A Thing Of Beauty
Question 1.
List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.
Answer:
The things of beauty as mentioned in the poem include 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 and the heroic tales of mighty heroes.
Question 2.
List the things that cause suffering and pain.
Answer:
Suffering and pain are the outcome of human actions. These include despair, disappointment, loss of faith and evil men.
Question 3.
What does the line, Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to earth suggest to you?
Answer:
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.
Question 4.
What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings?
OR
What makes human beings love life in spite of all the troubles they face?
Answer:
It is beautiful things around us which make human beings love life in spite 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.
Question 5.
Why is‘grandeur’associated with the mighty dead?
Answer:
The deeds of the mighty dead and the heroic tales which give us pleasure when we hear them are associated with heroes of history and legend. It is the grandeur of the mighty dead that inspires one . to do the heroic deeds.
Question 6.
Do we experience things of beauty only for a short moment or do they make a lasting impression on us?
Answer:
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.
Question 7.
What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth?
Answer:
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.
A Thing Of Beauty – Solved Question Bank
Reference-to-context Exercises
Read the extracts given below.
Question 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.
Answer the following.
(a) A thing of beauty increases as its loveliness decreases. (True/False)
(b) A thing of beauty can never pass into nothingness. (True/False)
(c) Beauty always keeps a quiet __________ for us to enjoy its beauty.
(d) What sort of dreams come from a thing of beauty?
Answer:
(a) False
(b) True
(c) bower
(d) sweet
Question 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 darkened ways
Made for our searching:
Answer the following.
(a) A flowery wreathe binds us to the earth on each day. (True/False)
(b) There is a dearth of gloomy days on earth. (True/False)
(c) In spite of despondence, a flowery binds us to the earth.
(d) There is a of noble natures on Earth.
Answer:
(a) True
(b) False
(c) wreathe
(d) dearth
Question 3.
… 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…
Answer the following.
(a) The poet describes the daffodils as being green in colour. (True/False)
(b) What in nature makes a ‘cooling covert’? ,
(c) At what time of the year are the rills cool?
(d) In what kind of place do the daffodils bloom?
Answer:
(a) False
(b) clear rills
(c) hot season
(d) Green world
Question 4.
…. and clear rills
That for themselves a cooling covert make
‘Gainst the hot season; the mid forest brake,
Rich with the sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms
…………..
Answer the following.
(a) The rills mentioned in the passage are muddy. (True/False)
(b) The cooling effect is felt in the forest. (True/False)
(c) __________ grow on the forest surface?
(d) The musk rose is growing as a __________ across the forest.
Answer:
(a) False
(b) False
(c) musk-rose blooms
(d) sprinkling
Question 5.
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.
Answer the following.
(a) The great deeds of the past are referred to as ‘grand dooms’.
(b) All men have read mighty tales and done great deeds.
(c) In what form do the deeds of grandeur live on?
(d) The tales of great deeds are like a __________ .
Answer:
(a) True
(b) False
(c) lovely tales
(d) fountain
A Thing Of Beauty Short Questions and Answers
Question 1.
How can ‘mighty dead’ be things of beauty?
Answer:
‘Mighty dead’ can be things of beauty as they do inspirational deeds in their lives which one reads and has heard. Their legends and tales keep enthusing the reader.
Question 2.
What rich bounty has the heaven given us?
Answer:
The heaven is the source of endless fountain. It keeps pouring on us the elixir of life which brings infinite pleasure, divine influence and keeps motivating those who have read or heard about the heroic tales of the mighty dead.
Question 3.
In the hot season, how do man and beast get comfort?
Answer:
Man and beast get comfort in the hot season from the small streams flowing through the thick bushes and trees that give a cooling effect.
Question 4.
How does Keats show his unhappiness with his fellow human beings?
Answer:
In the poem, ‘A Thing of Beauty’, Keats shows his unhappiness with his fellow human beings through some negative aspects of life such as hopelessness, sadness and lack of noble ways, which are part of life. If we follow unhealthy and wicked paths in life, this will harm us. These paths or circumstances summarily make human beings unhappy.
Question 5.
How does Keats define a thing of beauty?
Answer:
According to Keats, ‘a Thing of beauty is a joy for ever’. He defines beauty as the effect on the soul. The reason is beauty can create joy in the soul that will last for ever. Keats believes in the power of nature to give us joy and happiness.
Question 6.
What troubles and sufferings do human beings face in life?
Answer:
In the poem, ‘A Thing of Beauty’, Keats hints at things that cause troubles and suffering to human beings. They include the dearth of people with a noble temperament, overcast days, and the unhealthy and miserable ways in which humanity is searching for a meaning of life.
Question 7.
How do we get joy from life which is otherwise full of sorrows?
OR
Life is full of sorrows. What brings joy in it?
Answer:
Life of human beings is full of sorrows due to disappointments and frustrations. But the beautiful objects of nature give us an eternal joy. Nature works as a balm on our wounded soul and fills us with hope and optimism.
Question 8.
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.
Answer:
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.
Question 9.
Mention any two things which cause pain and suffering.
Answer:
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.
Question 10.
What does a thing of beauty do for us?
OR
How do beautiful things help us to live a happy life?
Answer:
A 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.
Question 11.
What does Keats consider an endless fountain of immortal drink and why does .he call its drink immortal?
Answer:
Keats considers the joy provided by nature as a never-ending fountain which uplifts the spirits of humans 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.
Question 12.
How is a thing of beauty a joy for ever?
Answer:
According to John Keats, beauty is intransient. It never fades away, rather increases as time passes by. All the beautiful things have the ability to give everlasting pleasure and so are a joy forever.
Question 13.
What philosophy of life is highlighted in the poem?
Answer:
Keats talks about the importance of nature 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 a heavenly and spiritual joy.
Question 14.
What, according to the poet, are the things that have a sublimating effect on the minds of human beings?
Answer:
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.
Question 15.
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?
Answer:
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 the human beings from Heaven. This gift of nature is like the elixir of life which uplifts the spirit and energizes our mind and body.
Question 16.
According to Keats, what spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits? How is it removed?
Answer:
Various hardships, suffering, loss of faith and disappointments due to our own unhealthy and undesirable habits cause despondency and make us gloomy. It is beautiful things that make life worthwhile. These things lift the veil of gloom and make room for hope by giving us eternal joy.
Question 17.
How, according to the poet, does beauty make a permanent impression on our minds?
Answer:
Beauty makes a permanent impression on our minds as it remains fresh in our memory. In fact, the impact of the beauty of nature increases with the passage of time.
Question 18.
What is the secret of good health, according to the poet?
Answer:
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.
Question 19.
What evil things do we suffer from?
Answer:
We suffer from jealousy, wickedness, deceit, negative thoughts, disappointments, frustrations and lack of noble thoughts.
Question 20.
What lovely tales have we read or heard? Explain.
Answer:
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.
Question 21.
Who are the ‘mighty dead’ that are remembered for centuries?
Answer:
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.
Question 22.
In what context does Keats mention ‘immortal drink’? What is it?
Answer:
‘Immortal drink’ refers to the heavenly nectar which makes one eternal. Keats refers to the pleasure derived from a thing of beauty as nectar. This joy is so divine that it gives eternal happiness to the soul.
