A things of beauty solutions chapter 4 class 12 English

        Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. List the 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 sadnes 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.

          Long Answer Type Questions

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.

      Stanza For Comprehension

Stanza 1

Its loveliness increases, it will never

Pass into nothingness: but will keep

A bower quiet for us, and a sleep

Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.

Questions:

(a) Whose loveliness will keep on increasing ?

(b) Identify the phrase which says that ‘it is immortal’.

c What is a bower ?

(d) Why do we need sweet dreams, health and quiet breathing in our lives ?

Answers:

(a) The loveliness of things of beauty will keep on increasing.

(b) The phrase that says it is immortal is … never passes into nothingness.

(c) It is a quiet and shady place.

(d) We need all these things so that we can enjoy the things of beauty.

Stanza 2

Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing

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.

Questions:

(a) Name the poem and the poet.

(b) What is the flowery band that binds us to the earth ?

(c) What does the poet mean by ‘spite of despondence’ ?

(d) What message is conveyed through these lines ?

Answers:

(a) The name of the poem is ‘A Thing of Beauty and its poet is John Keats.

(b) The flowery band here means things of beauty. It is only because of the things of beauty that we can continue to live on this earth.

(c) It means a lot of disappointment and sadness on the Earth.

(d) The message conveyed through these lines is that 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.

Stanza 3

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.

Questions:

(a) Name the poem and the poet.

(b) What is meant by ‘o’er darkened ways’ ?

c What does some shape of beauty do ?

(d) What idea is conveyed by these lines ?

Answers:

(a) The name of the poem is ‘A Thing of Beauty’ and its poet is John Keats.

(b) The o’er darkened ways’ means the mysterious things that human beings fail to understand.

(c) It removes the shroud of sadness from our spirit.

(d) The poet means to say that only the things of beauty make our life possible on this earth.

Stanza 4

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.

Questions:

(a) Name the poem and the poet.

(b) What have we imagined for the mighty dead ?

c Who are these mighty dead ?

(d) What lovely tales does the poet talk of ?

Answers:

(a) The name of the poem is A Thing of Beauty’ and its poet is John Keats.

(b) We have imagined that mighty dead would get due reward of their deeds on the day of judgement.

(c) These mighty deads are those persons who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of mankind.

(d) The poet talks of the tales of the bravery of the mighty dead.