি উত্তর ব্ধেজয়জেন। এর্াজব, তারা প্রায়ই স ৌন্দ
র্যজক তে এবং নোজয়র াজে র্ক্ত কজরজেন, র্াজত র্া অ ন্দর তা েীবজনর সকাজনা না সকাজনা তেজক উপস্থাপনকারী
ব্ধকে ব্ধহজ জব গ্রহর্জর্ােে হজয় ওজে। সরামাব্ধিক কব্ধব েন কীট তার ব্ধবখোত ‘ওড অন এ ব্ধগ্রব্ধ য়ান আনয‘-
এ ব্ধলজখজেন ‘স ৌন্দর্যই তে, তেই স ৌন্দর্য,’ র্ার দ্বারা ব্ধতব্ধন সবাঝাজত সচজয়জেন সর্ তে, র্ব্ধেও এটি আনন্দোয়ক না হ
সত পাজর, একটি উচ্চতর স্তজর ন্দর হজয় ওজে। অনরূপর্াজব, র্া ন্দর তা ব্ধচরকাল তে োজক। অনে অজেয, ব্ধগ্র ীয়
আনয – একটি ব্ধেেবস্তু – এর সপ্রব্ধক্ষজত, তে হজলা ব্ধেজের একটি েতয ।

A. Choose the correct answer from the alterative. 1×5 = 5

(a) What could be the closest meaning for appreciate in the passage?

(i) contract (ii) diminish (iii) humiliate (iv) praise

(b) What does the expression ‘Beauty is easy to appreciate but difficult to define’ mean?

(i) approval of beauty is trouble-free whereas its definition is troublesome

(ii) we can appreciate beauty easily but explain it in a difficult way

(iii) appreciation of beauty is necessary but there is no need to define it

(iv) we enjoy beauty but we don’t define it

(c) What could be the closest meaning for difficult in the passage?

(i) easy (ii) simple (iii) arduous (iv) soft

(d) A further difficulty arises when beauty manifests itself both by its presence, and by its…
According to the passage, which one of the following is the best to fill the gap?

(i) company (ii) nonappearance(iii) existence (iv) expression

(e) What could be the closest meaning for beauty in the passage?

(i) grotesqueness (ii) attractiveness (iii) hideousness (iv) ugliness

(f) Which of the following has the closest meaning of the word “pleasurable”?

(i) dissatisfaction (ii) pain (iii) offend (iv) delightful

(g) What is the closest meaning of the word “incorporate”?

(i) embody (ii) corporation (iii) incorporeal (iv) intangible

(h) ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’ is written by ——.

(i) Lord Byron (ii) John Keats (iii) Wordsworth (iv) PB Shelley

(i) What does the word ‘tolerable’ mean?

(i) not so good (ii) bad (iii) moderately good (iv) tolerant

(j) Lord Byron is a —— poet.

(i) Revolutionary (ii) Romantic (iii) Classical (iv) Modern

(k) The word ‘appreciate’ means——.

(i) praise (ii) choose (iii) select (iv) like

(l) The best synonym of ‘beholder’ is ——.

(i) runner (ii) sender (iii) watcher (iv) stopper

(m) The word ‘ingredient’ refers to ——.

(i) consciousness (ii) identity (iii) element (iv) destination

(n) What could be the closest meaning for ‘manifests?

(i) focuses (ii) represents (iii) qualifies (iv) designs

(o) The word ‘pleasurable’ could be replaced by ——.

(i) strange (ii) enjoyable (iii) credible (iv)unavoidable

p. According to the passage, where can beauty be discovered?

(i) In nature and pleasurable objects (ii) In laughter and kindness

(iii) In both (i) and (ii) (iv) Only in works of art

q. Why is beauty difficult to define?

(i) Because it lacks universal standards (ii) Because it has an objective identity

(iii) Because it is dependent on physical attributes (iv) Because it is purely subjective

r. What question does the author raise about the nature of beauty?

(i) Whether it is a part of art (ii) Whether it has an independent objective identity

(iii) Whether it is irrelevant to life (iv) Whether it is only present in pleasant things

s. What role does ugliness play in life, according to the passage?

(i) It is entirely avoidable

(ii) It is a part of life, sometimes more significant than beauty

(iii) It has no connection to truth

(iv) It is less important than beauty

t. How does beauty manifest itself, as mentioned in the passage?

(i) Only through presence

(ii) Through absence as well as presence

(iii) Only through physical forms

(iv) Through universal appreciation

u. What have philosophers said about beauty?

(i) It is insignificant in life

(ii) It is a crucial part of life

(iii) It is entirely subjective

(iv) It has no connection to truth

v. According to the author, can art ignore ugliness?

(i) Yes, because it focuses only on beauty

(ii) No, because ugliness represents truths about life

(iii) Yes, because beauty is subjective

(iv) No, because ugliness is meaningless

w. How do poets and artists address the concept of beauty?

(i) By ignoring unpleasant truths

(ii) By incorporating both beauty and ugliness in their work

(iii) By idealizing beauty

(iv) By promoting subjective perspectives

x. What does John Keats mean by ‘Beauty is truth, truth beauty’?

(i) That truth and beauty are unrelated

(ii) That truth becomes beautiful at a higher level

(iii) That beauty does not depend on truth

(iv) That art has no connection to truth

y. What does the Grecian Urn symbolize in the passage?

(i) An object of ugliness

(ii) A representation of the connection between truth and art

(iii) A purely aesthetic object

(iv) A rejection of beauty

z. According to the passage, how does absence of beauty affect us?

(i) It has no impact

(ii) It manifests as a desire for beauty

(iii) It makes us indifferent to aesthetics

(iv) It reinforces the importance of beauty

z1. How is ugliness represented in art, as per the passage?

(i) As a reflection of life’s truths

(ii) As an unnecessary element

(iii) As something to be ignored

(iv) As purely aesthetic

z2. What does beauty tied to justice signify in art?

(i) Art should focus only on beautiful aspects of life

(ii) What is not beautiful can reflect some truth about life

(iii) Art is subjective and does not include justice

(iv) Ugliness has no place in art

z3. What universal question does the passage address about beauty?

(i) Whether it is only an emotional reaction

(ii) Whether it can be defined objectively

(iii) Whether it is a natural or artificial construct

(iv) Whether it is part of art at all

z4. Why is truth considered a condition of art in the passage?

(i) Because art must project only beautiful truths

(ii) Because truth, even unpleasant, is a higher form of beauty

(iii) Because art is entirely dependent on truth

(iv) Because beauty has no connection to truth

z5. How does the passage suggest art should approach unpleasant truths?

(i) By ignoring them completely

(ii) By representing them as part of life’s reality

(iii) By contrasting them with beauty

(iv) By focusing only on the aesthetic aspect

z6. What does the passage imply about the relationship between beauty and ugliness?

(i) They are mutually exclusive

(ii) They both contribute to the understanding of life

(iii) Beauty is superior to ugliness

(iv) Ugliness has no connection to beauty

z7. How does widespread hunger and injustice relate to ugliness, as per the passage?

(i) They are examples of abstract beauty

(ii) They make ugliness more relevant than beauty in life

(iii) They diminish the importance of aesthetics

(iv) They are unrelated to beauty and art

z8. What question does the passage raise about universal beauty?

(i) Can beauty be universally defined?

(ii) Can beauty only exist in pleasant things?

(iii) Is beauty an essential condition of life?

(iv) Is beauty more significant than ugliness?

z9. What message do poets and artists convey through their work about beauty?

(i) Beauty is subjective and isolated from truth

(ii) Beauty is eternal and tied to life’s truths

(iii) Beauty is unrelated to justice

(iv) Beauty is purely a matter of perception

B. Answer the following questions. 2×5 = 10

(a) Do you think it difficult to define beauty? Give reason in favour of your answer.

(b) Where do you find beauty?

(c) What have philosophers told about beauty? Do you support it? What is your view about
beauty?

(d) How have the poets and artists tied beauty to truth and justice?

(e) Who wrote the poem ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’? What do you know about the poet?

(f) How can we discover beauty in our surroundings?

(g) How much place does ugliness have in our life?

(h) What is the name of the poet of “Ode on a Grecian Urn”?

(i) Do you get any definition of beauty from the poem ‘She Walks in Beauty’?

(j) When do we run into difficulties?

(k) Is ugliness a part of life? If so, how?

(l) What has John Keats written in “Ode on a Grecian Urn”?

(m) When does “ugliness” occupy a place in our life?

(n) How do poets and artists provide answer about the questions on how to define beauty?

Answers

1. A. (a) (iv) praise (b) (i) approval of beauty is trouble-free whereas its definition is troublesome
(c) (iii) arduous (d) (ii) nonappearance (e) (ii) attractiveness

B. (a) Yes, I think it is really difficult to define beauty. I think it so because we do not clarify
whether it has an independent objective identity or it is universal, or even it is dependent on
our sense perceptions. In spite of this difficulty it moves us with pleasure.
(b) There is beauty around us. We find it in pleasurable objects and sights in nature, in the
laughter of children. in the kindness of strangers. Even in literature, there is beauty of its own
kind.

(c) Philosophers have told us that beauty is an important part of life. Yes, I support them with
a slight difference. I think that beauty is important but it is life that cannot ignore ugliness. and
if art has beauty as an important ingredient, it cannot be confined only to a projection of
beauty. Art cannot ignore what is not beautiful.

(d) The poets and artists have tied beauty to truth and justice by incorporating both beauty
and ugliness into their work. They have done it so that what is not beautiful assumes a
tolerable proportion as something that represents some truth about life.

(e) John Keats wrote the poem ‘Ode on Grecian Urn’. He was a romantic poet. in his poem. ‘Ode
on a Grecian Urn’ he wrote `Beauty is truth, truth beauty,’ by which be means that truth, even
if it’s not pleasant, becomes beautiful at a higher level.

2. (i) Read the above text and make a flow chart showing the various aspects of beaut
y.

i. Easy to appreciate but difficult to define

ii. Discovered in nature, laughter, and kindness

iii. Challenges in defining objective identity

iv. Dependent on perception and the beholder’s eye

v. Manifested by both presence and absence

vi. Ugliness coexists with beauty in life

vii. Ugliness often highlights truths about life

viii. Tied to truth and justice by poets and artists

ix. John Keats: “Beauty is truth, truth beauty”

x. Art reflects both beauty and unpleasant truths

Extra Questions:

(ii) Read the above text and make a flow chart showing the effect of beauty on poetry.
10
1. Incorporating beauty to truth

i. Incorporating beauty to truth

ii. Linking beauty with justice

iii. Reflecting life’s truths, even unpleasant ones

iv. Tolerating ugliness by representing it truthfully

v. Beauty as a higher form of truth

vi. John Keats: “Beauty is truth, truth beauty”

vii. Art integrates both beauty and ugliness

viii. Truth becomes beautiful at a higher level

ix. Beauty in poetry is eternal and universal

x. Art as a condition for expressing truth.