A THING OF BEAUTY

The Theme of the poem:

• Any beautiful object is always treasured in our mind because it provides us

eternal and everlasting joy. The happiness that a beautiful object provides never
fades into nothingness but multiples manifold whenever it returns to our mind. In
the poem, the poet says that a thing of beauty is a joy forever a joy even in the
midst of disease, sufferings, and disappointments of life. The object of beauty
makes a lasting impression on us and gives us joy even when they are not
present before our eyes. The joy that they give never fades into nothingness, but
increases whenever they flash across our minds.

“A thing of beauty…….quiet breat” (lines 1− 5)

WORD MEANINGS:

i. Bower: a pleasant shady place under trees

• According to the poet, a beautiful thing is a source of eternal joy and its
loveliness only grows with time and never goes away.
• He says that this loveliness will never pass into nothingness and will provide us a
cool, pleasant shady place which will give us good health, sound sleep, and
mental peace.

“Therefore……..our dark spirits” (lines 6 – 12)

WORD MEANINGS:

i. Sprouting: producing, growing

ii. Boon: blessing

iii. Green world: forest

iv. Covert: an area of thick low bushes and trees where animals can hide

v. Rills: small streams

vi. Brake: a thick mass of bushes

• The next few lines tell us some of the beautiful things on Earth.
• The examples cited by the poet are such: the sun, the moon, trees that are old or
young sprout to make a green covering which becomes a shelter for a simple
sheep and provide cool shelter to sleep, the daffodils enclosed in green leaves
 and the clear rill or the streams with clear water make a cooling shelter for
themselves against the hot season.

“Rich with………..heaven’s brink” (lines 19−24)

WORD MEANINGS:

i. Sprinkling: scattering

ii. Blooms: a flower, especially one cultivated for its beauty

iii. Grandeur: impressiveness

iv. Immortal: living forever, never dying or decaying

v. Brink: extreme edge

• The fragrance of the musk blooms along with all the objects of beauty that nature
provides us lift the human spirit filling it with joy and delight.
• Along with these, the wonderful tales of the legendary heroes who lived and died
heroically are some things that inspire us with their beauty.
• These beautiful things are the part of the endless fountain of immortal drink that
is pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink directly.
• Meaning that these beautiful things bring eternal joy for the soul’s grandeur, they
are everlasting and a gift from heaven to us.
Lines 1-12
A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
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: yes, in spite of all,
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
This poem is the source of one of the most famous lines in English Literature, that
is, “a thing of beauty is a joy for ever”. This sentence means that the beauty of
the world is everlasting, and beauty does not change as the seasons change, or as
humans evolve. Something beautiful will always be beautiful, and it will invoke joy
in the hearts of all who behold it. These things only grow in beauty and become
more and more lovely as time passes. The beauty of the world, of nature, will never
dissipate and will bring about a feeling of peace, or calm.
The bower here represents a place of comfort, where one can relax and be
reinvigorated. This bower provides a sweet slumber for those who want it and
retains their health and happiness
The beauty of the world provides us with this peace, so people remain on Earth
joyfully. We wreathe a “flowery band” that holds us in the beauty that surrounds
us and enjoy it despite the terrors that exist simultaneously. Despondence and
gloom do not overtake the joy that beauty brings to the heart, so all the things that
hurt the heart are pushed away by the shape of beauty. A “pall” is a feeling of
gloom or fear, and this is pushed away by the beauty that pervades the world.
There is no place for both gloom and joy in a person, and beauty brings joy forever,
while terrors bring only fleeting sadness.
Here, Keats uses strong imagery to describe the beauty of nature. This can be
seen in “A bower quiet for us, and a sleep/Full of sweet dreams, and health,
and quiet breathing.” as it brings forth the feeling of calm and relaxation. It can
also be noted in “A flowery band to bind us to the earth,” as it portrays the
image of willingly situating ourselves among beauty, and of nature itself being the
proponent of this.
Lines 13-24
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; 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
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.
Here, the poet describes the shapes of beauty that force the air of gloom to depart
from our minds. The sun, the moon, and the shade of the trees provide peace for
the sheep of the fields, just as the daffodils dance in the wind as they are
surrounded by greenery. The babbling streams make little thickets for animals to
languish in and provide cool water and rejuvenate all those that come by it. The
“mid forest brake” is the thick growth that can be seen in the centre of a forest,
ad this place is full of flowers and trees and provides a gorgeous perfume from the
numerous blooms that lay within it.
These beautiful spaces are not just limited to nature, as humanity portrays the
afterlife of the martyrs and freedom fighters with much greater magnificence. We
have created the beauty that one steps into after death as a reflection of the
beauty that one lives in before death. It truly is a joy forever, and this can be seen
in the stories we tell and the joy that is imbibed in us through the blessings that
surround us.

So, our spirits do not remain dark. The poet compares the things that bring
sadness versus those that bring happiness. Gloom is brought about by
despondence, the lack of integrity, the terrible events that take place, and the
unhealthy ways that we treat ourselves. Joy is brought forth by the flowers, the
sun and the moon, the greenery, the new life that grows, and the comfort that
nature brings to us. The happiness is constant, while the sadness is transient.
The “endless fountain” may be an allusion to the Fountain of Youth, thus
bringing back the theme of Endymion’s immortality as the base of this poem.
Additionally, the mention of the moon is no coincidence, as the love between the
moon goddess Selene and Endymion is the myth that inspired this poem in the
first place.
The use of strong imagery continues, as the poet builds a vision of a forest
bursting with life, with gentle streams and cool shade. Alliteration is used in
“simple sheep”.
In fact, if you think about it, this poem itself is a thing of beauty, and even now it
is bringing joy to all. The poet did not refer to this poem as he wrote, but his work
became self-fulfilling. Though he died thinking that his poetry made no real
impact on the world, it is a thing of beauty, and it is providing joy years after it
was written.

Poetic devices – A thing of beauty

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 .

• Rhyme scheme: aabbc (forever, never, keep, sleep, breathing)
• Alliteration: Use of consonant sound at the start of two words which
are close in series (Sleep-Sweet)
• Metaphor: bower Quiet (calmness of the bower is compared to the
calming effect of a beautiful thing)

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: YES, IN SPITE OF ALL,

SOME SHAPE OF BEAUTY MOVES AWAY THE PALL

FROM OUR DARK SPIRITS .

• Anaphora: Use of same word in two consecutive lines (of noble
natures- Of all the unhealthy)
• Alliteration: Use of consonant sound at the start of two words which
are close in series (‘b’ in Band Bind, ‘n’ in Noble nature, ‘s’ in some
shape).
• Metaphor: wreathing a flowery band (the beautiful things of our life
bind us to the earth)
• Imagery: creating a sensory effect of beautiful things lined up in a
string ( A flowery band to bind us)
• Inversion: normal order of words is reversed ( Are we wreathing a
flowery band)

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; AND CLEAR RILLS

THAT FOR THEMSELVES A COOLING COVERT MAKE

‘GAINST THE HOT SEASON; THE MID FOREST BRAKE

• Alliteration: Use of consonant sound at the start of two words which are close
in series (‘s’ in Sprouting Shady, Simple sheep, ‘c’ in cooling covert)
• Imagery: Trees giving shade (sprouting shady boon), growing process of
daffodils (daffodils with the green world they live in), Clean river streams
(Clear rills)
• Antithesis: opposite words placed together (old and young)

RICH WITH A SPRINKLING OF FAIR MUSK-ROSE BLOOMS;

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

• Alliteration: Use of consonant sound at the start of two words which are close
in series (‘h’ in have heard)
• Metaphor: Immortal drinks ( beautiful objects of nature are forever like a
neverending portion of a drink)
• Rhyme: Rhyme scheme is used in every stanza of the poem (forever; never,
keep; sleep, dead; read etc.)
• Imagery: Bushes full of musk roses (sprinkling of fair musk rose blooms),
books describing valor of fighters (grandeur-..mighty dead), god providing us
with best things (pouring from the heaven’s brink)
A thing of beauty
Questions and Answers – A thing of beauty
Q1. List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.
Answer: Every part of nature is a thing of beauty and a source of pleasure.
Some of them are: the sun, the moon, old and young trees, daffodil flowers,
small streams with clear water, mass of ferns and the blooming musk-roses. All
of them are things of beauty which are a constant source of joy and pleasure.

Q2. List the things that cause suffering and pain.

Answer: There are many things that cause us suffering and pain. Malice and
disappointment are the biggest source of our suffering. Another one is the lack
of noble qualities. Our unhealthy and evil ways also give birth to so many
troubles and sufferings. They dampen our spirits and act as a pall of sadness on
our lives.

Q3. What does the line, ‘Therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to
bind us to earth’ suggest to you?
Answer: Keats is a lover of beauty. He employs his senses to discover beauty.
The link of man with nature is eternal. The things of beauty are like wreaths of
beautiful flowers. We seem to weave a flowery band everyday. It keeps us
attached to the beauties of this earth.

Q4. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and
sufferings?
Answer: There are many things that bring us troubles and sufferings. They
dampen our spirits. However, ‘some shape of beauty1 brings love and
happiness in our lives in spite of such unpleasant things. A thing of beauty
removes the pall of sadness and sufferings. It makes us love life.

Q5. Why is ‘grandeur’ associated with the ‘mighty dead’?

Answer: The mighty dead were very powerful and dominating persons during
their own times. Their achievements made them ‘mighty’ and great. Their noble
works dazzle our eyes. We imagine that such mighty dead forefathers will attain
more grandeur on the doomsday. Hence ‘grandeur’ is associated with the
‘mighty dead’.

Q6. Do we experience things of beauty only for short moments or do

they make a lasting impression on us?
Answer: We feel happy by coming into contact with things of beauty. They
make a lasting impression on us. Keats makes it clear at the outset. A thing of
beauty is a joy forever. Therefore this is a constant source of joy and pleasure.
Its beauty never declines or diminishes and its loveliness goes on increasing
every moment. Thus, its value remains undiminished. It never passes into
nothingness and hence removes the pall of sadness that covers our dark spirits.

Q7, What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of
the earth?
Answer: John Keats uses a very beautiful image to describe the beautiful
bounty of the earth. It is the endless fountain of immortal drink. It pours
constantly into our hearts from heaven. Thus, the beautiful bounty of the earth
is called “an endless fountain of immortal drink.”

Extract Based

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.

Questions
(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
(b)How is a thing of beauty a joy for ever ?
(c)What do you understand by a ‘bower’l
(d)What kind of sleep does it provide?

Answers:
(а)The poem is A Thing of Beauty. The poet is John Keats.
(b)A thing of beauty is the source of constant joy. Its beauty goes on
increasing. It will never pass into nothingness.
(c)A bower is a pleasant place in the shade under a tree. It protects
persons/animals from the hot rays of the sun.
(d)It provides us a sound sleep, full of sweet dreams, health and peaceful
breathing.

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: yes, in spite of all,

Questions [All India 2014]

(a)Name the poem and the poet.
(b)Why are we despondent?
(c)What removes the pall from our dark spirits?
(d) What are we doing every day?

Answers:
(а)The poet is John Keats. The poem is A Thing of Beauty.
(b)We possess the evil qualities of malice and disappointment. We suffer from
the lack of noble qualities. That is why we feel despondent.
(c) Some beautiful shapes or a thing of beauty removes the pall of sadness
from our hearts or spirits.
(d) We are weaving a flowery wreath to bind us to the beauties of the earth.

3. 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; 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;

Questions
(а)What removes the pall from our dark spirits?
(b)What sprouts a shady boon for sheep and how?
(c) How do ‘daffodils’ and ‘rills’ enrich the environment?
(d) What makes the mid-forest brake rich?

Answers:
(a)Some beautiful shape or a thing of beauty removes the pall of sadness from
our hearts or spirits.
(b)Old and young trees sprout to make a green covering. It proves a blessing
for simple sheep as it serves them as a shelter.
(c)Daffodils bloom among the green surroundings. The rills or small streams of
clear water make a cooling shelter for themselves against the hot season.
(d)The mid forest brake is made rich by the blooming of beautiful musk-roses.
(e)(i) pall, (ii) boon, (iii) rills, (iv) covert.

4. And such too is the grandeur of the dooms

We have imagined for the mighty dead;
lovely tales that we have heard or read;
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink
Questions [Delhi 2014]
(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
(b)Explain: ‘the grandeur of the dooms’.
(c)What is the thing of beauty mentioned in these lines’?
(d)What image does the poet use in these lines?

Answers:
(а)The poem is A Thing of Beauty. The poet is John Keats.
(b)The magnificence that we imagine for our mighty dead forefathers on the
dooms day.
(c)The lovely tales of mighty men are mentioned in these lines.
(d)The poet uses the image of ‘an endless fountain of immortal drink’ to
describe the beautiful bounty of the earth. The earth has bestowed us with sun,
moon, flowers, rivers, greenery etc.