A Thing of Beauty by John Keats, Interpretation & Analysis, Questions & Answers

POEM: 4

A Thing Of Beauty                                                                       John Keats

INTERPRETATION & ANALYSIS The present poem is an excerpt from “Endymion: A Poetic Romance”. The poem is based on a Greek legend in which Endymion, a beautiful young shepherd and poet who lived on Mt. Latmos had a vision of Cynthia, the Moon goddess. The enchanted youth resolved to seek her out and so wandered away through the forest and down under the sea. The recurring idea in this poem is a thing of beauty is a source of never ending joy. If a thing is really beautiful, it goes on providing us joy forever. A real beauty never diminishes, on the contrary its beauty and loveliness ever increases. Moreover, it can never be extinct instead it grows and grows ever. Physical charms are perishable but the qualities of head and heart, art and craft and science can be imperishable. True beauty gives us peace just as we find peace in a garden. When one is at peace with oneself and the things around, one has sound sleep, good dreams and perfect health. Beauty has a very important role to play in our lives. Without beauty our life becomes all dull and monotonous. This is the reason that every other day we pick flowers to make a garland which keep ourselves connected to this earth. In other words, daily we try to discover newer beauties which keep our lives going. The pleasure and happiness that we find in small activities are the flowers which make our life beautiful. When we look around, we find a lot of problems in this world. There is malice due to disappointment; there is lack of humanity and nobility around; there are sorrows and problems and above all the ways of the world are wicked and crooked. But in spite of all these negativities, if we are able to perceive beauty in something, all our gloom and sadness vanishes.

God has bestowed several beautiful things upon us. The sun, the moon, the trees whether old or young sprawling their branches and providing shade and shelter to beings are beautiful. The daffodils have a different kind of beauty. They bloom in the morning and wither and wilt and die in the evening but even in that short period they make their life meaningful by providing joy to the onlookers with their fragrance and beauty. The small streams and rivers get surrounded with plants, bushes and trees and save themselves from the scorching heat of the sun.  Beauty can be found even in the middle of the forest. The most fair and fragrant flowers can be found even among wild bushes. According to Keats, there is majesticity even in dooms. All those martyrs and mighty kings, who inspired millions through their deaths and deeds, have a certain beauty about them. There is beauty in all those stories which we have heard or read so far and which have been there for centuries and even today people love to read them. Thus all the beautiful things around us are like a fountain of nectar which can never cease to exist and which is perhaps being showered upon by God himself.

GLOSSARY

Wreathing                               -           Interlace, Engarland

Despondence                          -           Dejection, Depression

Dearth                                     -           Lack, Paucity

Spite                                        -           Malice, Hatred

Pall                                          -           Cover, Curtain

Sprouting                                -           Growing, Germinating

Rill                                          -           Small stream, Rivulet

Grandeur                                 -           Splendour, Glory

Brink                                       -           Edge, Border

Brake                                       -           A place overgrown with bushes

         

            A thing beauty is a joy forever

            Its loveliness increases, it will never

            Pass into nothingness;

1.         How can a thing of beauty be joy forever?

Ans:    Something which has real beauty goes on providing us joy forever.

2.         How can the loveliness of a beautiful thing increase?

Ans:    If anything is really beautiful, the more we view it, the more beautiful it appears as our increased understanding reveals newer forms to us.

3.         How can a beautiful thing never be nothing?

Ans:    A beautiful thing can never be nothing because it never fades. Its worth makes it immortal.

            But 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.

1.         What does beauty give us?

Ans:    Beauty gives us peace, good sleep full of sweet dreams, perfect health and relief.

2.         What do we do every other day?

Ans:    We are making a garland of flowers every other day i.e. every other day we collect small pleasures and try to discover newer beauties.

3.         Why are we wreathing a flowery band?

Ans:    We are wreathing a flowery band every day because beauty is essential to us. Without beauty we cannot survive on this 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 aways the pall

            From our dark spirits.

1.         What, according to the poet, is lacking around us?

Ans:    According to the poet noble people and nobles deeds are lacking around us.

2.         What can beauty do?

Ans:    Beauty can take away all the sorrows and problems from our life.

3.         “In spite of all”- Explain.

Ans:    The poet is trying to say that we are surrounded with lots of problems and sorrows but inspite of all such troubles, beauty has the power to lift up all the gloom from our lives and make us happy.

            Such the sun, the moon, trees old and yound

            Sprouting a shady boon for a simple sheep

            And such are daffodils with the green world they live in:

1.         How are the trees beautiful?

Ans:    Trees are beautiful because whether old or young, they all provide shade and shelter to all the beings without any discrimination.

2.         What does the poet mean by ‘simple sheep’?

Ans:    ‘Simple sheep’ is symbolic of innocence and divine beauty. Just as Jesus Christ was a shepherd and he sat under a tree with his sheep and followers, exuding divinity and innocence.

3.         How are daffodils beautiful?

Ans:    Daffodils have a very short life. They blossom in the morning and wither and wilt, droop and die in the evening. But even in the short period they make their life meaningful by providing joy to the onlookers through their beauty and fragrance.

            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

            And such too is the grandeur of dooms

            We have imagined for the mighty dead:

1.         Why do the rills make a cooling covert for themselves?

Ans:    The rills make a cooling covert for themselves to save themselves from the scorching heat of the sun.

2.         What do we find among the mid forest bushes?

Ans:    We find very beautiful and fragrant flowers among the mid forest bushes.

3.         How can death be beautiful?

Ans:    Death can be beautiful if it can inspire people; if it can help create some space in the hearts and minds of people.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1.         How can a thing of beauty be joy forever?

Ans:    A thing of beauty is a joy forever because if anything has a real beauty it unfailingly goes on providing us joy. It finds place in the heart of common people and thus immortalizes itself.

2.         “Its loveliness increases.” Explain.

Ans:    The loveliness of a true beauty can never decrease because a true beauty is always complex in form and the more we delve deep into it, we find new colours and new facets of it. Every other time we look at it, we find something new about it.

3.         Why are we wreathing a flowery band?

Ans:    We are wreathing a flowery band every other day because we can’t do without beauty in our life. It has become an integral part of our life. Without beauty life becomes all dull and monotonous. That’s why we try to discover newer beauties in and around us to keep us going.

4.         What is “made for our searching?”

Ans:    The present world is full of all sorts of problems. We find malice and disappointment; there is lack of nobility and noble deeds; there are sorrows and tribulations; there are unhealthy conditions and there is wickedness and sin in this world.

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

Ans:    In spite of all the troubles, the beauty around and in our life and its perception make human beings love life. Though we are surrounded with beauties yet unless we have an eye for it, we cannot come out of our sufferings and love life.

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

Ans:    Grandeur is associated with the ‘mighty dead’ because they immortalized themselves through their death. Their deeds and death inspired millions and they registered themselves in the hearts of people by leaving behind a legacy.

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

Ans:    The poet mentions about sun, moon, old and young trees, daffodils, clear rills, mid forest break etc. to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth. 

8.         Why does the poet enlist different beautiful things in the poem?

Ans:    The poet enlists different beautiful things in the poem to suggest that beauty cannot be confined. It can be in any form, size, shape and anywhere. Moreover, beauty is all about one’s perspective. Anything can be beautiful to anybody.

9.         What is implied by ‘all lovely tales that we have heard or read’?

Ans:    The poet means to say that there are lots of stories which are going round in our societies for ages. The stories which fascinated our forefathers, our fathers, we ourselves and fascinate the coming generation as well, is only because of the beauty in them.

10.       Explain “sprouting a shady boon for a simple sheep”

Ans:    It suggests how different trees sprawl their branches and provide shade to all the beings. The trees don’t discriminate rather they provide shade to all and sundry. Such is the play of beauty and innocence in nature.

PREVIOUS YEARS' QUESTIONS

(2018)    Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:[4 Marks]

              … and clear rills that for themselves

              a cooling covert make

              against the hot season; the mid-forest brake

              rich with the sprinkling of the fair musk rose blooms;

(a)          Identify the poem and the poet.

(b)          What is the role of the clear rills?

(c)          How has the mid forest brake become rich?

(d)          Name the figure of speech in the cooling covert.

(2017)    How can ‘mighty dead’ be things of beauty?                                         

(2015)    Mention any four things of beauty that add joy to our life.

          Which objects of nature does Keats mention as sources of joy in his poem, 'A Thing of Beauty'?

              Mention any two things which cause pain and suffering. (A Thing of Beauty)

                                                                                          [3 Marks]

(2013)    Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:                     [4 Marks]

                   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.

              (a) Name the poem and the poet.

              (b) Why are we 'despondent' ?

              (c) What removes 'the pall from our dark spirits' ?

(2013)    What does Keats consider an endless fountain of immortal drink and why does he call its drink immortal?                                                                                                          [2 Marks]

(2013)    How does a thing of beauty provide shelter and comfort?                                        [2 Marks]

(2012)    How is a thing of beauty a joy forever?                                                                    [2 Marks]

(2011)    Why and how is grandeur associated with the mighty dead?                                    [2 Marks]

(2010)    What makes human beings love life inspite of troubles and sufferings ?                 [2 Marks]

(2009)    According to Keats, what makes man love life in spite of all its problems and miseries ?                                                                                                                                           [2 Marks]

(2008)  What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and suffering?                     [2 Marks]

Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda, Interpretation & Analysis, Questions & Answers

POEM: 3

Keeping Quiet                                                                          Pablo Neruda

INTERPRETATION & ANALYSIS In this poem the poet talks about the necessity of quiet introspection and creating a feeling of mutual understanding among human beings.The poet asks us to count to twelve to prepare us for the moment of silence and introspection. He appeals that for once we shouldn’t talk in any language because this talking is the root of all the maladies. For a while we should let the silence be the language of communion. We should have a pause from our busy life and avoid all quarrels and fights. If all start meditating and introspecting, that would be an excitingly strange moment as there won’t be any uproar, hurry and chaos, and people would have a feeling of solidarity. In the fourth stanza, the poet uses the images of fishermen and salt-gatherer. He says that after introspection there would dawn an understanding upon fishermen that how their activities are harming nature and they would stop doing such things. And the man gathering salt will understand that his greed is hurting himself. These images suggest that today’s man, both knowingly and unknowingly is harming nature but he is indifferent and unsympathetic to the fellow beings and not only this, his activities are hurting himself and he doesn’t realize. His greed makes him close his eyes to the consequences. The act of introspection and meditation make us realize futility of war; that wars lead on to wars only; it leaves only wails and cries in its wake; there can be victory but no joy or no survivor to enjoy it. This realization will make them understand the importance of peace and harmony. People would avoid war and feeling of fraternity would prevail.But the poet does not want us to confuse his idea of meditation and introspection with that of total inactivity. He doesn’t want us to be indolent rather he says life should be lively and meaningful. We should not be like death in life, a burden on earth rather we should make it useful. According to Neruda, we are selfish people and we think of only our advancement and    progress even at the cost of others. But coming out of the cell of self if we give a thought to ourselves, we’ll understand the reason of sadness in our lives and once we understand the reason, we won’t fear even death.

We can learn a lot from the earth. It seems to be still but still it moves on; life and death, creation and destruction everything goes on and the earth doesn’t stop for anything. Through the example of the earth, the poet wants to say that there can be activity even in stillness. We can be creatively and innovatively engaged, and like earth we should not stop for anything. There may be joys and sorrows but we should keep on moving. Preparing us for the unique moment of silence and introspection, the poet leaves us in the quietness so that we can better understand and know ourselves.

GLOSSARY

Truck                           -           Association, Deal

Exotic                          -           Unusual, Excitingly strange

            Now we will count up to twelve

            And we will all keep still.

1.         Why does the poet use number twelve?

Ans:    The poet uses number twelve because there are twelve numbers on the dial of a watch; there are twelve months in a year; we divide a day in two twelves and there are twelve zodiac signs.

2.         What does counting to twelve signify?

Ans:    Counting to twelve signifies a preparatory exercise for the act of quiet introspection.

3.         Why will all keep still?

Ans:    All will keep still in order to mediatate.

            For once on the face of this earth

            Let’s not speak in any language,

            Let’s stop for once second,

            And not move our arms so much.

1.         Why should people not speak in any language?

Ans:    People should not speak in any language because one doesn’t need any language to talk to oneself. Moreover, speaking in any language will only hinder the process of meditation.

2.         Why does the poet ask us to stop for one second?

Ans:    The poet asks us to stop for one second because this rushing and running cannot take us anywhere. We need to spare some time for ourselves.

3.         What does the poet suggest in the last line?

Ans:    According to the poet we should avoid the rush and run for material possessions and should not fight with anybody. Moreover, we should have some time for ourselves as well.

            It would be an exotic moment

            Without rush, without engines,

            We would all be together

            In a sudden strangeness.

1.         What would be an exotic moment?

Ans:    When all would be silent and introspecting without any rush and noise, that would be an exotic moment.

2.         Why would there be a sudden strangeness?

Ans:    There would be a sudden strangeness because all would be together, meditating silently which generally doesn’t happen.

3.         What are engines symbolic of?

Ans:    Engines are symbolic of continuous movement and noise.

            Fishermen in the cold sea

            Would not harm whales

            And the man gathering salt

            Would look at his hurt hands.

1.         Why would fishermen not harm whales?

Ans:    The fishermen would not harm whales because after introspection they would understand that there activities are harming the nature.

2.         Why would the salt-gatherer look at his hurt hands?

Ans:    The salt-gatherer would look at his hurt hands because in the moments of introspection he would realize that his activities are harming himself.

3.         What does the poet mean by ‘cold sea’?

Ans:    Cold sea here refers to the indifferent world. According to the poet, we are living in an indifferent world where people have no sympathy and empathy for others.

            Those who prepare green wars,

            Wars with gas, wars with fire,

            Victory with no survivors,

            Would put on clean clothes

1.         What is ‘green wars’?

Ans:    “Green wars” means deforestation, green house effect, ozone layer depletion i.e. harming nature in various ways.

2.         Why will there be no survivors?

Ans:    There will be no survivors because war leads on to wars and leave in its wake only deaths and injuries.

3.         Who will put on clean clothes and why?

Ans:    Those who indulge in wars will put on clean clothes because after introspection, they will understand that war is futile and peace must reign supreme.

            What I want should not be

            Confused with total inactivity.

            Life is what it is about.

1.         What does the poet want?

Ans:    The poet wants us to spare some time for quiet introspection.

2.         What does the poet mean by total inactivity?

Ans:    By total inactivity poet means doing nothing and remaining totally unproductive.

3.         What is life about?

Ans:    Life is all about liveliness, being productive and making it meaningful.

            If we were not so single-minded

            About keeping our lives moving

            And for once could do nothing.

1.         What kind of people are we?

Ans:    We are single-minded i.e. narrow-minded people.

2.         What do we think of?

Ans:    We, being narrow-minded think only of our progress and improvement, not about others.

3.         What does the poet want us to do?

Ans:    The poet wants us to avoid all our activities for some time and introspect.

            Perhaps a huge silence might

            Interrupt this sadness of never

            Understanding ourselves and of

            Threatening ourselves with death.

1.         What can the silence do?

Ans:    The silence can take us out of our sadness.

2.         Why is there sadness in our lives?

Ans:    There is sadness in our lives because we don’t understand ourselves.

3.         Why should people not be afraid of death?

Ans:    People should not be afraid of death because it is a universal truth and cannot be avoided. It is a truth to be accepted that one who has come, has to go one day.

            Perhaps the earth can teach us

            As when everything seems dead

            And later proves to be alive.

1.         What can earth teach us?

Ans:    The earth can teach us that there can be activity even in stillness and we should never stop moving whatever comes in our life.

2.         How does everything seem dead?

Ans:    On this earth some or the other thing goes on all the time. Sometimes it is dark or sometimes there is destruction which makes us feel everything seem dead.

3.         How do the things prove to be alive?

Ans:    The earth reveals itself in mysterious ways if at one time there is death, the other moment there is birth; darkness is followed by light and destruction is followed by creation.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1.         Why does the poet count only up to twelve? What does this mean?

Ans:    The poet uses the number twelve as there are twelve numbers on the dial of a watch; we divide the time of a day in two twelves and there are twelve months in a year. Here, counting has been used as a preparatory exercise for the ultimate moment of silence and introspection.

2.         Why does the poet want us not to speak in any language?

Ans:    The poet wants us not to speak in any language because this talking is the root of all the maladies. People often talk uselessly which leads to disputes and quarrels so it is better to be quiet for some time and use the silence as a language of communion to talk to ourselves.

3.         Explain “not move our arms so much”.

Ans:    The poet wants us not to engage ourselves in any quarrels or fights. Moreover, today’s people are involved in the rat race of awards, rewards, prestige, promotion, money etc. He wants us to avoid this rush and run, and be quiet and thinking for a while.

4.         What would be the exotic moment?

Ans:    When people would understand the importance of quiet introspection, there would be no rush and chaos, and most importantly there would be a feeling of togetherness. This situation has been termed as an exotic moment by the poet.

5.         “Fishermen in the cold sea” What does the poet mean by ‘cold sea’?

Ans:    The word ‘cold sea’ here symbolizes the indifferent world. The fishermen are indifferent to the plight of fish. They don’t care about the harm they are causing, rather they go on killing the fish out of their greed to earn more money. Today, we, human beings have lost all fellow feeling and become numb to other’s sufferings and sorrows.

6.         Why would the man gathering salt look at his hurt hands?

Ans:    In the moment of silence and quiet self-analysis, the salt-gatherer will understand the futility of his greed and think about himself which will make him realize how he is hurting himself. Today’s people don’t have time to think about themselves. A brief pause from the daily haste can give them a chance to take protective and preventive steps for themselves.

7.         What does the poet mean by ‘green wars’?

Ans:    Green wars here mean the war resulting from the environmental concerns and problems. People are cutting trees; desertification is increasing; there is global warming and         environmental pollution. All these problems will ultimately result into armed conflicts.

8.         “Life is what it is about.” Explain.

Ans:    The poet here means to say that life should be full of liveliness. There should be some purpose and meaning to life instead of spending it uselessly in trifle activities or being idle.

 9.         Why does the poet want no truck with death?

Ans:    The poet wants no association with death. Living like a dead is no life at all. Inactivity and rush should be avoided and we should try to engage ourselves in something creative.

10.       Why, according to the poet, there is sadness in our lives?

Ans:    There is sadness in our lives because we don’t understand ourselves and we are afraid ofdeath. If once we come out of the cell of self and introspect, we’ll understand that sadness is a part of life and death is a universal truth, and one must accept these facts with equanimity.

11.       What will counting up to twelve and keeping quiet help us achieve?

Ans:    Counting up to twelve and keeping quiet will help us achieve a state of self-analysis and self-understanding which will remove all sadness and fear from our lives and will teach us to value life, peace and harmony.

         

PREVIOUS YEARS' QUESTIONS

(2016)         Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:            [4 Marks]

                   Now we will count to twelve

                   And we will all keep still

                   For once on the face of the Earth

                   let's not speak in any language.

                   let's stop for one second.

                   and not move our arms so much.

(a)               What is the significance of the number twelve?

(b)               Which two activities does the poet want us to stop?

(c)               What does the poet mean by let’s not speak in any language?

(d)              Describe the pun on the word ‘arm’.

(2015) –      'Life is what it is all about; ....' How is keeping quiet related to life?

          –        Why does one feel' a sudden strangeness' on counting to twelve and keeping quiet?

          –        How will 'keeping quiet' protect our environment?                                             [3 Marks]

(2014)    What is the sadness the poet refers to in the poem 'Keeping Quiet' ?                       [2 marks]

(2013)    What are the different kinds of wars mentioned in the poem? What is Neruda's attitude towards these wars?                                                                                                   [2 Marks]

(2012)    Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:                 [4 Marks]

                   For once on the face of the Earth

                   let's not speak in any language.

                   let's stop for one second.

                   and not move our arms so much.

              (a) Why does the poet want us to keep quiet?

              (b) What does he want us to do for one second?

              (c) What does he mean by 'not move our arms' ?

(2011)   Do you think the poet, Pablo Neruda advocates total inactivity and death? Why/Why   not?                                                                                                                                        [2 Marks]

(2010)   According to the poet, what is it that human beings can learn from Nature?            [2 Marks]

(2009)    Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:                        [4 Marks]

                   Now we will count to twelve

                   and we will all keep still.

                   For once on the face of the Earth

                   let's not speak in any language,

                   let's stop for one second.

                   and not move our arms so much.

              (a) How long does the poet want to stay still ?

              (b) What does he hope to achieve by keeping quiet?

              (c) What does the poet mean by 'not move our arms so much’?

(2008)    Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:                 [4 Marks]

                   Perhaps the Earth can teach us

                   as when everything seems dead

                   and later proves to be alive.

                   Now I'1l count up to twelve

                   and you keep quiet and I will go.

              (a) What does the earth teach us ?

              (b) Why does the poet count up to twelve?

              (c) What will keeping quiet help us achieve?