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A THING OF BEAUTY John Keats
Line wise Summary 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. Very simply put, yet poetic, Keats describes a thing of beauty as emanating joy forever. Its beauty only increases and it wil l never cease. The benefits proffered by a thing of beauty are listed as giving sound rest with good dreams and well -being. 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, Some shape of beauty moves away the pall From our dark spirits… The earth minus the beautiful things is a despondent, spiteful place thriving in callous insensitive dearth and is harsh towa rd human beings. Every day human beings face gloomy days packed with unh ealthy 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 u s bound to the despondent earth – as we would otherwise be hopeless. Hence, the poet is seen to conclude that mankind and nature are one, that they are intrinsically inseparable, because like most poets of his time, Keats too believed in the oneness of man and his surrounding (which basically is the nature). … Such the sun, the moon, Trees old, and young, sprouting a shady boon For simple sheep; 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 sparkling of fair musk-rose blooms; 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. This closing paragraph simply tells us some of the beautiful things on Earth. After all, beauty lies in the eyes of the behol der – 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 sepulchres, even fairy tales or heroic legends. The ‘simple sheep’ are human beings – 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 honour them by erecting magnificent, grand sepulchres 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 pitiab le human beings to cope with the harshness of life.
Explanation A beautiful thing is a source of eternal joy, its attractiveness grows with the passage of time and its impact never fades aw ay. 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 tranquillity and solace. It is the beauty of nature that keeps us attached to this earth. Every morning we collect fresh lovely flowers and prepare ga rlands. 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 t rials 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. 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 wh ich they make themselves with plants, and the bushes th at 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 legend ary 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 eli xir of life, a never diminishing source of pleasure and delight, an endless fountain of joy that seems to be a precious gift from Heaven.
1
Solved Questions “yes , in spite of all, 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: and such are daffodils” a. What does ‘in spite of all’ refer to? The expression refers to all the pessimistic and negative thoughts that obstruct our way to happiness. In spite of the sense of hopelessness and gloom that overshadow and darken our way, we are able to find our happiness in the beautiful objects on nature. b. What , according to the poet , drives away the sadness from our life? Beauty, in shape or form, helps in driving away the sadness and despair from the dark recesses of our spirit. c. What does the reference ‘simple sheep’ symbolize? Lambs and sheep are envisioned as the embodiments of innocent and serene beauty. Jesus Christ, as an apostle of peace, was a shepherd and was seen surrounded by his flock of sheep , his followers. The poet has made specific reference to the sheep as symbols of ‘divine beauty’. “…. We have imagined for the mighty dead; All lovely tales tht we have heard or read; An endless fountain of immortal drink, Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink.” a). Who are the ‘mighty dead’? The ‘mighty dead refers to those great men and warriors who glorified death by embracing it most gracefully and bravely.’ b). Why does the poet make this reference? The poet refers to ‘mighty dead’ because beauty can be seen not only in birth and growth , but also in a magnificent death. c).What ‘lovely tales have we heard or read’? A glorified and magnificent death get recorded in the leaves of history, leaving an indelible imprint on it. It remains an everlasting source of motivation to all those who read or hear about such great men who achieved glory in death. d).What is referred to as ‘endless fountain of immortal drink’? Beauty in all respects, whether in growth or in decay , is a perennial source of motivation. It is an endless fountain from where we can drink we can drink the immortal elixir of life. e). Explain “ Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink.” Beauty is the greatest gift of God to man which has been showered upon us from the heavens above. This beauty is eternal and everlasting, in whose glory men on earth bask and derive their perennial source of joy and happiness. Short Answer Questions: (a) What according to Keats are the things that cause suffering and pain? The poet says that a scarcity of good-natured people or in other words the wicked people outnumber the good people. And the source of all our sorrows is either ill-health or another human being (b) What makes human beings love life in spite of all the suffering? The poet says that the beautiful things on earth lifts the pall off our spirits and make life worth living. Each beautiful thing is like a link that forms a chain or wreath that binds us to this earth. (c) Why does the poet say ‘mighty dead’? Monuments are erected in memory of people who were mighty or great when they lived. Physically mighty as in mighty warriors or mentally might as in great poets, writers or philosophers. Their tombs provide inspiration for the living through their beauty just as their works continue to do. Questions for practice: 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 Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing A flowery band to bind us to the earth.” a. What is the special virtue of a beautiful thing? b. How does it bless us? c. Explain the expression “A bower quiet for us”. d. What do we do everyday? 2. “the mid forest brake, rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms; and such too is the grandeur of the dooms who 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. What do you mean by ‘brake’? Where does it grow? What makes it all the more beautiful? b What do you mean by ‘the grandeur of the dooms’? c. “All lovely tales that we have heard or read” Explain d. What is the source of the beauty of nature? What is its effect on us? 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; and such are daffodils with green world they live in; and clear rills that for themselves a cooling covert make ‘against the hot season; the mid forest brake Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms” a. What type of beauty and its effect are mentioned here ?
2
b. What sprouts a shady boon for sheep and how? c. How do ‘daffodils’ and rills enrich the environment? d. What makes the mid-forest brake rich? Short answer Questions 1. How do we wreathe a flowery band? 2. Why do human beings suffer or what depresses the human soul? 3. What does Keats mean by the ‘grandeur of doom’? 4. How do we bind ourselves to the earth every morning? 5. Why and how is ‘grandeur’ associated with the mighty dead? 6. What is the source of the ‘endless fountain’ and what is its effect? 7. What is the message of the poem/what philosophy of life is highlighted in the poem.
3
Line wise Summary 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. Very simply put, yet poetic, Keats describes a thing of beauty as emanating joy forever. Its beauty only increases and it wil l never cease. The benefits proffered by a thing of beauty are listed as giving sound rest with good dreams and well -being. 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, Some shape of beauty moves away the pall From our dark spirits… The earth minus the beautiful things is a despondent, spiteful place thriving in callous insensitive dearth and is harsh towa rd human beings. Every day human beings face gloomy days packed with unh ealthy 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 u s bound to the despondent earth – as we would otherwise be hopeless. Hence, the poet is seen to conclude that mankind and nature are one, that they are intrinsically inseparable, because like most poets of his time, Keats too believed in the oneness of man and his surrounding (which basically is the nature). … Such the sun, the moon, Trees old, and young, sprouting a shady boon For simple sheep; 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 sparkling of fair musk-rose blooms; 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. This closing paragraph simply tells us some of the beautiful things on Earth. After all, beauty lies in the eyes of the behol der – 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 sepulchres, even fairy tales or heroic legends. The ‘simple sheep’ are human beings – 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 honour them by erecting magnificent, grand sepulchres 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 pitiab le human beings to cope with the harshness of life.
Explanation A beautiful thing is a source of eternal joy, its attractiveness grows with the passage of time and its impact never fades aw ay. 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 tranquillity and solace. It is the beauty of nature that keeps us attached to this earth. Every morning we collect fresh lovely flowers and prepare ga rlands. 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 t rials 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. 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 wh ich they make themselves with plants, and the bushes th at 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 legend ary 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 eli xir of life, a never diminishing source of pleasure and delight, an endless fountain of joy that seems to be a precious gift from Heaven.
1
Solved Questions “yes , in spite of all, 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: and such are daffodils” a. What does ‘in spite of all’ refer to? The expression refers to all the pessimistic and negative thoughts that obstruct our way to happiness. In spite of the sense of hopelessness and gloom that overshadow and darken our way, we are able to find our happiness in the beautiful objects on nature. b. What , according to the poet , drives away the sadness from our life? Beauty, in shape or form, helps in driving away the sadness and despair from the dark recesses of our spirit. c. What does the reference ‘simple sheep’ symbolize? Lambs and sheep are envisioned as the embodiments of innocent and serene beauty. Jesus Christ, as an apostle of peace, was a shepherd and was seen surrounded by his flock of sheep , his followers. The poet has made specific reference to the sheep as symbols of ‘divine beauty’. “…. We have imagined for the mighty dead; All lovely tales tht we have heard or read; An endless fountain of immortal drink, Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink.” a). Who are the ‘mighty dead’? The ‘mighty dead refers to those great men and warriors who glorified death by embracing it most gracefully and bravely.’ b). Why does the poet make this reference? The poet refers to ‘mighty dead’ because beauty can be seen not only in birth and growth , but also in a magnificent death. c).What ‘lovely tales have we heard or read’? A glorified and magnificent death get recorded in the leaves of history, leaving an indelible imprint on it. It remains an everlasting source of motivation to all those who read or hear about such great men who achieved glory in death. d).What is referred to as ‘endless fountain of immortal drink’? Beauty in all respects, whether in growth or in decay , is a perennial source of motivation. It is an endless fountain from where we can drink we can drink the immortal elixir of life. e). Explain “ Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink.” Beauty is the greatest gift of God to man which has been showered upon us from the heavens above. This beauty is eternal and everlasting, in whose glory men on earth bask and derive their perennial source of joy and happiness. Short Answer Questions: (a) What according to Keats are the things that cause suffering and pain? The poet says that a scarcity of good-natured people or in other words the wicked people outnumber the good people. And the source of all our sorrows is either ill-health or another human being (b) What makes human beings love life in spite of all the suffering? The poet says that the beautiful things on earth lifts the pall off our spirits and make life worth living. Each beautiful thing is like a link that forms a chain or wreath that binds us to this earth. (c) Why does the poet say ‘mighty dead’? Monuments are erected in memory of people who were mighty or great when they lived. Physically mighty as in mighty warriors or mentally might as in great poets, writers or philosophers. Their tombs provide inspiration for the living through their beauty just as their works continue to do. Questions for practice: 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 Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing A flowery band to bind us to the earth.” a. What is the special virtue of a beautiful thing? b. How does it bless us? c. Explain the expression “A bower quiet for us”. d. What do we do everyday? 2. “the mid forest brake, rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms; and such too is the grandeur of the dooms who 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. What do you mean by ‘brake’? Where does it grow? What makes it all the more beautiful? b What do you mean by ‘the grandeur of the dooms’? c. “All lovely tales that we have heard or read” Explain d. What is the source of the beauty of nature? What is its effect on us? 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; and such are daffodils with green world they live in; and clear rills that for themselves a cooling covert make ‘against the hot season; the mid forest brake Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms” a. What type of beauty and its effect are mentioned here ?
2
b. What sprouts a shady boon for sheep and how? c. How do ‘daffodils’ and rills enrich the environment? d. What makes the mid-forest brake rich? Short answer Questions 1. How do we wreathe a flowery band? 2. Why do human beings suffer or what depresses the human soul? 3. What does Keats mean by the ‘grandeur of doom’? 4. How do we bind ourselves to the earth every morning? 5. Why and how is ‘grandeur’ associated with the mighty dead? 6. What is the source of the ‘endless fountain’ and what is its effect? 7. What is the message of the poem/what philosophy of life is highlighted in the poem.
3
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