A THING OF BEAUTY

John Keats
Background

Endymion is an epic poem in English. This poem by Keats is based on the Greek
mythology of Endymion, the shepherd beloved by the moon goddess Selene. We see an
elaboration of the original story and the moon Goddess Selene is named as “Cynthia”.
The poem equates Endymion’s original romantic ardor with a more universal quest for a
self-destroying transcendence in which he might achieve a blissful personal unity with all
creation.

Endymios in Greek mythology is a story of a handsome youth who spent much of his life
sleeping. There are different views related to Endymion. According to some tradition
Endymion was the king of Elis. Several traditions say that he was offered by Zeus to
choose anything he might desire and Endymionin order to remain young forever chose
an everlasting sleep.

While some tradition says Endymion’s eternal sleep was a punishment given by Zeus,
because Endymion fell in love with Zeus’s wife Hera. Selene was deeply in love with
Endymion, some say Selene had cursed Endymion into everlasting sleep so that she
can enjoy him all by herself.

Selene’s love for Endymion made her visit him every night while he was asleep. But in
the poem Keats emphasizes on Endymion’s love for Diana rather than on hers for him.
Keats transformed this tale into prose to express the loves that have been felt on
imaginative longings.

This theme of love is determined in the adventure of the Endymion quest by Diana. In
the search for Diana Endymion falls in love with an earthly maiden. But in the end Diana
and the earthly maiden turn out to be one and the same.

Summary

A beautiful thing is a source of eternal joy, its attractiveness grows with the passage of
time and its impact never fades away. It is as pleasant as a cool quiet bower or sound
sleep with sweet dreams; or robust health and mental peace. It provides the beholder
with a haven of tranquility and solace.

It is the beauty of nature that keeps us attached to this earth. Every morning we collect
fresh lovely flowers and prepare garlands. The fascination for flowers is our bonding with
the earth. It helps us steer clear of despondency and disappointments. We forget all our
despair, of acute shortage of noble souls, of misfortunes that overtake us to test our
forbearance. Life is full of trials and tribulations and we often find ourselves in the midst
of gloom. It is at such depressing moments that a sight full of beauty dispels the pall of
sadness from our spirits making room for hope and optimism.
The objects of beauty are countless. These include heavenly bodies like the sun and the
moon, the old and young trees that provide cool shelter to sleep, the daffodil flowers
encased in green leaves, the streams that flow through a shady passage which they
make themselves with plants, and the bushes that bear fragrant flowers. These simple
and even commonplace things lift the human spirit filling it with joy and delight. In
addition to these objects of nature, there are wonderful tales of our legendary heroes,
who lived and died heroically, which inspire us with their matchless beauty. These
beautiful things are metaphorically an endless source of nectar that pours down to us
from heaven bringing eternal joy for the soul’s grandeur. They are like an elixir of life, a
never diminishing source of pleasure and delight, an endless fountain of joy that seems
to be a precious gift from Heaven.

Stanza 01

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever

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.

Explanation: A beautiful thing is happiness forever. Whatever happens, we cannot hate

a really beautiful thing. Even when it fades, decays or dies, we love such things without
any conditions. It will never be forgotten even after its death. When we live surrounded
by beautiful people, places and things, our minds will be refreshed and will have sweet
dreams while sleeping. As a further result we will have good health and quiet breathing.

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

A thing is said to be a ‘thing of beauty,’ because it is a source of joy for ever. When
we think of it, we should be happy and in its absence too, it should fill our minds
with divine memories of it.

2. How does the loveliness of the beautiful thing increase?

A really beautiful thing gives us such a happiness that will keep on increasing every
day and will continue to be doing so for ever contrary to the ordinary things that
give us happiness for some time and then disappears.

3. How does a thing pass into ‘nothingness?’

A thing passes into nothingness when it dies and disappears from our memories.
Such a thing is not a thing of beauty.

4. What is a bower? How does the beautiful thing keep a bower quiet for us?
A bower is a shady place under the huge branches of trees. A bower is always
restless and noisy due to the wind that makes leaves rustle and birds to chirp. But
there will be a sudden silence and stillness in a bower at the presence of a
beautiful thing like a flower.
5. How is the beautiful thing able to provide us with sweet dreams? What else
does the beautiful thing provide us with?
If we have the sweet memories of a beautiful thing, it will provide us with sweet
dreams in sleep. It also gives us health and quiet breathing.

Stanza 02

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 over darkened ways
made for our searching:
Yes, in spite of all, some shape of beauty
moves away the pall from our dark spirits.

Explanation: The world is a bad place due to lack of noble people, unhappy days, ugly
ways of man, etc. Despite this sadness, man finds some or the other way to stay
connected to the earth because a beautiful thing, such as a loving smile, a loving touch,
a loving care, etc., comes for his help at such times.

1. What does the poet mean by ‘wreathing a flowery band?’

Wreathing a flowery band refers to arranging flowers in a beautiful order. Here the
poet refers to our habit of gathering all good hopes, dreams and aspirations for
beginning a more successful life each day.

2. Why do we need to ‘wreathe a flowery band every morning?

Wreathing flowery band is symbolic of gathering all good hopes every morning to
begin a happy day. It is very necessary for all human beings to wreathe a flowery
band every morning to love life in spite of all the sufferings and pains of life around.

3. What is the ‘spite of despondence?’

Spite of despondence is a state of our minds filled with ill-will and hatred for others
due to profound hopeless and gloom.

4. How does the ‘dearth of noble natures’ occur in our lives?

With the passage of time we generally ignore the great values and moralities
taught by our ancestors. It happens due to our tendency to embark the lighter ways
and easier rules in the society.

5. How do days become ‘gloomy?’

Days become gloomy when hopelessness fills our lives.

6. What is the ‘pall’ that covers our spirits? How does it fall on our spirits?
The pall that covers our spirit is a blanket of comfort that we get from wrong
means. It falls on us when we allow ourselves to enjoy evil pleasures.

7. What can remove the ‘pall’ from our dark spirits?’ How?
Only beautiful things can remove the pall from our dark spirits.
8. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and ordeals?
The presence of beautiful things in the world gives human beings an urge to live
longer.

Stanza 03

Such (as) the sun, the moon, trees old and young,
Sprouting a shady boon for simple sheep;
And such are daffodils with the green world they live in;
and the clear rills that for themselves
a cooling covert make against the hot season;
The mid forest brake, rich with a sprinkling of musk rose blooms;

Explanation: This paragraph simply tells us some of the beautiful things on Earth. After
all, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder – Everyone can highlight something beautiful
in anything. The examples cited by the poet are as such: the sun, the moon, trees,
flowers, streams, musk-rose blooms, architectural sepulchers, even fairy tales or heroic
legends. The ‘simple sheep’ are human beings – the poet sympathizes with the
innocence of human beings. Keats sees the beauty in innocent humans seeking solace
in nature, and Mother Nature in its own way sprouts a shady abode of relief and
consolation. The expression ‘Lily of the valley’ is quite well known and rouses images of
a delicate lone white flower holding up its head amidst a setting of thorns and barbs and
everything contrary in nature to delicateness – so too are the daffodils mentioned in the
poem.

1. How are the sun and moon beautiful things?

The sun and moon are beautiful because they are source of life and endless joy for
everyone.

2. How is ‘tree’ a perfect example for a beautiful thing in its greatness by

providing shade to the simple sheep?
The tree bears the heat of the sun to give shade and cool for anyone who seeks
shade and rest under its branches. Its greatness is a degree greater because it
gives shade not only for the mighty ones, but also for the simplest of the animals
such as sheep.

3. How are the daffodils beautiful things?

Daffodils are beautiful for the charm and fragrance that they spread in the garden
where they live.

4. What are clear rills? What act of the rill makes it a beautiful thing?
Clear rills are beautiful, clean rivers. They flow through all kinds of lands, selflessly
sharing their water with all the trees and animals on their way, making them rich
and grow.

5. How is the ‘mid forest brake’ made rich?

The mid forest is made rich with the fragrance of the musk rose.

6. What act of the ‘musk rose’ makes it beautiful?

 The musk rose grows and blooms along with ferns. The humility of the great musk
rose to grow with the dull fern makes it beautiful. Moreover, it spreads its fragrance
far away and makes the nature more beautiful and sweet. The musk rose’
readiness to share its goodness with the rest of the world makes it rich.

Stanza 04

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.

Explanation: The poet also sees beauty in the death of martyrs and legends. ‘The
mighty dead’ are those martyrs who have died bravely for a cause. We honor them by
erecting magnificent, grand sepulchers in which beauty is seen. If one looks around,
there are innumerable beautiful things to notice – they seem to flow immortally as a
fountain, from the gods above to help the pitiable human beings to cope with the
harshness of life.

1. What is the ‘grandeur of the dooms of the great people?’ How does the poet
compare this ‘grandeur’ with that of the beautiful things?
The greatness with which the great people die is the ‘grandeur of the dooms of the
mighty dead.’ The poet compares this greatness with that of the beautiful things on
account of the fact that the great people die for giving happiness to the rest of the
world.

2. Who are the mighty dead? Why are they called so? How are they beautiful?
The mighty dead are the great people who have sacrificed their lives for the
humanity by struggling and dying for others. They are called so because they were
selfless and provided happiness for the others. They were mighty because it is
more difficult to die for others than living for oneself. They are equally beautiful as
they suffered for other people like the daffodils and trees, they provided happiness
to others like the clear rills and they burnt for others like the sun.

3. Which ‘tales’ does the poet here refer to? Why are they lovely?
The poet refers to the really beautiful stories that we have either heard or read.
These tales are beautiful because they can leave an indelible happiness in us and
each time we recall these stories, we feel our burdens lifted, mind refreshed and
life moving happily in spite of all disturbances.

4. How are the ‘lovely tales’ ‘fountain of immortal drink?’

A fountain of immortal drink gives us immortality. Similarly, reading and listening to
really beautiful tales fill our minds with joy beyond description.
Stanzas for Comprehension :

1. A thing of beauty is a joy forever

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.

(a) What kind of joy does a beautiful thing provide?

(b) Explain : “Its loveliness increases”.
(c) What does the poet mean by saying, “it will never pass into nothingness”.
(d) According to Keats, what treasures does a beautiful thing store for us?
(e) Explain : “sleep full of sweet dreams”.
(f) What does ‘quiet breathing’ imply?

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:

(a) What according to the poet do we keep doing every morning?

(b) Explain : ‘wreathing a flowery band to bind us to the earth’.
(c) What does the expression ‘spite of despondence’ imply?
(d) Why is there an inhuman dearth of noble natures?
(e) What makes our days gloomy?
(f) Explain : ‘unhealthy and o’er darkened ways’.

3. …………... yes, in spite of all,

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, and such are daffodils
With the green world they live in

(a) What does ‘in spite of all’ refer to?

(b) What, according to the poet, drives away the sadness from our life?
(c) What images of beauty has the poet referred to here?
(d) How does the poet appreciate the beauty of a tree?
 (e) What does the reference “simple sheep” imply?
(f) Explain : “With the green world they live in”.

4. ……………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;
And such too is the grandeur of the dooms

(a) What does ‘clear rills’ refer to?

(b) How are they beneficial to mankind?
(c) Explain ; ‘the mid forest brake’
(d) What does ‘grandeur of the dooms’ imply?
(e) What contrasting aspects of life has the poet referred to here?

5. We have imagined for the mighty dead;

All lovely tales that we have heard or read;
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring on to us from heaven’s brink.

(a) Who are the ‘mighty dead’?

(b) Why does the poet make this reference?
(c) What ‘lovely tales have we heard or read’?
(d) What is referred to as an ‘endless fountain of immortal drink’?
(e) Explain ; “Pouring onto us from heaven’s brink”.
 SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

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

2. What makes the poet believe that a thing of beauty can never pass into
nothingness?

3. How does beauty leave an indelible imprint on our mind?

4. How, according to the poet, does darkness and despair of life wither away?

5. How does the poem highlight Keat’s yearning for ideal beauty?

6. What philosophy of life is highlighted in the poem?

7. How does the poem highlight the poet’s immense faith in the Divine?

8. Do we experience things of beauty only for short moments or do they make a

lasting impression on us?

9. What does the line, “Therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to
earth” suggest?

10. What makes human beings love life inspite of troubles and sufferings?