Important Questions Poem 4 - A Thing of Beauty | English Class 12 PDF Download

Important Extracts

1. Read the stanzas given below and answer the questions that follow each:
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.
Q1.  Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
Ans.  The poem is A Thing of Beauty. The poet is John Keats.

Q2.  How is a thing of beauty a joy for ever ?
Ans. A thing of beauty is the source of constant joy. Its beauty goes on increasing. It will never pass into nothingness.

Q3.  What do you understand by a ‘bower’l
Ans. A bower is a pleasant place in the shade under a tree. It protects persons/animals from the hot rays of the sun.

Q4.  What kind of sleep does it provide?
Ans. It provides us a sound sleep, full of sweet dreams, health and peaceful breathing.

2. Read the stanzas given below and answer the questions that follow each:
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,

Q1.  Name the poem and the poet.
Ans. The poet is John Keats. The poem is A Thing of Beauty.

Q2.  Why are we despondent?
Ans. We possess the evil qualities of malice and disappointment. We suffer from the lack of noble qualities. That is why we feel despondent.

Q3.  What removes the pall from our dark spirits?
Ans. Some beautiful shapes or a thing of beauty removes the pall of sadness from our hearts or spirits. 

Q4.  What are we doing every day?
Ans. We are weaving a flowery wreath to bind us to the beauties of the earth.

3. Read the stanzas given below and answer the questions that follow each:
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;

Q1.  What removes the pall from our dark spirits?
Ans. Some beautiful shape or a thing of beauty removes the pall of sadness from our hearts or spirits.

Q2. What sprouts a shady boon for sheep and how?
Ans. Old and young trees sprout to make a green covering. It proves a blessing for simple sheep as it serves them as a shelter.

Q3.  How do ‘daffodils’ and ‘rills’ enrich the environment?
Ans. Daffodils bloom among the green surroundings. The rills or small streams of clear water make a cooling shelter for themselves against the hot season.

Q4.  What makes the mid-forest brake rich?
Ans. The mid forest brake is made rich by the blooming of beautiful musk-roses. 

4. Read the stanzas given below and answer the questions that follow each:
And such too is the grandeur of the dooms
We have imagined for the mighty dead;
Ml lovely tales that we have heard or read;
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink

Q1. Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
Ans. The poem is A Thing of Beauty. The poet is John Keats.

Q2. Explain: ‘the grandeur of the dooms’.
Ans. The magnificence that we imagine for our mighty dead forefathers on the dooms day.

Q3. What is the thing of beauty mentioned in these lines’?
Ans. The lovely tales of mighty men are mentioned in these lines.

Q4. What image does the poet use in these lines?
Ans. 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.

 
Short Answer Type Questions 
Question.1. How do beautiful things help us to live a happy life? (Foreign 2014)
Answer. We derive comfort and happiness when we look at objects of beauty, and the lasting impression they leave on our minds is a source of permanent joy. Beautiful things bind us to the Earth and help us strengthen our relationship with nature. They provide us relief from our everyday trials and tribulations and help us live a happy life.

Question.2. What does Keats consider an endless fountain of immortal drink and why does he
call its drink immortal? (All India 2013)
Answer. Keats considers nature’s beauty as an endless fountain of immortal drink. He calls this drink immortal as the pleasure and delight given by it never passes into nothingness. It only increases with time.

Question.3. According to Keats, what spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits? How
is it removed? (All India 2013)
or
What spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits? How is it removed?
Answer. John Keats says that pain and suffering are a part of life. These bring us sadness and despondence. But still, we can find hope. The hope and motivation come from nature and remove the pall of despondence from our spirits. The beautiful sights give us inspiration to continue the journey of life.

Question.4. How does a thing of beauty provide shelter and comfort? (Modified India 2013)
Answer. A thing of beauty provides shelter and comfort in many ways. It is like a bower, a place under the shade of a tree where we can rest. It gives us a sleep filled with sweet dreams. The streams and forests provide a cooling covert for us in the hot weather.

Question.5. How is a thing of beauty a joy forever? (Delhi 2012)
Answer. A thing of beauty is a joy forever because it is a permanent source of joy and inspiration and leaves a lasting impression on us. The pleasure and happiness gave by it never fades away but keeps on increasing.

Question.6. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings? .
(Ml India 2012,2010; Delhi 2008)
Answer. Human beings suffer from hopelessness and sadness. Our style of living often makes us hopeless and grim. We at times also, suffer due to the self-centred and wicked nature of others. In spite of all our troubles and sufferings, we are able to derive pleasure from our surroundings. The beautiful objects from nature help us shed our gloom, give us a glimmer of hope, and make us love life amidst all troubles.

Question.7. Why is ‘grandeur’ associated with the mighty dead? (Delhi 2011)
Answer. The mighty dead are those who have laid down their lives for a great or noble cause. Their death is replete with intellectual and spiritual beauty. Birth, growth and decay, all are inseparable. Each has its own. beauty. Their death is grand or beautiful because it makes them immortal through the grand tombs and memorials erected in their honour.

Question.8. What is the message of the poem, ‘A thing of beauty’? (Modified India 2011)
Answer. The message of the poem ‘A thing of beauty’ is that beautiful things are a source of constant joy and inspiration. They give us eternal pleasure and leave an indelible image on our minds and, therefore, every beautiful thing and aspect is worth being treasured.

Question.9. What is the ‘endless fountain’ and what is its effect? (Foreign 2011)
Answer. Here beauty has been referred to as an ‘endless fountain’, which is an eternal source of motivation, an elixir of life and a precious gift from heaven. It gives us infinite pleasure and delight, and motivates us to continue our journey of life.

Question.10.What images does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the Earth? (Delhi 2010)
Answer. The poet uses the image of an ‘endless fountain’, which showers bounties on Earth. He calls this an ‘immortal drink’ from heaven. The sun, the moon, the trees, the daffodils, the lush green forests and streams, all reflect the beautiful bounties which God has given us.