Modern Delhi Public School English : Core

A Thing of Beauty : John Keats

Born: October 31, 1795, Moorgate, London,
United Kingdom
Died: February 23, 1821, Rome, Italy
Education: King's College London
Buried: Protestant Cemetery, Rome, Italy
Siblings: George Keats

John Keats was an English Romantic poet. He was one of the main figures of the second generation
of Romantic poets along with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley. Despite his work having been
in publication for only four years before his death. Keats lived for only 25 years and 4 months, yet
his poetic achievement is extraordinary. His reputation grew after his death, so that by the end of
the 19th century, he had become one of the most beloved of all English poets.

Detailed Explanation:
1. A thing of beauty is a joy forever
A beautiful thing is a source of never ending joy, perennial satisfaction and happiness. It
leaves an indelible mark on our minds and we relive the joyful experience whenever we
think about it.
2. Its loveliness increases
With the passage of time the effect of the thing becomes more profound. Whenever we
think of a beautiful thing, our joy multiplies.
3. It will never pass into nothingness
The joy a beautiful thing provides is eternal. It leaves an indelible imprint in our minds. It is
never forgotten and its loveliness never fades away.
4. But will keep a bower quiet for us
A beautiful thing is like a bower or a shady place, as it is a good source of peace and
tranquility. When we are tensed or tired, a beautiful thing or its memory, heals the sorrow
and gives relaxation to the mind.

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5. And a sleep full of sweet dreams

The joy beauty gives us is akin to the joy of a blissful sleep full of pleasant dreams.
6. And health and quiet breathing
It is also the source of peace and health. Beautiful sights act as nutrition for mind and thus
relax and refresh us by driving away aggression and restlessness.
7. Therefore, on every morrow are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to the earth
Life on earth would be a pain without the beauty around us. Keats feels that every morning
we weave beautiful string of flowers or memories which help us to support ourselves on
earth and motivate us to live our life to the fullest instead of burdening our lives with pain
and suffering.
8. 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
Despair, dejection and pessimism prevails the world. There are few people who are noble in
character and who rise above petty differences by being magnanimous and generous. There
is a dearth of such noble souls on our earth as man is selfish and self-centred. The unhealthy
and over – darkened ways refer to the trials and tribulations one encounters in this journey
of life.
9. Yes, inspite of all, some shape of beauty moves way the pall from our dark spirits
Inspite of experiencing sadness and remorse, man is able to find happiness in some form of
beauty which drives away sadness from our dark or gloomy life. Beauty in any shape or
form helps in driving away the sadness and despair from the dark recesses of our spirit.
10. Such the sun, the moon, trees old and young, sprouting a shady boon, for simple sheep
He (the poet) appreciates this simple and serene beauty through the image of the sun, the
moon, the trees, the sheep, the daffodils and the green pastures. Trees whether old or young
are a symbol of protection. Lambs and sheep are envisioned as the embodiments of innocent
and serene beauty. Jesus Christ an apostle of peace was a shepherd and was seen surrounded
by his flock of sheep. So the sheep is shown as a symbol of divine beauty.
11. 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’
Meadows and pastures are beautiful and support life. True joy and happiness can be
experienced by looking at daffodils in these lush green meadows and pastures. Clear rills

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refers to the rivers and streams which are the natural source of water, the elixir of life as
water is the vital source of sustenance not only for humans but the entire universe.
12. The mid forest brake, Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk – rose blooms;

The poet enjoys nature’s beauty in the thick forest undergrowth which is brimming with the

growth of musk rose flowers.

13. 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

The mighty dead people whose achievements made them great and powerful, inspire us

through their sagas of their noble works. Their legends and stories enthuse us and remain an

everlasting source of motivation to all those who read or hear about such great men who

achieved glory in death.

14. An endless fountain of immortal drink, pouring unto us from heaven’s brink

Beauty in all respects is a perennial source of motivation and inspiration. He considers it as

an endless fountain from where mankind can drink the elixir of life. Beauty, Keats says has

been showered upon us from the heavens by God as the greatest gift to man. This beauty is

eternal and everlasting in whose glory men on earth derive their perennial source of joy and

happiness.

RHYME SCHEME

Keats uses a perfect rhyme scheme of aabbcc

POETIC DEVICES

Metaphor – bower quiet, sweet dreams, wreathing a flowery band, pall, endless fountain of immortal

drink.

Alliteration – noble natures, cooling covert, band to bind.

Symbol – simple sheep – refers to mankind as Christ is the shepherd.

Imagery – flowery bands, shady boon, daffodils in green world, clear rills, cooling covert, grandeur

of dooms, endless fountain of immortal drink.

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A Thing of Beauty

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REFERENCE TO CONTEXT: (1 × 4 = 4)
Read the following extract and answer the questions given below:
All lovely tales that we have heard or read:
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven's brink.
1. Which lovely tales does poet mention here?
(a) the mythological stories (b) glorious stories of ancestors
(c) the stories of bravery (d) the folk tales
Ans. (b) glorious stories of ancestors
2. Which image used by the poet tells that the beauty is never ending?
(a) endless fountain of hope (b) lovely tales
(c) immortal drink (d) heaven's drink
Ans. (c) immortal drink

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3. Which literary device is used by the poet in 'An endless fountain of immortal drink, Pouring
unto us from the heaven's brink'?
(a) personification (b) allegory
(c) imagery (d) metaphor
Ans. (c) imagery
4. From where is this 'immortal drink' pouring?
(a) from the river (b) from the mountains
(c) from the angel's palms (d) from nature's endless fountain
Ans. (d) from nature's endless fountain

Short Answer Questions (2 marks)

Q1. How is a thing of beauty a joy forever?

Ans. A thing of beauty is a joy forever because it gives us eternal and everlasting joy. The intransient

nature of these beautiful things are a source of pleasure and motivation. The happiness

given by it never fades away but keeps on increasing.

Q2. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings?

Ans. Life is full of trials and tribulations, loss of faith, despondency and disappointments, some

of which may be the result of our own making. It is the sublimating influence of the beautiful

things that we see around us that lifts the veil of gloom caused by suffering and troubles and

makes human love life.

Q3. What is the message of the poem, ‘A Thing of Beauty’.

Ans. The opening line of the poem conveys the message of the poet. Beauty leaves an indelible

imprint on our mind and provides us eternal and everlasting joy. It removes away the pall of

sadness and sorrows and gives us joy and pleasure.

Q4. Why does Keats associate ‘grandeur’ with the mighty dead?

Ans. The mighty dead refers to those great men who glorified death by embracing it most gracefully.

Our forefathers were great in their own way. Grandeur is associated with them because he

saw spiritual and intellectual beauty in their death.

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Q5. What according to the poet are the things that have a sublimating effect on the minds

of human beings?

Ans. All beautiful things found in nature which surround us have a sublimating effect on our

minds. Even the commonplace things like sheep, daffodils, musk roses, streams of water,

trees, etc, fill our hearts with joy and delight. Nature's beauty is evident in the sun and the

moon. The lovely tales that we hear about the mighty deeds of our ancestors also give a

soothing effect.

LONG ANSWER QUESTION (5 marks)

1. 'A thing of beauty is a joy forever.' This is what John Keats says in the poem. Do you
think in the present times of acute stress and violence, proximity to beautiful things
can lead man to everlasting happiness? Discuss.
Ans. A thing of beauty gives us permanent happiness. When we look at objects of beauty, we feel
happy, and the lasting impression that such objects leave on our mind continues to give us
pleasure even when they are no longer in our sight.
In the present times of acute stress and violence, the objects of beauty attain even greater
significance. When our mind is anxious and troubled, the very sight of beautiful things
often comes as a relief and provides us comfort and happiness for the moment.
Appreciating beautiful things is like appreciating God, who has bestowed them upon mankind
as a gift so that we can derive happiness and solace from them. Proximity to beautiful things
brings us closer to the Creator, in whom lies the ultimate power to grant us relief from all
anxieties and troubles. Therefore, it is sure to bring everlasting happiness at all times.
Practice Questions:
“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.”

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1. What are the flowery bands that bind us to Earth?

(a) Memory of beautiful and pleasant things
(b) Having a sound sleep
(c) Waking up every morning
(d) A bundle of flowers
2. The expression ‘Spite of despondence’ refers to
(a) health and well-being (b) hatred and greed
(c) suffering and pain (d) sadness and gloom
3. Why do we prepare a wreath of flowers?
(a) To have memories of sweet dreams (b) Have sound sleep
(c) To bind us to the Earth (d) To be more strong and fearless
4. Unhealthy and o'er-darkened ways means:
(a) Wicked paths (b) Loss of faith
(c) Sense of hopelessness (d) None of the above
Practice Questions (Short):
1. What makes humans unhappy and how do to they find release from this state?
2. What is the 'endless fountain' a reference to? What are its effects?
3. What philosophy of life is highlighted in the poem?
Practice Question (Long):
1. Analyse the myth of Endymion in context of the poem.

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