Class 12 English Flamingo A Thing of Beauty (John Keats)

 

NCERT Solutions For Class 12 English

Flamingo

A Thing of Beauty (John Keats)

 

CONTENTS

 

Ø Theme

Ø Summary

Ø Stanza

Ø Question Answers

Ø Word Meaning

 

 

THEME

 

John Keats' poem 'A item of Beauty' suggests that an item of beauty is a source of eternal joy. It never ends. A beautiful object inspires us to continue working hard. Our planet is filled of countless lovely things. A beautiful object removes the veil of unhappiness, sorrow, and disappointment from our lives. The mighty dead are likewise beautiful since they gave their all for the civilization. All the beautiful things are like an infinite fountain sent by God.

 

SUMMARY

 

The poem "A Thing of Beauty" is extracted from John Keats' poetic romance titled "Endymion." In this composition, the poet emphasizes the enduring joy derived from beautiful things, asserting their eternal beauty that never diminishes. He likens a beautiful thing to a comforting shelter, providing a sleep filled with sweet dreams, good health, and relaxation.

 

The poet contends that our attachments to worldly possessions, depicted as a flowery wreath, act as traps that bind us to materialism, diverting us from attaining eternal happiness. Describing the Earth as tainted by hatred, greed, and negativity, Keats posits that the positive influence of beautiful things counteracts this gloom and sadness.

 

The poet enumerates various natural beauties surrounding us, emphasizing that beauty is subjective. From the energizing Sun to the moon's enchanting beauty, the trees offering shade, and the lively presence of animals like sheep, all contribute to the vibrant beauty of the world. Flowers such as daffodils add a lively green hue, while flowing streams cool and refresh during hot summers. Forests adorned with musk rose flowers present a captivating sight. Additionally, the bravery and sacrifice of soldiers, as depicted in inspiring stories, are regarded as beautiful and uplifting. These diverse elements are considered things of beauty, akin to a fountain of immortality bestowed upon humanity by God, inspiring individuals to persevere and uphold their faith in goodness.

 

 

STANZA

 

Read the stanzas given below and answer the questions that follow each:

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."

Questions:

(a) What is the title of the poem, and who is the poet of these lines?

(b) How does a thing of beauty bring joy indefinitely?

(c) What is the meaning of the term 'bower'?

(d) What type of sleep does it offer?

Answers:

(a) The lines are from the poem "A Thing of Beauty," written by John Keats.

(b) A thing of beauty serves as a perpetual source of joy. Its attractiveness continues to grow and will never fade away.

(c) A 'bower' refers to a delightful and shaded place, often beneath a tree, providing protection from the sun's intense rays.

(d) It offers a tranquil sleep filled with pleasant dreams, well-being, and calm 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,"

Questions:

(a) What is the title of the poem, and who is the poet?

(b) Why do we experience despondence?

(c) What lifts the pall from our spirits?

(d) What activity are we engaged in daily?

Answers:

(a) The poet is John Keats, and the poem is "A Thing of Beauty."

(b) Despondence arises due to possessing negative qualities, experiencing a lack of noble attributes, and enduring gloomy and unhealthy days.

(c) Some beautiful shapes or a thing of beauty removes the pall of sadness from our hearts or spirits.

(d) Every day, we are adorning a flowery band to connect ourselves with the beauties of the earth.

 

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 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;"

Questions:

(a) What removes the pall from our dark spirits?

(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?

 

Answers:

(a) Some beautiful shape or a thing of beauty removes the pall of sadness from our hearts or spirits.

(b) Old and young trees sprout, providing a green covering that serves as a blessing and shelter for simple sheep.

(c) Daffodils bloom in the green surroundings, and clear rills, or small streams, create a cooling shelter for themselves against the hot season.

(d) The mid-forest brake is enriched by the blooming of beautiful musk-rose flowers.

4"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"

Questions:

(a) What is the title of the poem, and who is the poet?

(b) Explain: ‘the grandeur of the dooms’.

(c) What is the thing of beauty mentioned in these lines?

(d) What image does the poet use in these lines?

 

Answers:

(a) The poem is "A Thing of Beauty," and the poet is John Keats.

(b) 'The grandeur of the dooms' refers to the magnificent fate or destiny that we imagine for the mighty dead on the doomsday.

(c) The lovely tales of mighty individuals are mentioned in these lines.

(d) The poet uses the image of 'an endless fountain of immortal drink' to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth, which bestows us with sun, moon, flowers, rivers, and greenery.

 

QUESTION ANSWERS

Q1. List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.

Ans: Everything in nature is beautiful and pleasant. Some of these include the sun, moon, ancient and young trees, daffodil blossoms, little streams with pure water, a pile of ferns, and flowering musk-roses. All of them are beautiful. They are an ongoing source of joy and pleasure.

Q2. List the things that cause suffering and pain.

Ans: There are numerous things that give us distress and discomfort. Malice and disappointment are "the primary causes of our suffering." Another one is a lack of noble characteristics. Our unhealthy and bad practices also cause a great deal of hardship and misery. They lower our spirits. They cast a veil of gloom on our lives.

Q3. What does the line, ‘Therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to earth’ suggest to you?

Ans: Keats is an admirer of beauty. He uses his senses to uncover beauty. The bond between man and nature is eternal. Things of beauty are like magnificent flower wreaths. We appear to weave a flowery band every day. It keeps us connected to the beauty of the environment.

Q4. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings?

Ans: There are numerous things that cause us pain and misery. They lower our spirits. Despite these harsh circumstances, "some shape of beauty" infuses love and happiness into our life. A item of beauty lifts the cloud of misery and pain. It inspires us to love life.

Q5. Why is ‘grandeur’ associated with the ‘mighty dead’?

Ans: During their lifetimes, the great dead were extremely powerful and dominant. Their accomplishments made them'mighty' and great. Their great deeds dazzle us. We assume that such magnificent deceased forefathers will rise to greater heights on the doomsday. Hence, 'grandeur' is connected with the'mighty dead'.

Q6. Do we experience things of beauty only for short moments or do they make a lasting impression on us?

Ans: We feel joyful when we come into contact with things of beauty. They leave a lasting impression on us. Keats makes it apparent from the start. Beauty is a source of eternal joy. It is an ongoing source of joy and pleasure. Its beauty never fades or decreases. Its beauty grows with each passing second. Its worth remains unchanged. It never fades into nothingness. It lifts the shroud of despair that has enveloped our dismal spirits.

Q7, What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth?

Ans: John Keats offers a wonderful image to express the earth's richness. It is the never-ending fountain of immortal drink. It continuously pours into our souls from heaven. Thus, the lovely wealth of the land is described as "an endless fountain of immortal drink."

 

Q8. In the perspective of John Keats, what does it mean for a thing of beauty to be a joy forever?

Ans: John Keats asserts that a thing of beauty is a perpetual joy. It serves as a constant source of happiness and pleasure, with its loveliness increasing continually. Importantly, it will never diminish or fade into nothingness, maintaining its enduring value.

Q9. How does a thing of beauty offer us shelter and solace, according to John Keats?

Ans: Renowned for his rich sensuous imagery, John Keats highlights how nature, adorned with things of rare beauty, creates a tranquil haven for humanity. These beautiful elements provide a quiet bower, offering shade under trees, ultimately bestowing peace, security, and a rejuvenating sleep filled with sweet dreams and peaceful breathing.

Q10. What is the daily ritual through which individuals connect themselves to the earth, as suggested by Keats?

Ans: John Keats contends that the captivating beauties of the earth captivate human beings each day. He describes a daily act of weaving a wreath of flowers, symbolizing a flowery band that binds individuals to the enchanting wonders of the earth.

Q11. According to Keats, what are the factors responsible for causing miseries, sorrows, and sufferings in human life?

Ans: Keats attributes the miseries, sorrows, and sufferings in human life to man himself. The lack of noble qualities and the cultivation of unhealthy and evil ways make life gloomy, leading to distress. Man's inhumanity, driven by malice, is identified as the root cause of his own suffering.

Q12. What casts a pall of despondence over our dark spirits, and how does Keats suggest it can be lifted?

Ans: Keats suggests that the nature and actions of man create a pall of despondence over his dark spirits, causing miseries and pains. However, he proposes that a thing of beauty, a beautiful shape or object from nature, has the power to remove this pall. It serves as a ray of hope amid sorrows and sufferings.

Q13. How does Keats associate 'grandeur' with the 'mighty dead' and what is the significance of this association?

Ans: Keats links 'grandeur' with the 'mighty dead' by envisioning the doomsday as a day of judgment, where the esteemed ancestors will receive their deserved rewards. The association signifies the hope that the noble deeds of the mighty dead will be recognized and rewarded with rare magnificence and grandeur.

Q14. In what way does Keats express the loveliness of a thing of beauty in comparison to tales we hear or read?

Ans: According to Keats, the loveliness of a thing of beauty surpasses all the lovely tales heard or read. The magnificence and beauty found in nature's objects are considered more enchanting and captivating than the grandeur imagined for the mighty dead or the stories told and read.

 

Q15. What is the source of the 'endless fountain,' and what impact does it have?

Ans: The 'endless fountain' is a source of eternal joy and immortality. It pours forth from the brink of heaven, serving as an immortal drink that flows into the hearts and souls of individuals. The effect is a profound sense of joy and fulfillment.

 

Q16. What is the fundamental message conveyed by the poem 'A Thing of Beauty'?

Ans: The central message of the poem is encapsulated in its opening line: "A thing of beauty is a joy forever." Keats, an ardent admirer of beauty, imparts the idea that beauty is synonymous with truth. In times of sorrow and suffering, a thing of beauty emerges as a perennial source of joy, removing the pall of sadness and providing lasting pleasure. Ultimately, beauty is portrayed as a profound blessing for humanity.

 

WORD MEANING

Boon: blessing

Bower: A shady place under the tree

Brink: edge

Despondence: depressed

Gloomy: sad

Grandeur: high rank or socially important

Immortal: never dying

Morrow: The following day

Rills: a small stream

Wreathing: surround, encircle