A Thing of Beauty

by John Keats
LO
I will be able to :

• analyse and interpret the theme of the poem.

• analyse and answer knowledge based and extrapolative questions.
D-Words
Bower
Despondence
covert
Word Meanings
Bower = A pleasant shady place
Despondence = Disappointment/ dejection
Covert = Shelter or covering
Rills = small streams

Answer the following questions

1. What does a thing of beauty do for us?

Ans. A thing of beauty adds endless joy to our life and helps us to come out of
sadness and hopelessness. The memory of such a thing gives us everlasting
happiness. It not only provides a pleasant and quiet place to relax but also
makes life worth living in spite of despondence, inhuman dearth of noble
natures, gloomy days, unhealthy and over darkened ways.
2. List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.
Ans: Everything of nature is a thing of beauty and a source of pleasure. Some
of them are: the sun, the moon, old and young trees, daffodil flowers, small
streams with clear water, mass of ferns and the blooming musk-roses. All of
them are things of beauty. They are a constant source of joy and pleasure.
3. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings? .
Ans. Human beings suffer from hopelessness and sadness. Our style of living
often makes us hopeless and grim. We at times also, suffer due to the self-
centred and wicked nature of others. In spite of all our troubles and sufferings,
we are able to derive pleasure from our surroundings. The beautiful objects
from nature help us shed our gloom, give us a glimmer of hope, and make us
love life amidst all troubles.
4. What is the message or the theme of the poem ‘A Thing of Beauty’?
Ans: The very first line contains the message that John Keats, the great
Romantic poet, wants to convey. Keats was a worshipper of beauty. Hence,
 for him a thing of beauty is a joy forever. Beauty never fades. Nor is it ever
devalued. It never passes into nothingness. When we are full of sorrows and
sufferings, some form of beauty comes to our rescue. It removes the pall of
sadness and sorrows and gives us joy and pleasure. Thus, beauty is a boon for
human beings.

5.‘Beauty is best left undefined’. Support your position on this statement with your
rationale, coupled with ideas in the poem.

Ans: It is true that beauty is best left undefined because the concept of beauty is
unique for everyone. There are so many concepts ,ideas and sources of beauty that
cannot be conceptualized or defined under one quality or aspect. One concrete thing
that can however be said of beauty is that it is permanent and healing. It never dies
away but it brings peace, happiness and joys in lives of people.
Think and Answer

1. How does Keats’ poem, ‘A Thing of Beauty’ appeal richly to the senses,
stimulating the reader’s inner sight as well as the sense of touch and smell?

Ans: It is truly said that Keats’ poem, ‘A Thing of Beauty’ appeals richly to
the senses, stimulating the reader’s inner sight as well as the sense of touch
and smell. His description allows for a deeper perception of the imagery.
Everything he says in his poems can be converted into a life-like experience
allowing the reader to experience exactly what he wants to convey. In the
poem, Keats establishes his idea of beauty in everything around us with
powerful imagery and word play. The cooling comfort of the bower , the
dancing daffodils in its green environment, the babbling stream and the mid-
forest brake with the musk rose blooms evoke our imagination. As readers,
we can imagine ourselves in such a setup with sense of hearing, touch and
smell. We can hear sounds of the scene, smell the flowers, and feel like we are
in the middle of nature. Even the stories of mighty ancestors and the doom that
befalls them appeal to our intellect as we can relate to the innumerable stories
we have read or heard.
The endless fountain may be an allusion of the fountain of youth. One can
imagine the fountain as rain that falls on our planet. Thus, Keats poetic
descriptions present beauty and appeal to our senses and give delight.
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 Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger
By Adrienne Rich
LO
I will be able to:
• analyse and interpret the theme of the poem.
• analyse and answer knowledge based and extrapolative questions.
D-Words
Prance
Topaz
Denizens
Ordeals
Word Meanings
Prance = jump or move in a spirited manner
Topaz = a bright yellow precious stone
Denizens = inhabitants
Ordeals = unpleasant or painful experience
Answer the following questions
1. Describe the tigers created by Aunt Jennifer.
Ans : Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are bright yellow in colour. They are
fearless and confident residents of dense green forests. The tigers
represent strength, bravery and fearlessness. They are confident and
graceful in their movements.
2. Why does Aunt Jennifer create animals that are so different from her
own character?
Ans: Aunt Jennifer creates tigers, representing strength, fearlessness and
confidence to express her longing of freedom and independence. She
wants to get out of the bondage imposed by her husband if not in reality
then at least symbolically. Her tigers express her hidden desires and
unfulfilled wishes.
3. What is suggested by the phrase, ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding
band’?
Ans: The phrase, ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’ refers to
the oppressive marriage in which Aunt Jennifer was trapped. The
marriage had subsumed her identity as an independent woman, reducing
her to remain content with playing the role of a dutiful wife in the
shadow of her husband. As a result, the ring has become a burden of
unhappy marriage.
4. How did Aunt Jennifer face the ordeals in her life?
Ans: Aunt Jennifer’s ordeal was that she was dominated by her husband
and was denied freedom. To face the ordeals, she created woollen tigers
with needle. Her art is an expression of her inner desires. With the help
of art, she created a scene of free and unafraid tigers in jungle.
5. Would you say that the poem, ‘Aunt Jennifer’ Tigers’ ends on a
note of hope? Justify your opinion.
Ans: I do not believe that the poem ends on a note of hope. The
end talks about Aunt Jennifer’s death and how she will still be
subdued by the patriarchal forces. This indicates that even death
does not provide any relief to the Aunt. Her story if remembered
would still be full of struggles, burdens and responsibilities that
she faced in life. Even though her art will exist to represent her
dreams, wishes and desires, she herself would not be able to
enjoy them.
Think and Answer
1. Analyse the symbols and poetic devices employed in the poem,
‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger’.

Read the given extract and answer the following questions:

1. Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of uncle’s wedding band.
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.
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