A Thing of Beauty

-John Keats

Understanding the Poem

Answer these questions briefly

1. The poet believes that a beautiful object is a treasure that only grows in worth.
What are the ways in which a beautiful object can give us happiness?
Ans: The poet sees shades and colors of beauty in the sun, the moon, the trees,
the innocence of the sheep, the blossoming of the daffodils, the rivers and
streams, mass of ferns, blooming musk roses and in every aspect of this green
world we live in. They give us joy by lifting our spirits and filling us with
delight. 

2. ‘Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing

A flowery band to bind us to the earth.’
What do these lines suggest to you?
Ans: The poet says that in spite of the sad things in life, things of beauty enable
us to sleep quietly and have good dreams. Every day, these beautiful things act
like a band of flowers that bind us to Earth and give us a reason to keep living. 

3. Name some of the things that give pain to the poet.

Ans:  The things that give pain to the poet are despondence, inhuman dearth of
noble natures, gloomy days and unhealthy and over darkened ways.

4. What helps the poet to lift his spirits? Which phrase in the poem tells you this?
Ans: Keats feels that the eternal pleasures that we derive each day, despite our
unhappiness and misery is what still connect us to the earth. The things that cause
suffering and pain include the scarcity of people with a noble temperament,
overcast days, and the unhealthy and miserable ways in which humanity is
searching for meaning in life.

5. Name, from the poem, some of the objects of beauty in nature.

Ans: The poet sees beauty in various things of nature that add joy to our life.
These include the sun, the moon, the trees, the sheep, the green pastures, fair musk
rose and the clear water of the small streams. These remove the sadness from our
dark spirits.
6. Stories woven by man are beautiful. Pick out the lines from the poem that express
this idea.
Ans: Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o'er-darkn'd ways
Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits.
These lines express the idea that stories woven by man are beautiful.

7. Who are the ‘mighty dead’? Why does the poet feel that their ‘dooms’ were filled
with ‘grandeur’?
Ans: The 'mighty dead' referred to here are our ancestors, the great people of the
world who are worthy of respect. The endless fountain of immortal drink are all
the things of beauty that sustain mankind.

8. ‘An endless fountain of immortal drink,

Pouring unto us from the Heaven’s brink.’
a) What is the endless fountain the poet is referring to?
Ans: These lines from famous poem, A Thing of Beauty by John Keats
mean the beautiful things in our life are like an endless fountain falling
from God’s Heaven to earth. We the human beings drink this water of
beautiful things and survive.  

b) Why is it immortal?
Ans: The phrase immortal drink refers to blessings of our ancestors and
the teachings of nature.

c) Where is heaven’s brink?

Ans: Heaven's brink' refer to the happiness spread by the various things
of beauty present around us