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A THING OF BEAUTY
John Keats
REFERENCE TO CONTEXT
A. A thing of beauty is a joy forever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing
1. Name the poem and the poet.
Name of the poem is 'A Thing of Beauty' and the poet is John Keats.
2. How is a thing of beauty a joy forever?
A thing of beauty provides everlasting joy. Its beauty never decreases but continues to increase
with the passage of time. It never fades away.
3. What do you understand by a "bower"?
'Bower' is the shelter under the shade of the tree. It provides protection from the harsh sun.
4. What kind of sleep does the bower provide?
It provides a sound sleep full of sweet dreams and peaceful breathing. Hence, a person enjoys
good health.
B. Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreath
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
1. What are we doing every day?
Every morning we are weaving a flowery band of beautiful memories that binds us to the Earth.
2. Which evil things do we possess and suffer from?
 Human beings possess vices like malice, hatred, animosity and suffer from despair and
disappointment. There is a shortage of noble qualities, lack of goodness and mercy continue to
be evil and unhealthy in their ways of behaviour.
3. Explain "in spite of all".
In spite of all evils mentioned by the poet.
4. Find words from the passage which mean: 1) malice 2) disappointment 1) spite 2)
despondence
C. 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;
1. What removes the pall from our dark spirit?
A thing of beauty removes the pall from our dark spirits
2. What sprouts a shady boon for sheep and harm?
Old and young trees sprout branches to provide shade and shelter to sheep. It is a blessing for
the simple sheep against the harsh sun.
3. Find words from the passage that mean: 1) covering 2) blessing
1) pall 2) boon
4. What is 'simple sheep' symbolic of?
'simple sheep' is symbolic of the innocence of human beings. (Biblical reference)
D. …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
1. How do daffodils and rills enrich the environment?
The daffodils Bloom and are surrounded by greenery. The clear streams of water create a
cooling shelter for themselves against the heat of the sun.
2. What makes the mid forest break rich?
The beautiful musk roses make the mid forest break rich and more beautiful. 3. Find words in the
passage which mean: 1) small stream 2) shelter of thickets 1)Clear rills 2) covert
3. What is 'cooling covert' an example of?
'cooling covert' is an example of alliteration.
E. 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. Explain the grandeur of the doom.
The magnificence or glory of death that we associate with our ancestors/ mighty dead and the
beautiful things created by them.
2. What is implied by 'all lovely tales that we have heard or read'?
All the beautiful stories that have been read or heard by us have also surpassed in beauty like the
beauties of nature.
3. What is the source of the 'endless fountain of immortal drink'?
The source of the ensures fountain of immortal drink is 'the brink of heaven'
4. Which figures of speech have been used in the second last line of the extract?
An endless fountain---Hyperbole, immortal drink---metaphor
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

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