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A Thing of Beauty Extra Question Answer

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Extra Questions, Notes, Assignment and study material for Class 12th as Per CBSE Syllabus

Chapter-4 English Language and Literature

           A Thing of Beauty Extra Question Answer

                     By- John Keats

 About the Author – A Thing of Beauty                                              

John Keats A Short Biography

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John Keats was one of the main figures of the second generation of Romantic poets, along with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley. His work included Endymion, Isabella, Lamia, The Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems. He died at a very early age of twenty-five of tuberculosis after leaving an indelible mark on English poetry.

Theme / Central Idea of the Lesson. Analysis of A Thing of Beauty

A thing of beauty is a source of constant joy. Beauty can be found everywhere. It is something that has the ability to transform lives. It also highlights the fact that beauty has a therapeutic quality, i.e. the ability to remove negativity. It can be any object, nature, tales or even noble deeds of our ancestors.

Theme (2) A Thing of Beauty :

 A Thing of Beauty’ is an excerpt from John Keats poem ‘Endymion: A poetic romance’, which is based on a Greek legend. Being a romantic poet, John Keats talks about love, beauty and youth in this poem. In fact, the poem reflects his attitude towards beauty. The poet believes that beauty is intransient and gives us the same pleasure again and again. It provides us with eternal joy and never fades away. Beauty plays a very important role in our lives and helps us to remain happy and joyful in this sad, mundane world.

Form

`A Thing of Beauty’ belongs to the Romantic genre. The poem is written in rhyming couplets and the rhyme scheme is AABB.

Source

 ‘A Thing of Beauty’ is an excerpt from his poem, `Endymion: A Poetic Romance’ which was first published in 1818. It begins with the line “A thing of beauty is a joy forever”. Endymion is written in rhyming couplets also known as heroic couplets. The theme of Endymion is love, beauty and youth and it reflects the poet’s attitude towards beauty.

Moral/ Message of the lesson A Thing of Beauty

 The poem conveys the message that a thing of beauty is a joy forever. It transcends time. It will never fade away. Beauty has the power to remove darkness and negativity and helps us survive when there is a ‘dearth of noble nature’ or when one is surrounded by evil. It has a positive impact on one’s health. It helps one get sound sleep. Moreover, it highlights the fact that beauty is not only physical but also spiritual and seems to flow down from heaven as an ‘immortal drink’ made for man.




Short and Simple Summary of the lesson in English- A Thing of Beauty/ Summary in simple Words/ Critical appreciation of the lesson – A Thing of Beauty

According to the poet, John Keats, a thing of beauty is a source of constant joy. Its beauty goes on increasing. It never fades away i.e. it never passes into nothingness. A beautiful thing is as comforting as a bower which is a peaceful and pleasant place in the shade of a tree, providing shelter and protection from the hot rays of the sun, giving us sound sleep, full of pleasant dreams, health and peaceful breathing.

As a result of this, every morning we are weaving a flowery wreath to bind us to the beauties of the earth despite our feelings of sadness and depression. We all possess negative attributes of hatred and disappointment. We suffer from a lack of noble qualities and follow unhealthy, evil ways. In spite of all this a beautiful thing helps us to remove the cover of gloom or darkness from our lives. It makes us love life despite the things that make us sad and dampen our spirits.

Here are a number of beautiful things that have the power to uplift our spirits like the sun, the moon and old and young trees. The trees sprout and spread their branches to provide shelter within their green covering (shade) for the simple sheep (humans). Similarly, the sight of daffodils blooming within their green surroundings, the clear and small streams of water which make a cooling shelter for themselves against the hot season, the thick mass of ferns looking grand with their beautiful musk roses are all things of beauty that makes us feel happy.

The mighty dead people whose achievements have made them great and powerful inspire us through their sagas of noble works. Their legends and stories enthuse us and we imagine their magnificence. A beautiful thing is also a source of joy just as the lovely tales we have heard or read give us profound happiness. It is like a fountain of immortality gushing out from nature’s endless fountain pours its sacred and immortal drink into the heart and soul of man and is a source of immense joy for us.

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Summary (2) A Thing of Beauty :

John Keats says that beautiful things make an everlasting impression on our minds. These things give us peace of mind and pleasure. Beautiful things act as a shade under which we can sleep soundly and have sweet dreams. These have the power to bind us to the earth. In spite of a life which is full of disappointments, despondence, sad happenings and tribulations, the beautiful things make our life worth living by providing us with hope and enthusiasm.

The poet gives some examples of such beautiful things which give us eternal joy. These are simple things like the sun, the moon, different kinds of trees, etc. According to him, even common things like a flock of sheep, daffodils, springs of water, musk roses growing in wild forest are beautiful things, which give us joy and delight. Even the legends of the ‘mighty’ dead are counted as beautiful things because they have the same effect on the human spirit. The poet concludes by saying that in spite of these beautiful things, the beauty of nature remains incomparable. The beauty of nature is like an endless fountain pouring on us from Heaven. These are the never-diminishing and endless source of pleasures and delights and a precious gift from Heaven.

Poetic Devices A Thing of Beauty

Metaphor:

  • ‘bower quiet’-refers to a quiet shady part in the garden
  • ‘sweet dreams’-happy dreams
  • ‘wreathing a flowery band’-connecting to nature
  • `pall’-a covering like a shroud
  • ‘endless fountain of immortal drink’- refers to the deeds of great men and women that have made them a source of inspiration for people of all times
  • The list of beautiful things is metaphors and symbols of nature.

Alliteration:

  • `noble natures’
  • ‘cooling covert’
  • ‘band to bind’

Imagery:

  • flowery bands’
  • ‘shady boon’
  • ‘clear rills’
  • ‘daffodils in green world’
  • ‘grandeur of dooms’
  • ‘cooling covert’
  • ‘endless fountain of eternal drink’

Symbol:

  • simple sheep’ — refers to mankind as Christ is considered the shepherd who leads human souls out of the dark world of sins and temptations

Transferred epithet:

  • ‘gloomy days’ • ‘unhealthy and o’er darkened ways’

Oxymoron

  • ‘mighty dead’

CHAPTER NUTSHELL A Thing of Beauty

Theme

  1. Things of beauty have an embalming effect.
  2. They help us cope with negativity.
  3. They make life more meaningful.
  4. God has blessed us with objects of beauty.
  5. We need to bond with them.

List of things of beauty

  1. Sun, moon, deep forests
  2. Sheep grazing in open pastures
  3. Daffodils, rivulets, musk roses
  4. Tombs built to honour heroes.
  5. Legends, tales from classics and scriptures

These things of beauty are like blessings from heaven, they sweeten our bitter lives.

 Qualities of a thing of beauty

  1. 1. Gives everlasting joy.
  2. Ageless.
  3. Never goes waste
  4. Shelters and protects like a bower.
  5. Relaxes, comforts, invigorates us.

Things that cause pain

  1. Ill health, gloomy days, depression
  2. Lack of goodness in human beings
  3. In sad moments things of beauty come to our rescue, remove the gloom from our lives.




Following is the complete question bank for – A Thing of Beauty

MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONSA Thing of Beauty

  1. According to the poet, a thing of beauty is

(a) never joyful                                 (b) creates sadness

(c) a joy forever                                (d) horrible to look at

  1. The beauty of lovely things

 (a) increases                                     (b) decreases

(c) gets divided                                  (d) always is short-lived

  1. Beautiful things never ‘pass into nothingness’ means that they

(a) never increase                           (b) never fade away

(c) always bring unhappiness      (d) create unpleasantness between friends

  1. Will keep a bower quiet for us’ means

(a) will give us peace and calm                   (b) will stop unpleasant sounds

(c) will make our beds fit to sleep             (d) reduce noise pollution

  1. ‘Full of sweet dreams’ means

(a) pleasant and peaceful sleep                       (b) disturbed sleep

(c) nightmares                                                   (d) wishes coming true

  1. According to the poet, a thing of beauty keeps us

 (a) angry                                             (b) naughty

(c) healthy and peaceful               (d) depressed

  1. Every morning, we all are

 (a) brushing our teeth                                  (b) having breakfast

(c) wreathing a flowery band                      (d) getting ready to go to work

  1. The flowery band, according to the poet helps to

 (a) bind us to the earth                                                (b) make us look beautiful

 (c) give a present of flowers to friends (d) to make a band covered with flowers

  1. ‘Spite of despondency’ refers to

(a) sadness and depression                         (b) health and well-being

(c) suffering and pain                                     (d) hatred and greed

  1. ‘inhuman dearth’ according to the poet, is a reference to

 (a) lack or shortage of beauty

 (b) lack of energy

(c) lack or shortage of human beings with good values

 (d) lack of resources

  1. ‘Of all the unhealthy’ means

 (a) ill-health                                       (b) pain

(c) neglect                                           (d) suffering

  1. What moves the ‘pall from our lives’?

(a) some strong winds                   (b) strong bonds

(c) strong friendships (d) some shape of beauty

  1. From our dark spirits’ is a reference to

(a) our dampened and demoralized spirits

(b) dark coloured ghosts

(c) unhappy moments

 (d) the happy side of our personality

  1. The sun, moon, trees old and young are the things that

(a) depress us                                   (b) remove the pall of gloom from our lives

(c) make us laugh                             (d) give us oxygen

  1. What is ‘sprout a shady boon for sheep’?

(a) human beings                                             (b) creepers

(c) trees new and young                               (d) trees old and young

  1. Daffodils are

(a) white coloured flowers                          (b) red fruit of a tree

(c) name of a bird                                            (d) name of an insect

  1. ‘Sheep’ could also be a reference to

 (a) mountainous animals                             (b) human beings

(c) harmless creatures                                   (d) animals of prey

  1. By ‘green world they live in’ means

 (a) daffodils’ green surroundings             (b) greenhouse effect

(c) green walls of the house                        (d) green forests

  1. ‘Clear rills’ are the

 (a) clean windows                                          (b) streams of clear water

 (c) clear thoughts                                            (d) clear solutions

  1. ‘Cooling covert’ means

 (a) cool shelter of thickets                          (b) cooling effect of A.C

 (c) a cold drink                                                  (d) cooling clothes

  1. What makes for itself a cooling covert against the hot season?

(a) the sheep                                                     (b) the daffodils

(c) the dogs                                                        (d) the clear rills

  1. The thick bushes in the mid-forest have abundant growth of

 (a) watermelons                                             (b) muskmelons

 (c) musk roses                                                  (d) musk shells

  1. The poet talks about ‘grandeur’. Whose grandeur is he talking about?

 (a) dooms of mighty dead                           (b) tombs of our ancestors

(c) grand palaces                                              (d) grand towers

  1. ‘Mighty dead’ refers to

 (a) great royal ancestors                              (b) big dead animals

(c) broken buildings                                        (d) grand canals and rivers

  1. What are the things that are read or heard by us?

 (a) plays and classical music                        (b) novels and songs

(c) lovely tales                                                   (d) poetry and western music

  1. The ‘endless fountain’ is an image created by the poet to

 (a) denote the everlasting joy given by beautiful objects

 (b) the continuous flow of water

 (c) fountain of blood

 (d) clear waterfall

  1. ‘Immortal drink’ of the endless fountain is a reference to

 (a) the continuous flow of sacred or holy water

(b) water of Ganges

(c) water from the Yamuna

(d) water from the tap

  1. The ‘immortal drink’ pours on

 (a) human beings                            (b) animals

(c) insects                                            (d) birds

  1. The ‘endless fountain’ gets its immortal drink from

 (a) the river banks                          (b) the tap

 (c) the waterfall                               (d) heaven’s brink 

ANSWERS

1.(c) a joy forever

2. (a) increases

3.(b) never fade away

4. (a) will give us peace and calm

5.(a) pleasant and peaceful sleep

6. (c) healthy and peaceful

7.(c) wreathing a flowery band

8. (a) bind us to the earth

9.(a) sadness and depression

10.(c) lack or shortage of human beings with good values

11.(a) ill-health

12. (d) some shape of beauty

13. (a) our dampened and demoralized spirits

14.(b) remove the pall of gloom from our lives

15.(d) trees old and young

16. (a) white coloured flowers

17.(b) human beings

18. (a) daffodils’ green surroundings

19. (b) streams of clear water

20. (a) cool shelter of thickets

21.(d) the clear rills

22. (c) musk roses

23. (a) dooms of mighty dead

24. (a) great royal ancestors

25.(c) lovely tales

26. (a) denote the everlasting joy given by beautiful objects

27. (a) continuous flow of sacred or holy water

28. (a) human beings

29. (d) heaven’s brink




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 Read the extracts and answer the questions that follow. A Thing of Beauty

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 asleep

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

(A)Name the poem and the poet.

Ans. The poem is ‘A Thing of Beauty’ and the poet is John Keats.

 (B)How is a thing of beauty a joy forever?

 Ans. A thing of beauty provides everlasting joy. Its beauty never decreases but continues to increase with the passage of time. It never fades away.

(C)What do you understand by a `bower’?

 Ans. ‘Bower’ is the shelter under the shade of trees. It provides protection from the harsh rays of the sun.

(d) What kind of a sleep does it provide?

 Ans. It provides 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,

(a)What are we doing every day?

Ans. Every morning, we are weaving a flowery wreath which binds us to the beauties of the earth or we are collecting things of beauty that connects us to other things of beauty and keeps us grounded.

(b)Which evil things do we possess and suffer from?

 Ans. Human beings possess qualities of malice, hatred and disappointment. There is a shortage of noble qualities and men continue to be evil and unhealthy.

(C)Explain ‘in spite of all’.

 Ans. In spite of all the negative qualities and evils mentioned by the poet, a thing of beauty can infuse us with positivity and joy.

(D)Find words from the passage which mean (i) malice (ii) disappointment

 Ans. (i) spite (ii) despondence

3.

 Some shape of beauty moves away from the pall

From our dark spirits.

Such the sun, the moon,

Trees old, and young, sprouting a shady boon.

For simple sheep;

(A)What removes the pall From our dark spirits?

 Ans. A thing of beauty removes the pall or cover of unhappiness from our dark spirits.

(B)What sprouts a shady boon for sheep and how?

Ans. The old and young trees sprout branches to provide shade and shelter to the sheep. It is a blessing for the sheep against the harsh sun.

(C)Find words from the passage that mean (i) covering (ii) blessing

Ans. (i) pall (ii) boon

 (d) Name the poem and the poet.

Ans. The poem is ‘A Thing of Beauty’ and the poet is ‘John Keats’.

4.

 …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;

(a)How do ‘daffodils’ and ‘rills’ enrich the environment?

Ans. The daffodils bloom and are surrounding by the green world. The clear stream& of water create a cooling shelter for themselves against the heat of the sun.

(b)What makes the mid forest brake rich?

 Ans. The beautiful musk-roses help to make the beautiful forest rich in beauty.

(c)Find words in the passage which mean: (i) small streams (ii) shelter of thickets

Ans. (i) clear ‘rills’ (ii) covert

(d)Cooling covert is a (i) simile (ii) metaphor (iii) personification (iv) alliteration

Ans. alliteration.

5.

 And the sun 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

(a)Explain ‘the grandeur of the doom’.

Ans. The magnificence that we associate with our ancestors and the beautiful things created by them.

(b)What is implied by ‘all lovely tales that we have heard or read’?

Ans. All the beautiful stories that have been read or heard by us are also things of beauty as they leave a positive impact.

(c)What is the source of the ‘endless fountain of immortal drink’?

Ans. The source of the endless fountain of immortal drink is ‘the brink of heaven’.




SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS A Thing of Beauty                                        

1. List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.

 Ans. The things of beauty are the sun, the moon, old and new trees, sheep, daffodils, green world, clear streams, musk roses that bloom among the thick forest ferns, deeds of our noble ancestors’ tales that we have heard or read.

2. List the things the cause suffering and pain.

 Ans. The things that cause suffering and pain are dark phases of our life like depression, disappointment, adverse circumstances, gloomy days, the death of noble people and ill health.

3. What does the line ‘Therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to earth’ suggest?

Ans. Every morning we connect to nature, to the beauties of the earth despite all the sadness that we experience. This is a result of all the beautiful things around us.

4. What makes human beings love life in spite of all troubles?

Ans. In spite of all the sufferings, a thing of beauty helps us to remove the cover of gloom or darkness from our lives.

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

Ans. Grandeur is associated with the ‘mighty dead’ because great men will always be remembered for their noble and splendid deeds and creations. They have left behind a legacy for us to enjoy.

6. Do we experience things of beauty only for a short time?

 Ans. No, these things of beauty have a lasting impression on us. Its impact never passes away.

7. What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth?

 Ans. The poet creates the image of ‘an endless fountain of immortal drink’ that pours joys on to us from the edge of heaven. These are the beautiful things in nature or man-made objects that he calls ‘immortal drink’.

8. What is the cause of our ‘gloomy days’ and ‘dark spirits’?

 Ans. Our own acts of unkindness, cruelty and malice towards others, make our days sad and gloomy. We also get disappointed due to the lack of human values and nobility around us.

9. How does a thing of beauty provide us shelter and comfort?

 Ans. Nature bestows us with things of rare beauty. It has created the shade of trees to make us feel comfortable and peaceful in it so that we are able to enjoy sound sleep, sweet dreams and good health. Similarly, beautiful things like the sun and moon have the power to lift our spirits.

10. What spreads the pall of despondency over our dark spirits? How is it removed?

 Ans. Man makes his life miserable and full of suffering because of his own actions. The pall of despondency is the sadness that is a result of what he does. A thing of beauty works wonders by removing the cover of gloom that engulfs man.

11. What is the message of the ‘A Thing of Beauty’?

 Ans. Keats, an ardent lover of nature, in his poem refers to the powers of nature. He urges man to realize that these powers make life enjoyable and worth living. He tells us how a thing of beauty provides joy.

12. How do the ‘daffodils’ and ‘clear rills’ enrich our environment?

 Ans. Daffodils are lovely yellow, orange or white flowers that bloom in green surroundings. The ‘clear rills’ or clear streams of water create a ‘cooling comfort’ or a passage for themselves as they pass through the thick bushes to ward away the heat of the sun.

13. What is the ‘grandeur’ of the ‘dooms’ and ‘endless fountain of immortal drink’?

Ans. The ‘grandeur of the dooms’ is a reference to our mighty and dead ancestors who have created beautiful objects for us. The ‘endless fountain’ is the everlasting joy provided to us by the bounties of nature as if in the form of nectar pouring on us from heaven.

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

Ans. Human beings love life because nature is the best healer and it brings beauty and joy to our lives. The memory of beautiful experiences helps us to bear our sorrows.

15. Keats feels that Nature binds us to the Earth. How does he justify this?

 Ans. Keats feels that man has a strong bond with nature. Despite the gloom and suffering, man is connected to the earth. A flowery band ties us to the earth. This band is a thing of beauty and metaphorically made of flowers and brings joy. There is an affinity between things of beauty in nature and in man.

16. A row can ‘mighty dead’ be things of beauty?  [Delhi 2017]

 Ans.`Mighty dead’ refers to the great and inspiring people about whom grand stories were written. These are read and admired even today and are a source of beauty and relaxation to man.

17. In the hot season, how do man and beast get comfort? [Delhi 2017]

Ans.A thing of beauty reserves a bower, quiet place in our heart. When we are tired, tensed, troubled or disappointed, the thing of beauty heals our sorrows and restores happiness for us again.

18. What rich bounty has heaven given us?                                [Delhi 2017]

Ans. John Keats sees beauty in all the natural things. According to him, everything of nature is a source of beauty. In the poem we can see, the sun, the moon, the trees, daffodils, green forests, clear rills, masses of ferns, blooming musk-rose, lovely tales, etc. These beautiful sources provide pleasure and joy to mankind. So do the many beautiful stories created by man.

19. List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem. [Textual]                              

Ans. The things of beauty as mentioned in the poem contain the bounties of nature such as the sun, the moon, old and young trees, and simple things like sheep, daffodils and streams of water in the forest.

20 . List the things that cause suffering and pain.      [Textual]                                                                       

 Ans. Suffering and pain are the outcomes of human actions. These contain dependency, disappointment, loss of faith, undesirable habits that human beings have developed.

21. What does the line, ‘Therefore, [on every morrow] are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to suggest to you? [Textual]

Ans. The line suggests that the beautiful things that we see around us affect and influence us and bind us closer to the earth and our life by giving us mental peace and health.

22. Do we experience things of beauty only for a short moment or do they make a lasting impression on us? [Textual]                                                                  

Ans. A thing of beauty is a joy forever. It makes an everlasting impact on us and continues to delight us. Its worth increases as time passes by Beauty can never diminish or fade away. It remains intact in our memory.                                                                                                                                                       

23. What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth?

Ans. The poet uses various images to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth. He mentions various beautiful things which are present around us in nature like the sun, the moon, trees, daffodils, streams of water, the mid forest brake, musk roses, etc

24.  How do we get joy from life which is otherwise full of sorrows?

Or

Life is full of sorrows. What brings joy in it?                                                                                 

Ans. Life of human beings is full of sorrows due to disappointments and frustrations. But the beautiful objects of nature give us eternal joy. Nature works as a balm on our wounded soul and fills us with hope and optimism.

25. Which objects of nature does Keats mention as sources of joy in his poem ‘A Thing of Beauty’?

Or

 Mention any four things of beauty that add joy to our life.                                                    

Or

 Describe any three things of beauty mentioned in the poem ‘A thing of Beauty’.            

 Ans. Keats talks about various bounties of nature which act as a source of joy in our lives. These are the sun, the moon, old and new trees, even the simple things like sheep, daffodils, clear springs of water, etc.

26. Mention any two things which cause pain and suffering.

 Ans. Human beings themselves are responsible for bringing pain and suffering in their lives. Greed, selfishness and loss of faith bring despondency and disappointment which cause us pain and suffering.

27. What does a thing of beauty do for us?

Or

 How do beautiful things help us to live a happy life?                                                                

Ans. Human life is full of despondency, disappointments, tribulation and loss of faith which brings sadness. It is only beautiful things which lift this veil of gloom and make life worth living by bringing joy, hope and optimism in life.

28. What does Keats consider an endless fountain of immortal drink and why does he call its drink immortal?

Ans. Keats considers the joy provided by nature as a never-ending fountain which uplifts the spirits of human beings. The beauty of nature is a constant source of pleasure and delight to the human mind and is like an immortal drink from heaven.

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

Ans. According to John Keats, beauty is intransigent. It never fades away, rather increases as time All the beautiful things have the ability to give everlasting pleasure and so are a joy forever.

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

Ans. Keats talks about the importance of nature are the poem. According to him, nature is the most wonderful creation of God and it exerts an embalming and refreshing influence on human beings. Nature gives us heavenly and spiritual joy.

31. Why is ‘grandeur’ associated with the mighty dead?[Textual]

Ans. The deeds of the mighty dead are the tales which give us pleasure when we hear them. Moreover, the tombs and other grand constructions created to commemorate their deaths are also the things of beauty which add grandeur to them.

32. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings? [Textual]

Or

what makes human beings love life in spite of all the troubles they face?

Ans. It is the effect of the beautiful things around us which make human beings love life in spite e of troubles and sufferings. This sublimating effect of the bounty of nature keeps the spirit alive and full of love and life and keeps away the gloom caused by sufferings and troubles.

33. 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.

34. How does the poet express the idea that nothing can surpass the bounteous gift of nature or have the same effect on man’s mind?

Ans. The poet expresses the idea that nothing can surpass the bounteous gift of nature or have the same effect on man’s mind by comparing these bounties of nature with a never-ending fountain of pleasure and joy. It is a gift for all human beings from Heaven. This gift of nature is like the elixir of life which uplifts the spirit and energizes our mind and body.

35. According to Keats, what spreads the pall of despondency over our dark spirits? How is it removed?

Ans. Various hardships, suffering, loss of faith and disappointments due to our own unhealthy and undesirable habits cause despondency over our spirits and make us gloomy. It is only beautiful things that make life worthwhile. These things lift the veil of gloom and make room for hope by giving us eternal joy.

36. How, according to the poet, does beauty make a permanent impression on our minds?

Ans. The beauty makes a permanent impression on our minds as it remains fresh in our memory. In fact, its beauty increases with the passage of time.

37. What is the secret of good health, according to the poet?

Ans. According to the poet, the secret of good health is the sound sleep which is full of sweet dreams. The beauty of Nature induces sound sleep in us.

38. What evil things do we suffer from?

Ans. We suffer from jealousy, wickedness, deceit, negative thoughts, disappointments, frustrations and lack of noble thoughts.

39. What lovely tales have we read or heard? Explain.

Ans. We have read or heard about the tales of sacrifices and heroic deeds of great warriors and selfless workers. Their death is celebrated due to the grand deeds that they have done to make them immortal.

40. Who are the ‘mighty dead’ that are remembered for centuries?

Ans. The ‘mighty dead’ are our ancestors and great heroes who did glorious deeds in the past. They were larger than life even in their death. Their heroic deeds made them immortal in history.

41. In what context does Keats mention ‘immortal drink’? What is it?

 Ans. ‘Immortal drink’ refers to the heavenly nectar which makes one eternal. Keats refers to the pleasure derived from a thing of beauty as nector. This joy is so divine that it gives eternal happiness to the soul.

Important Long/ Detailed Answer Type Questions- to be answered in about 100 -150 words each Value based questions- A Thing of Beauty

Q1. How do things of beauty enrich us?                                                                                        (6 Marks Each)

 Ans. Our desire to live on this earth is to a great extent due to the presence of beautiful things that are a constant source of joy for us. Without beauty, the earth is full of gloom and sadness. There is cruelty, selfishness and mean behaviour all around and lack of good-natured people. It is this beauty, a creation of God which removes the sadness and darkness from our minds and souls. As we get wrapped up in the beautiful flowery band or this strong connection with nature we get a reason to live further. The sun, the moon, trees old and young are all sources of happiness for us. The trees sprout and spread their branches to provide shelter within their shade for the simple sheep. The Daffodils bloom within the green surroundings in which they grow. The clear and small streams of water make a cooling shelter for themselves against the hot season. The thick mass of ferns looks grand with their beautiful musk roses. All these things enrich our lives to an extent that it is not possible to live without them.