Textbook: A Thing of Beauty is a Joy For Ever | English Kumarbharati Class 10 (Maharashtra SSC Board) PDF Download

 Page 1


A Thing of Beauty is a Joy For Ever
John Keats (1795-1821) an English poet was one of 
the most popular of all British Romantic Poets. His poems 
are characterised by imagery from nature, that appealed 
to one’s senses. 
The present poem is the first stanza of a longer poem 
‘Endymion’ based on Greek Mythology.’ The first line has 
become proverbial. The poem was first published in 1818. 
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
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.
l bower : a pleasant
shady place under trees
or climbing plants
l morrow : the following 
day
l wreathing : (here,)
weaving with flowers
l spite of despondence :
in spite of despair
l covert : (here,) shade
l dearth : shortage
l pall : a sheet spread
over the dead
l boon : gift
l rills : streams
l brake (Archaic) :
ferns
l brink : edge
l dooms : last day of
existence known or
displayed
u List the things of
beauty mentioned in the
poem.
u List the things that
cause suffering and pain.
147
Page 2


A Thing of Beauty is a Joy For Ever
John Keats (1795-1821) an English poet was one of 
the most popular of all British Romantic Poets. His poems 
are characterised by imagery from nature, that appealed 
to one’s senses. 
The present poem is the first stanza of a longer poem 
‘Endymion’ based on Greek Mythology.’ The first line has 
become proverbial. The poem was first published in 1818. 
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
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.
l bower : a pleasant
shady place under trees
or climbing plants
l morrow : the following 
day
l wreathing : (here,)
weaving with flowers
l spite of despondence :
in spite of despair
l covert : (here,) shade
l dearth : shortage
l pall : a sheet spread
over the dead
l boon : gift
l rills : streams
l brake (Archaic) :
ferns
l brink : edge
l dooms : last day of
existence known or
displayed
u List the things of
beauty mentioned in the
poem.
u List the things that
cause suffering and pain.
147
  
 Nor do we merely feel these essences
 For one short hour ; no, even as the trees 
 That whisper round  a temple become soon 
 Dear as the temple’s self, so does the moon, 
 The passion poesy, glories infinite,
 Haunt us till they become a cheering light
 Unto our souls, and bound to us so fast,
 That, whether there be shine, or gloom o’ercast
 They always must be with us, or we die.
- John Keats
1. Read the poem and fill in the table. 
Sr. 
No.
Expressions of Beauty (joy) Expressions of sorrow
1
2
3
4
5
6
2. Answer in your own words.
    (a) What is the impact of a beautiful thing on us?
    (b) What does a thing of beauty keep in store, for us?
    (c) Who are the mighty dead? Why are they attributed with ‘grandeur’?
    (d) How does the memory of a beautiful visual scene become a joy forever?
3. Pick out and rewrite 5 lines that contain Imagery.
    For example : (a) we are wreathing a flowery band...
       (b) 
       (c) 
       (d) 
       (e) 
4. Choose the correct Figure of Speech that occurs in the following lines. Justify  
    your choice. 
    (a)  but still we keep a bower quiet for us  .
         (i) Simile  (ii) Irony  (iii) Metaphor
    ENGLISH WORKSHOP       
l poesy : poetry
l o’ercast : spread    
     above
148
Page 3


A Thing of Beauty is a Joy For Ever
John Keats (1795-1821) an English poet was one of 
the most popular of all British Romantic Poets. His poems 
are characterised by imagery from nature, that appealed 
to one’s senses. 
The present poem is the first stanza of a longer poem 
‘Endymion’ based on Greek Mythology.’ The first line has 
become proverbial. The poem was first published in 1818. 
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
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.
l bower : a pleasant
shady place under trees
or climbing plants
l morrow : the following 
day
l wreathing : (here,)
weaving with flowers
l spite of despondence :
in spite of despair
l covert : (here,) shade
l dearth : shortage
l pall : a sheet spread
over the dead
l boon : gift
l rills : streams
l brake (Archaic) :
ferns
l brink : edge
l dooms : last day of
existence known or
displayed
u List the things of
beauty mentioned in the
poem.
u List the things that
cause suffering and pain.
147
  
 Nor do we merely feel these essences
 For one short hour ; no, even as the trees 
 That whisper round  a temple become soon 
 Dear as the temple’s self, so does the moon, 
 The passion poesy, glories infinite,
 Haunt us till they become a cheering light
 Unto our souls, and bound to us so fast,
 That, whether there be shine, or gloom o’ercast
 They always must be with us, or we die.
- John Keats
1. Read the poem and fill in the table. 
Sr. 
No.
Expressions of Beauty (joy) Expressions of sorrow
1
2
3
4
5
6
2. Answer in your own words.
    (a) What is the impact of a beautiful thing on us?
    (b) What does a thing of beauty keep in store, for us?
    (c) Who are the mighty dead? Why are they attributed with ‘grandeur’?
    (d) How does the memory of a beautiful visual scene become a joy forever?
3. Pick out and rewrite 5 lines that contain Imagery.
    For example : (a) we are wreathing a flowery band...
       (b) 
       (c) 
       (d) 
       (e) 
4. Choose the correct Figure of Speech that occurs in the following lines. Justify  
    your choice. 
    (a)  but still we keep a bower quiet for us  .
         (i) Simile  (ii) Irony  (iii) Metaphor
    ENGLISH WORKSHOP       
l poesy : poetry
l o’ercast : spread    
     above
148
(b) Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
(i) Personification (ii) Alliteration (iii) Hyperbole
(c) A thing of beauty is a joy for ever
(i) Epigram (ii) Antithesis (iii) Climax
(d) Trees old and young, sprouting a shady boon.
(i) Exclamation (ii) Personification     (iii) Antithesis
5. From the poem pick out words that we do not use often in modern times. They
should match the meanings given below.
(a) gift (f) edge
(b) the next day (g) depression
(c) a protective spot (h) cover for the dead
(for animals)
(d) a cool shady spot (i) streams
under tall trees
(e) ferns (j) poetry
6. Copy the first 8 lines and mark the stressed syllables using a coloured pen.
7. Read the poem and write -
(a) The rhyme scheme of the following lines.
 Lines 1 to 8
 Last stanza
(b) (i) The number of stressed syllables (Rhythm) in the line.
 A thing of beauty is a joy forever. 
 (ii) Does the poem retain a steady rhythm throughout?
(c) Give four examples of each. Pick the lines from the poem.
 (i) Consonance :
(1) (2) 
(3)           (4) 
 (ii) Assonance :
(1) (2) 
(3) (4) 
8. Go through the poem again and write in your notebook an appreciation of the
poem in the paragraph format. (Refer to page no. 5 )
²???²???²???²
9. Project :
Collect from various sources proverbs or maxims related
to ‘beauty of nature.’ Make a chart/ poster with the
same. Decorate it with images, drawings, pictures and
put it up by turns in your class.
149
Page 4


A Thing of Beauty is a Joy For Ever
John Keats (1795-1821) an English poet was one of 
the most popular of all British Romantic Poets. His poems 
are characterised by imagery from nature, that appealed 
to one’s senses. 
The present poem is the first stanza of a longer poem 
‘Endymion’ based on Greek Mythology.’ The first line has 
become proverbial. The poem was first published in 1818. 
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
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.
l bower : a pleasant
shady place under trees
or climbing plants
l morrow : the following 
day
l wreathing : (here,)
weaving with flowers
l spite of despondence :
in spite of despair
l covert : (here,) shade
l dearth : shortage
l pall : a sheet spread
over the dead
l boon : gift
l rills : streams
l brake (Archaic) :
ferns
l brink : edge
l dooms : last day of
existence known or
displayed
u List the things of
beauty mentioned in the
poem.
u List the things that
cause suffering and pain.
147
  
 Nor do we merely feel these essences
 For one short hour ; no, even as the trees 
 That whisper round  a temple become soon 
 Dear as the temple’s self, so does the moon, 
 The passion poesy, glories infinite,
 Haunt us till they become a cheering light
 Unto our souls, and bound to us so fast,
 That, whether there be shine, or gloom o’ercast
 They always must be with us, or we die.
- John Keats
1. Read the poem and fill in the table. 
Sr. 
No.
Expressions of Beauty (joy) Expressions of sorrow
1
2
3
4
5
6
2. Answer in your own words.
    (a) What is the impact of a beautiful thing on us?
    (b) What does a thing of beauty keep in store, for us?
    (c) Who are the mighty dead? Why are they attributed with ‘grandeur’?
    (d) How does the memory of a beautiful visual scene become a joy forever?
3. Pick out and rewrite 5 lines that contain Imagery.
    For example : (a) we are wreathing a flowery band...
       (b) 
       (c) 
       (d) 
       (e) 
4. Choose the correct Figure of Speech that occurs in the following lines. Justify  
    your choice. 
    (a)  but still we keep a bower quiet for us  .
         (i) Simile  (ii) Irony  (iii) Metaphor
    ENGLISH WORKSHOP       
l poesy : poetry
l o’ercast : spread    
     above
148
(b) Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
(i) Personification (ii) Alliteration (iii) Hyperbole
(c) A thing of beauty is a joy for ever
(i) Epigram (ii) Antithesis (iii) Climax
(d) Trees old and young, sprouting a shady boon.
(i) Exclamation (ii) Personification     (iii) Antithesis
5. From the poem pick out words that we do not use often in modern times. They
should match the meanings given below.
(a) gift (f) edge
(b) the next day (g) depression
(c) a protective spot (h) cover for the dead
(for animals)
(d) a cool shady spot (i) streams
under tall trees
(e) ferns (j) poetry
6. Copy the first 8 lines and mark the stressed syllables using a coloured pen.
7. Read the poem and write -
(a) The rhyme scheme of the following lines.
 Lines 1 to 8
 Last stanza
(b) (i) The number of stressed syllables (Rhythm) in the line.
 A thing of beauty is a joy forever. 
 (ii) Does the poem retain a steady rhythm throughout?
(c) Give four examples of each. Pick the lines from the poem.
 (i) Consonance :
(1) (2) 
(3)           (4) 
 (ii) Assonance :
(1) (2) 
(3) (4) 
8. Go through the poem again and write in your notebook an appreciation of the
poem in the paragraph format. (Refer to page no. 5 )
²???²???²???²
9. Project :
Collect from various sources proverbs or maxims related
to ‘beauty of nature.’ Make a chart/ poster with the
same. Decorate it with images, drawings, pictures and
put it up by turns in your class.
149
1. Talk with your partner and discuss the following questions :
(a) Have you ever been invited to lunch, at any hotel, by your friend ?
(b) What was the occasion ?
(c) Did you enjoy the lunch ? Why ?
2. Discuss in pairs :
People with foibles are often not conscious of them. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
3. As you know, every country has its own currency. Find out the currency of at
least 6 countries alongwith their current exchange rate in India, with the help
of the internet. One is done for you.
For example, Switzerland: franc; 1 franc = 66.73 INR
Country Currency Exchange Rate in Indian 
Currency
4.2  The Luncheon
W arming Up ! 
150