Junior Intermediate

Poetry – Annotations
The Noble Nature By Ben Jonson – Poem – 4

1 It is not growing like a tree

In bulk, doth make man better be;
Introduction: The couplet finds a place in one of the most famed
nature poems ‘The Noble Nature’ penned down by the celebrated
poet Ben Jonson. Jonson was an acclaimed English dramatist,
lyric poet and literary critic. The poet highlights the importance of
a noble nature and noble deeds in human life.
Context & Meaning: In his introductory couplet, the poet brings
out the essence of being noble. To explain this, he likens Man to
an oak and lily tree. The oak has a protracted life span and
gigantic in size, yet it fails to gain the people’s appreciation and
eventually withers away unobserved. In other words, bulkiness
need not essentially indicate greatness. Smartness even in small
measures impresses and impacts everyone. This quality makes
Man morally upright.
General Relevance: The poet is of the opinion that all big things
come in small packages. Hugeness does not in the least suggest
greatness. The contrast between a meaningless long-life span and
a short life span full of heroic & virtual deeds is vividly projected
by Jonson.
2 A lily of the day
Is fairer far in May,
Introduction: The couplet finds a place in one of the most famed
nature poems ‘The Noble Nature’ penned down by the celebrated
poet Ben Jonson. Jonson was an established and acclaimed
English dramatist, lyric poet and literary critic. The poet
highlights the importance of a noble nature and noble deeds in
human life.
Context & Meaning: The poet Jonson while highlighting the
importance of noble deeds in Man says that Lily is better than an
oak tree, due to various reasons. First of all, lily is shiny and
bright in looks. Secondly, it is more beautiful than the appearance
of oak tree and blooms in May. The lily gives out its beauty in the
daytime and even though it doesn't live for a long it is perfect
during its lifetime. Growing physically like a bulky tree or living
long like a sturdy oak does not make a man a noble being.
General Relevance: The poet is of the opinion that all big things
come in small packages. Hugeness does not in the least suggest
greatness. The contrast between a meaningless long-life span and
a short life span full of heroic & virtual deeds is vividly projected
by Jonson.
3 It was the plant and flower of light.
Introduction: The line finds a place in one of the most famed
nature poems ‘The Noble Nature’ penned down by the celebrated
lyric poet Ben Jonson. Jonson was an established and acclaimed
English dramatist and literary critic. The poet highlights the
importance of a noble nature and noble deeds in human life.
Context & Meaning: The poet Jonson while highlighting the
importance of noble deeds in Man is all praise for the lily and
calls it the flower of the light because of its sparkling looks
particularly in the day time. Despite its brief survival it stands
out prominently and hogs the limelight when compared to the
oak. Man’s existence should be like the lily and not the oak.
Growing substantially like a massive tree or living long like a
robust oak does not make a man a noble being.
General Relevance: The poet is of the opinion that hugeness does
not in the least suggest greatness. The contrast between a
meaningless long-life span and a short life span full of heroic &
virtual deeds is vividly projected by Jonson.
4 And in short measures life may perfect be.
Introduction: The line finds a place in one of the most famed
nature poems ‘The Noble Nature’ penned down by the celebrated
lyric poet Ben Jonson. Jonson was an established and acclaimed
English dramatist and literary critic. The poet highlights the
importance of a noble nature and noble deeds in human life.
Context & Meaning: The poet Jonson while highlighting the
importance of noble deeds in Man sheds light on the importance
of the lily flower. Although the flower has the life extent of a day
and falls and perishes by nightfall, it spreads beauty and delight
in that short period. The poet feels that a meaningful life like the
lily flower, though short, is what makes a man noble and even
though a man’s life is short it can be a perfect life.
General Relevance: The poet is of the opinion that hugeness does
not in the least suggest greatness. The contrast between a
meaningless long-life span and a short life span full of heroic &
virtual deeds is vividly projected by Jonson.

Poetry – Short Answers

1 Discuss the aptness of the title ‘The Noble Nature’ to the poem.
Ans: Benjamin Jonson was well known English dramatist, lyric
poet and literary critic. He later developed into a successful
playwright and went on to be regarded as the second most
important English dramatist after William Shakespeare. Jonson's
artistry exerted a lasting influence upon English poetry and stage
comedy.
The title ‘The Noble Nature’ perfectly suits the poem and the
poet has very adeptly driven home the message ‘meaningless long-
life span or a short life span full of heroic & virtual deeds’, take
your pick.
While highlighting the importance of a noble nature and noble
deeds in human life, the poet Jonson compares man to an oak and
lily tree. The oak has a bigger life span and bulky in size, yet it
fails to gain the people’s appreciation and finally withers away
unnoticed. Similarly, a man who takes after the qualities of the
oak will go unnoticed in terms of his deeds. But if man lives like
the lily that attracts praise despite its short life span, or if he does
better in that short period of time, he will be eternally
remembered. This quality makes a man noble.
2 Bulk does not make better be. How does the oak support this
stand?
Ans: Benjamin Jonson was well known English dramatist, lyric
poet and literary critic. He later developed into a successful
playwright and went on to be regarded as the second most
important English dramatist after William Shakespeare. Jonson's
artistry exerted a lasting influence upon English poetry and stage
comedy.
Growing physically like a bulky tree or living long like a sturdy
oak does not make a man a noble being. The huge, strong and
aged oak will soon become a lifeless, ‘dry’ and withered piece of
log. So too will be the fate of a man who is only blessed with long
life and physical and material wellbeing.

3 Explain with the example of the lily that size matters not but
beauty counts a lot.
Ans: Benjamin Jonson was well known English dramatist, lyric
poet and literary critic. He later developed into a successful
playwright and went on to be regarded as the second most
important English dramatist after William Shakespeare. Jonson's
artistry exerted a lasting influence upon English poetry and stage
comedy.
The lily plant has a short life. It blooms in May and is very
beautiful. Although the flower has the life span of a day and
falls and dies by nightfall, unlike the oak which has a prolonged
existence but fades away disregarded. The lily spreads beauty and
delight in that short period. The poet feels that a meaningful life
like the lily flower, though short, is what makes a man noble and
even though a man’s life is short it can be a flawless one.