A THING OF BEAUTY
BY JOHN KEATS
I. SUMMARY :
‘A Thing of Beauty' is a poem which tells us how nature and its wonders mesmerize us
and take away all the sorrows that surround us from time to time.
A beautiful thing is a source of eternal joy. Its attraction grows with the passage of time
and its impact never fades away. It is as pleasant as a cool quiet bower for sound sleep
with sweet dreams for robust health and mental peace. It provides the beholder with the
haven of tranquillity and solace.
It is the beauty of nature that keeps us attached to this earth. Every morning we collect
fresh and lovely flowers and prepare garlands. The fascination for flowers is our
bonding with the earth it helps us to be free of our 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 of beauty
dispels the pall of sadness from our spirits making room for hope and optimism.
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 common place 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.
II. REFERENCE TO CONTEXT :
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.
1. " A thing of beauty is a joy forever." Explain.
Ans : A beautiful thing leaves a permanent impression on our minds. It stays in our
imagination and becomes an eternal source of joy. Its loveliness never fades but goes on
increasing.
2. What can a beautiful thing do for human beings?
Ans : A beautiful thing gives us a happy and peaceful mind, a calm spot to rest, a sound
sleep full of happy dreams, health and peaceful breathing. It removes sadness from our
hearts and brings happiness to our deprived minds.
3. How does a thing of beauty keep a ' bower' quiet for us ?
Ans : Just as the shady canopy of a tree protects us from the scorching heat of the Sun,
similarly the beautiful objects of nature create a shady bower and provide as with
solace and heal our sorrows restoring happiness in our lives again.
4. Explain: ' It will never pass into nothingness.'
Ans : A thing of beauty is a source of perennial joy. It can never be reduced to
nothingness or faded into oblivion. Its beauty keeps on increasing as it makes an
indelible imprint on our minds.
III. REFERENCE TO CONTEXT :
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
1. Who are the 'mighty dead' ?
Ans : The mighty dead are those courageous heroes who have sacrificed their lives for
the noble cause and made great achievements in their lives.
2. How is grand associated with the mighty dead ?
Ans : The death of the courageous heroes and Martyrs is regarded grand because they
sacrificed their lives for a noble cause. On the day of judgement, God will reward them
for their noble deeds. Moreover, they remain a constant source of inspiration and
motivation for us in the world.
3. What lovely tales does the poet talk of ?
Ans : The poet talks of the great myths and legends and the heroic tales of the old days.
4. Explain: ' an endless fountain of Immortal drink'.
Ans : The poet creates a beautiful visual imagery in these lines. He metaphorically
compares the beautiful things to an endless fountain poured onto us from heaven. It is a
source of immense joy and eternal happiness.
IV GLOBAL QUESTIONS :
1. How do beautiful things help us to live a happy life?
Ans : we derive great comfort and happiness when we look at some objects of beauty
and the lasting impression they have on our minds, is a source of permanent joy. The
beauty of nature binds to the earth and helps us to strengthen our relationship with
nature. The heroic tales inspire us and provide as relief from everyday sufferings and
tribulations and help us to live a blissful life.
2. What spreads the pall of despondence over our spirits? How is it removed ?
Ans : According to the poet, the world is replete with pain, sorrow, agony, suffering and
there is an acute dearth of noble qualities in human beings. All these negative aspects
affect human beings adversely and sadden their spirits. However, the sight of a
beautiful object inspires us and makes us happy by removing the pall of despondence
from our agonised souls.
3. Explain therefore on every morrow are we wreathing a flowery band that binds us to
the earth.
Ans : A thing of beauty gives us eternal Joy whether it is a beautiful sight of nature or
the the heroic tales of the ancient days. A beautiful object always stays in our mind as a
beautiful memory cherished forever. Thus, even though the world is replete with pain,
sorrow and suffering, the objects of beauty keep us inspired and happy.
Every morning we seem to make a garland of things and experiences of beauty that
keep us bound to the earth and strengthens our relationship with nature.
4. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings ?
Ans : The world may apparently appear to be filled with hardships and obstacles but if
we are able to perceive beauty in some form then it becomes an eternal source of joy for
us. In addition to the beauty of nature, there are wonderful tales of legendary heroes
which inspire us with their matchless beauty. They are like an elixir of life and a
perennial fountain of pleasure and delight poured from heaven. Thus, in spite of all the
sufferings, human beings love life and stay connected to the world around.
5. List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem? How do they make a lasting
impression on us?
Ans : John Keats, a worshipper of nature found beauty in various aspects of the world.
He perceived beauty in the elements of nature such as the Sun, the moon, the sprawling
trees, daffodils, crystal clear rills, beautiful musk roses and also in the inspiring tales of
the great heroes. The joy given by a thing of beauty is everlasting. It creates an indelible
imprint on our minds the pleasure it gives never fades into oblivion, it only increases
with time
6. Explain : ‘Therefore on every.......... in spite of all.’
Ans : Every morning we are weaving a flowery band to bind us to the beauties of the
earth despite sadness, hopelessness and depression. Human beings possess the evil
qualities of hatred and jealousy. There is lack of noble virtues among people who adopt
unhealthy ways to achieve the target of life. In spite of all this, a beautiful thing helps us
to remove the gloom and darkness from our lives. It enlivens our spirits and makes us
free from the tribulations of life.
