A Thing of Beauty - Poem (Flamingo)

By, John Keats
About the poet
A British Romantic poet, John Keats (1795-1821), published his first epic poem, Endymion
in 1818. It is a narrative about the relationship between a Goddess and her human lover.
The poem is based on the Greek myth of Endymion, the shepherd who falls in love with
the moon Goddess, Selene, whom the poet renames ‘Cynthia’. This extract, ‘A Thing of
Beauty’ talks of how beautiful things give us pleasure and alleviate suffering and sorrow.
The epic poem, ‘Endymion’ begins famously with the line, ‘A thing of beauty is a joy
forever’ (first stanza).
Summary
This poem presents the reader with the views of Keats on beauty and its value, and its
‘importance to humans. Beauty, in whatever form it may be found, is an eternal joy to
humans, because it offers humans the constant opportunity to reflect on that beauty,
which stands in such stark contrast to the dejection, monotony and ugliness of our
everyday lives.
In spite of all the difficulties and the sufferings that humans face, beauty has the ability to
produce happiness and temporarily shift the burdens that humans bear.
Keats therefore, establishes that in his view of the world, life for humans consists of
unremitting struggles and difficulties, and it is only beauty in its various guises that is able
to shift those trials and at least temporarily produce happiness. The poem concludes with
a list of things that constitute “beauty” for Keats, which include both physical objects
which are examples of natural beauty such as daffodils, and also beauty that can be found
in art, such as “the lovely tales we have heard or read”.
All of these forms of beauty act as “an endless fountain of immortal drink”, allowing
humans to forget bleak reality and experience joy. This poem therefore, focuses on the
theme of happiness and how it can be experienced. It inspires us and gives us the courage
to fight against all odds.
QUESTIONS FROM TEXTBOOK SOLVED
Question 1.
List Hie things of beauty mentioned in the poem.
Answer:
The sun, the moon, the trees, daffodils, simple sheep, clear rills, the mid forest brake,
musk roses and the mighty dead are some of the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.
Question 2.
List the things that cause suffering and pain.
Answer:
The things that cause suffering and pain are gloomy days. There is general depression
among human beings. There is lack of noble nature. But without the beautiful things, our
lives on this earth would have become impossible.
Question 3.
What does the line, ‘Therefore, are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to earth’
suggest to you?
Answer:
There is so much disappointment and sadness on this earth. There is lack of noble souls.
But we are still living on this earth. The poet says that our existence on the earth is
possible only due to some things of beauty.
Question 4.
What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings?
Answer:
On this earth, man’s life is full of depression and disappointment. There is general lack of
truly noble people. The shroud of disappointment is spread over human souls. But a thing
of beauty makes human beings love life in spite of trouble and sufferings.
Question 5.
Why is ‘grandeur’ associated with the ‘mighty dead’?
Answer:
‘Mighty dead’ are those people who sacrificed their lives for the sake of general good of
mankind. Now they are lying in their graves. The poet says that on the day of judgement,
they will be rewarded by God Himself for their noble deeds. It is this grandeur or dignity
that is associated with ’mighty dead’.
Question 6.
Do we experience things of beauty only for short moments or do they make a lasting
impression on us?
Answer:
As the title of the poem suggests that a thing of beauty is a joy forever. The poet says that
a thing of beauty leaves a lasting impression on our minds. It never passes into
nothingness. Whenever we are sad or disappointed, it is a thing of beauty that gives us
some sort of joy.
Question 7.
What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth?
Answer:
The poet says that there are a number of things that make the earth beautiful. These
things are like a fountain of immortal drink which is pouring unto us from the heaven’s
brink.
Question 8.
Mention any four things of beauty that add joy to our life.
Answer:
The things of beauty that add joy to our life are the sun, the moon, the trees, daffodils,
simple sheep, clear rills, the mid forest brake, musk roses and the mighty dead.
Question 9.
Mention any two things which cause pain and suffering.
Answer:
The things that cause suffering and pain are gloomy days. There is general depression
among human beings. There is lack of noble nature. But for the beautiful things, our lives
on this earth would have become impossible.
Question 10.
Which objects of nature does Keats mention as a thing of beauty?
Answer:
The things of nature that Keats mentions as things of beauty are the sun, the moon, trees,
simple sheep, flowers like daffodils, clear rills and musk roses.
Question 11.
What does a thing of beauty do for us?
Answer:
It is only because of things of beauty that we are able to live on this earth. Otherwise
there is so much grief on this earth that it would have become impossible without things
of beauty.
Question 12.
How do beautiful things help us to live life?
Answer:
The poet says that there is so much pain and suffering on this earth. There is air of general
disappointment. The poet says it is only because of things of beauty that we can live on
this earth. Otherwise the life on this earth would have become impossible.
Question 13.
What does Keats consider an endless fountain of immortal drink and why does he call its
drink immortal?
Answer:
Keats considers all things of beauty, an endless fountain of immortality. The poet says
that there is so much despondence and grief on this earth that but without a thing of
beauty our stay on this earth would have become impossible.
Question 14.
According to Keats, what spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits? How is it
removed?
Answer:
Keats says that there is general grief on this earth. Man’s life is full of disappointment and
sadness. It appears as if a shroud of disappointment is spread over our dark spirits. It is
only some or the other things of beauty that removes this pall of despondence.
Question 15.
How can ‘mighty dead’ be things of beauty?
Answer:
The ‘mighty dead’ are those people who lay their lives for the betterment of mankind. We
read their stories and it gives us immense joy. The poet says that these mighty dead be
rewarded by God Himself on the day of judgement.
1. Describe the kind of joy a beautiful thing provides.
Answer:
Anything that is beautiful provides us an unending, everlasting and eternal joy. It leaves
an indelible imprint on our heart and soul. We love to relive the memories of that joyous
experience whenever it flashes back in our mind.
2. Explain, ‘it’s loveliness increases’.
Answer:
The joy that we experience on seeing a beautiful object, multiplies whenever we
remember it. Similarly, the loveliness of anything beautiful multiplies each time we
visualise it in our thoughts. Compared to this, things which do not give us happiness only
remain for a short while, and then disappear forever.
3. Why does a thing of beauty not pass into ‘nothingness’?
Answer:
A thing, the memory of which provides us eternal joy, will never fade away. The loveliness
of a beautiful object does not fade away or die out because it leaves an indelible imprint
on our heart and soul.
4. How can we get refreshed amidst beauty?
Answer:
The beautiful things give us peace like a quiet bower, a pleasant shady place providing us
peaceful sleep, sweet dreams and good health and therefore, refreshes us.
5. Explain, ‘wreathing a flowery band to bind us to the earth’.
Answer:
Keats feels that every morning we weave a beautiful string of flowers or memories which
help us support ourselves and motivate us to live our life to the fullest, instead of
burdening our lives with pain and suffering.
6. Why is there an ‘inhuman dearth of noble natures’?
Answer:
In these days, there are few people who are noble in character and who rise above petty
differences by being magnanimous and generous. There is a dearth of such noble souls on
our earth; as man is selfish and self-centred.
7. What are ‘unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways’?
Answer:
The unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways refer to the trials and tribulations of life, the
selfish and jealous methods we adopt to achieve our goals.
8. Explain, ‘spite of despondence’.
Answer:
It means despite the existence of gloom and darkness around.
9. What images of beauty has the poet referred to?
Answer:
The poet appreciates the simplicity and serenity of beauty through the image of the sun,
the moon, the trees, the sheep, the daffodils, the green pastures, the livid streams, and a
fair bloom of musk-roses.
10. How is ‘tree’ a perfect example of a beautiful thing?
Answer:
The tree bears the heat of the sun to give shade and coolness to anyone who seeks shade
and rest under its branches. Its greatness is a degree greater because it gives shade not
only to the mighty ones, but also to the simplest of the animals, such as sheep.
11. What does ‘simple sheep’ symbolise?
Answer:
Sheep and lamb are envisioned as symbols of innocence and serene beauty. Jesus Christ
was a shepherd and was surrounded by his flock of sheep, his followers. Keats has made
special reference to the sheep as symbols of divine beauty.
12. Explain, ‘the green world they live in’.
Answer:
Beauty of nature is at its best in the lush green surroundings of meadows and pastures
which provide support to all plants and animals. It is in this green world that all living
creatures find true happiness and joy.
13. What does Keats mean by ‘an endless fountain of immortal drink’?
Answer:
Beauty, according to Keats, is a perennial source of motivation and inspiration. He
considers it an endless fountain from which mankind can drink the elixir of life.
14. Explain, ‘pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink’.
Answer:
Beauty, Keats says, has been showered upon us from the heaven by God as the greatest
gift to man. This eternal and everlasting beauty is a perennial source of gaiety, which is
eternal and everlasting.
15. Which poetic device is used in the 2nd line of the extract?
Answer:
hyperbole e.g., ‘endless fountain’
16. Which lovely tales does the poet speak of?
Answer:
The motivational stories of martyrs are the ‘lovely tales’ that the poet speaks of.

MORE QUESTIONS FOR REFERENCE

(NOT FOR WRITING)
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q1. How is a thing of beauty a joy forever?

Ans: According to John Keats a thing of beauty is a joy of forever. It is a constant source of
happiness and pleasure. Its loveliness increases every moment. It will never pass into
nothingness. In other words, a thing of beauty is never devalued.
Q2. How does a thing of beauts provide us shelter and comfort?
Ans: John Keats is a great Romantic poet. He is rich in sensuous imagery. Nature provides
us things of rare beauty. It keeps a bower quiet for us. A bower is a pleasant place in the
shade under a tree. A thing of beauty also provides us peace and security. We enjoy a
sound sleep which is full of sweet dreams, health and peaceful breathing.
Q3. How do us bind our self to the earth every morning?
Ans: All the Romantic poets stress upon the relationship between man and nature. Keats
believes that there is an unbreakable bond which binds man with nature and the earth.
The beauties of the earth fascinate man. Every object of nature is a source of beauty and
happiness. Everyday we are weaving a wreath of flowers. This flowery band binds us to
the beauties of this earth.
Q4. What are the things that cause miseries, sorrows and sufferings to man ?
Ans: Man himself is the root cause of all his sufferings. We suffer from malice and distress
because we lack human qualities that makes us inhuman. Our life becomes gloomy. We
cultivate unhealthy and evil ways. All such things bring miseries, sorrows and sufferings to
man.
Q5. What spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits? How is it removed?
Ans: Man is the creator of his woes. His own nature and actions make his life miserable.
He faces miseries and pains. A pall of despondence covers his dark spirits. A thing of
beauty provides a ray of hope to man. Some shape of beauty works wonders amid these
sorrows and sufferings. It is a thing of beauty that removes the pall of despondence over
our dark spirits.
Q6. Name the beauties of nature that are constant source of joy and happiness to man.
Ans: Nature is a store house of beauty. The beauties of nature are endless. The sun, the
moon, old and young trees, beautiful daffodil flowers and green surroundings are some of
such beautiful things. Small streams with clear water, thick mass of ferns, thickets of
forest and musk-rose are some other things of beauty. All such things of beauty are a
constant source of joy and happiness to man.
Q7. Why and how is ‘grandeur associated with the ‘mighty dead’?
Ans: The dooms day is considered the day of judgement, when the dead will receive what
is due to them. Our mighty dead forefathers earned name and fame with their noble
deeds. It is hoped that they will be rewarded with rare magnificence and grandeur.
Q8. How is a thing of beauty lovelier than all the lovely tales we have heard and read?
Ans: All beautiful things of nature are a boon for humanity. The magnificence and beauty
of objects of nature surpasses the grandeur of dooms that we have imagined for our
mighty dead forefathers. It is lovelier than all the lovely tales that we have heard or read.
Q9. What is the source of the ‘endless fountain’ and what is its effect?
Ans: A fountain of eternal joy ‘and immortality pours into the heart and soul of man. It
flows right from the heavens brink and pours into the human heart. It is like an immortal
nectar. The immortal drink that nature’s endless fountain pours into our hearts is a source
of immense joy for us.
Q10. What is the message for 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. For him beauty was truth and truth,
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.
Long Answer Type
Question 1.
Write in brief the summary of this poem.
Answer:
The poet says that it is some thing of beauty that provides joy forever. Then poet lists
some things that are source of beauty. He says the sun, the moon, beautiful flowers,
young trees and simple sheep are all things of beauty. The poet says that there is so much
grief on this earth that the life would become impossible without any thing of beauty. It is
something or the other thing of beauty that binds us to the earth.
Then the poet describes about the mighty dead of this earth. These people have laid down
their lives for the sake of mankind. The poet says that they will get their due reward on
the day of judgement. The poet compares the things of beauty with a fountain pouring
out immortal drink from the brink of heaven.
Question 2.
Write in brief the central idea of the poem.
Answer:
In this poem, the poet says that a thing of beauty is a joy forever. He compares a thing of
beauty with a bower, where we can enjoy sweet sleep. Then the poet mentions many
things of beauty. He says that there is so much grief and sadness on this earth that we can
sustain our life only because of the things of beauty.
He compares the things of beauty with ‘an endless fountain of immortal drink pouring
unto us from the heaven’s brink’. In this way the poet underlines the fact that we should
preserve and take care of the things of beauty. They are joy not for ourselves but also for
our coming generations.