Previous Year Questions: Poem - A Thing of Beauty

CBSE Previous Year Questions 2025

Short Answer Type Questions 

Q.1. 'And such too is the grandeur of dooms'. How can 'grandeur of dooms' be impressive and inspiring according to Keats? (40-50 words)  (2 Marks)

​Answer: According to Keats, the "grandeur of dooms" refers to the magnificent and heroic deaths of our ancestors, whom he calls the "mighty dead". These deaths are impressive and inspiring because their stories of bravery and sacrifice are immortalized as "lovely tales" that we have heard or read. These tales act as a source of eternal inspiration, providing a sense of dignity and beauty even to the end of life.

Q.2. 'A thing of beauty is a joy forever.' Explain with reference to the poem. (40-50 words)  (2 Marks)

Answer: This opening line suggests that a beautiful object is a perennial source of happiness. Its beauty never diminishes; instead, its "loveliness increases" over time. Unlike worldly pleasures that fade, a thing of beauty never "passes into nothingness" because it leaves a lasting impression on our minds, offering us a "bower quiet" and "sweet dreams" that promote health and peace.

Extract-Based Questions (Multiple Choice & Objective)

Q.3. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow: (6 Marks) 

Extract: "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,
Therefore, on every morrow are we wreathing
A flowery band to bind us to the earth."

(i) By the phrase 'joy forever' the poet refers to things
(A) that make people extremely happy. 
(B) that are a feast to eyes. 
(C) that are a constant source of happiness. 
(D) that are beautiful but transient.

Answer: (C) that are a constant source of happiness.
Solution: The poet explains that the loveliness of a beautiful thing increases and never fades away, making it a permanent or "constant" source of joy rather than a temporary one.

(ii) Choose the correct option: By using the expression 'never pass into nothingness' the poet states that nature's beauty will create a __________ (lasting/temporary) impression on man's mind.

Answer: lasting.
Solution: To "never pass into nothingness" means it will never be forgotten or lose its value; therefore, it leaves a permanent and lasting impression.

(iii) How does Keats make it evident that there is a link between man's wellness and nature's beauty?

​Answer: Keats illustrates this link by stating that a thing of beauty provides a "bower quiet," a "sleep full of sweet dreams," and "health," suggesting that natural beauty directly fosters physical and mental well-being.

(iv) Read the Assertion and the Reason below, with reference to the given extract:
Assertion: Keats states that man derives strength and inspiration from the beauty of nature.
Reason: Nature gives physical, emotional and mental solace to man. 
(A) Both the Assertion and Reason are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion. 
(B) Both the Assertion and Reason are true, and the Reason is not the correct explanation. 
(C) The Assertion is false, but the Reason is true. 
(D) The Assertion is true, but the Reason is false.

Answer: (A) Both the Assertion and Reason are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
Solution: The poem asserts that beauty provides "health" and "quiet breathing" (solace), which in turn gives man the strength to "bind us to the earth" despite life's problems.

(v) Select one phrase from the extract which implies that man wants to continue his life on this earth despite innumerable problems.

​Answer: "wreathing A flowery band to bind us to the earth".

(vi) Complete the following sentence: 
'a sleep full of sweet dreams' implies ________.

Answer: Peace of mind and mental tranquility provided by beauty.

Q.4. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow: (6 Marks)

Extract: "​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."

(i) Select the phrase that suggests the following: 
In difficult times, beauty comes to our aid, in some form or the other, to make us overcome these difficulties.

​Answer: "Some shape of beauty moves away the pall / From our dark spirits".

(ii) What does the imagery of 'flowery band' not represent in the given extract?
(A) connections to life 
(B) a thing of beauty 
(C) imprisonment 
(D) earthly ties

Answer: (C) imprisonment.
Solution: The "flowery band" is a positive metaphor for the beautiful things that connect us to life and the earth; it does not represent a negative concept like being trapped or imprisoned.

(iii) Complete the following suitably. 
In the line, 'moves away the pall from our dark spirits', the phrase 'the pall' refers to ________.

​Answer: A dark covering or cloud of gloom and sadness.

(iv) The poet's use of the phrase 'inhuman dearth' illustrates the ________ (scarcity/plentitude) of noble human qualities.

​Answer: Scarcity.
Solution: "Dearth" is a synonym for lack or shortage, indicating that there is a shortage of "noble natures" in the world.

(v) Read the assertion and the reason below, with reference to the given extract:
Assertion: The poet values beauty as it overcomes despondence and gloom.
Reason: Beauty, despite the world's hardships, provides comfort and lifts our spirit. 
(A) Both the assertion and the reason are true and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
(B) Both the assertion and the reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
(C) The assertion is true, but the reason is false.
(D) The assertion is false, but the reason is true.

Answer: (A) Both the assertion and the reason are true and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
Solution: The poet explicitly states that despite "gloomy days" and "despondence," beauty "moves away the pall," confirming that beauty's value lies in its ability to provide comfort.

(vi) State in one sentence, what advice would you give to those facing dark times.

Answer: One should seek out "shapes of beauty" in nature or stories of heroism to lift their spirits and find the strength to move past gloom.

Q.5. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow: (6 Marks)

Extract: "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."

(i) Select the phrase that suggests the following: The small streams make a shelter for themselves.

​Answer: "clear rills / That for themselves a cooling covert make".

(ii) What does the phrase 'An endless fountain of immortal drink, Pouring unto us from the heaven's brink" not imply in the extract?
(A) unlimited beauty 
(B) eternal inspiration 
(C) finite resources 
(D) everlasting joy

Answer: (C) finite resources.
Solution: An "endless fountain" and "immortal drink" suggest something that is infinite and everlasting, which is the opposite of a "finite" or limited resource.

(iii) Complete the following suitably: In the line, 'the grandeur of the dooms', the word 'dooms' refers to ________.

​Answer: The end or death of the legendary heroes.

(iv) The poet has used phrases like 'mighty dead' to illustrate the ________ (irony/satire) in the lasting impact of beauty and heroism.

​Answer: Irony.
Solution: There is a situational irony in describing the "dead" as "mighty," highlighting that while they are physically gone, their beauty and heroic impact remain powerful and alive in our imagination.

(v) Read the assertion and the reason below, with reference to the given extract.
Assertion: The poet views beauty as a finite source of inspiration.
Reason: Natural elements and tales of heroism provide a continuous flow of joy and inspiration.

Choose the correct option regarding their relationship :
(A) Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
(B) Both the assertion and the reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
(C) The assertion is true, but the reason is false.
(D) The assertion is false, but the reason is true.

Answer: (D) The assertion is false, but the reason is true.
Solution: The assertion is false because the poet describes a thing of beauty as a "joy forever" whose loveliness "increases" and "never passes into nothingness," indicating it is an infinite, not finite, source. The reason is true because Keats explicitly mentions that natural elements like the sun, moon, and daffodils, along with the "lovely tales" of the "mighty dead," act as an "endless fountain" that provides a continuous flow of inspiration

(vi) State in one sentence, what message you would give to those seeking inspiration from nature.

Answer: You should immerse yourself in the beauty of nature, as it acts as an "endless fountain of immortal drink" that can lift the "pall" of sadness from your spirit and provide eternal joy.
This message is derived from the poet's belief that nature's bounty is a gift from "heaven's brink" that offers constant psychological and spiritual rejuvenation.

CBSE Previous Year Questions 2024

Short Answer Type Question 

Q.1. How and why does Keats relate 'mighty dead' to the 'Thing of Beauty'? (40-50 words)  (2 Marks)

Answer: Keats associates the 'mighty dead' with beauty because their magnificent deeds and the "lovely tales" written or heard about them serve as a source of eternal inspiration. Just like the elements of nature, these stories of grandeur act as an "endless fountain of immortal drink" that pours onto humanity from heaven, providing a lasting joy that never fades into nothingness.

Answer: The phrase 'mighty dead' refers to our ancestors and legendary heroes who were powerful and influential in their time. The inference is that their noble deeds and the "lovely tales" we have heard or read about them create a sense of grandeur. Their lives and glorious sacrifices are considered things of beauty because they provide eternal inspiration and stay in our memories as an "endless fountain of immortal drink"

Long Answer Type Questions 

Answer: As I have analysed the two texts, I find that John Keats and Robert Frost offer vastly different perspectives on nature. In "A Thing of Beauty," Keats presents nature as a divine and eternal source of joy. He views elements like the sun, moon, and "clear rills" as a "shady boon" that provides a "quiet bower," sweet dreams, and health. For Keats, nature is an "immortal drink" that removes the "pall" of sadness from our dark spirits.

Conversely, in "A Roadside Stand," Robert Frost treats nature as a backdrop to human suffering and social neglect. While he mentions "mountain scenes" and "wild berries," these are presented as things the "polished traffic" ignores or complains about for "marring" the landscape. Frost focuses on the "trusting sorrow" of the rural poor who live in nature but lack the "city money" to thrive.

I'd like to say that while Keats offers a romantic escape into the healing power of nature, Frost uses nature to highlight the harsh reality of the class divide and the "childish longing" for a better life.

Q.4. Write a comparative analysis of the poems 'A Thing of Beauty' and 'A Roadside Stand' focusing on the different ways each poem addresses the concept of struggle and resilience. (120-150 words)  (5 Marks)

Answer: Both poems acknowledge the presence of human struggle, but they propose different methods of resilience. In "A Thing of Beauty," Keats describes struggle as the "inhuman dearth of noble natures" and "unhealthy ways" that lead to "despondence". Resilience, for Keats, is a spiritual act; we "wreathe a flowery band" to bind ourselves to the earth, using beauty as a shield against gloom.

In "A Roadside Stand," the struggle is economic and social. Frost depicts the "pitiful kin" waiting in "open prayer" for the sound of brakes-a sign of potential customers. Resilience here is seen in the persistent hope of the rural folk who keep their stand open despite being ignored by the "selfish cars".

While Keats finds resilience in the aesthetic and the immortal, Frost finds it in the enduring human spirit of the poor who continue to seek a "lift of spirit" through gainful work. Ultimately, Keats looks upward to "heaven's brink" for relief, while Frost looks toward social empathy and "mercifully gathering in" the deprived.

Answer: Dear Robert,

I have recently read your poem 'A Roadside Stand' and was moved by the "sadness that lurks near the open window" and the "childish longing in vain" that you so poignantly describe. It is true that our world suffers from a "dearth of noble natures" and "gloomy days".

However, my friend, I believe that "a thing of beauty is a joy forever". Even when the "party in power" fails the people, the "clear rills" and "musk-rose blooms" remain as an "endless fountain of immortal drink". I advise you to encourage those "pitiful kin" to look beyond their "unhealthy and o'er-darkened ways" and seek the "shady boon" offered by nature.

Despite the fact that our lives are full of sorrow and suffering, the beautiful things around us give us the strength to endure the sadness of life. Let the "grandeur of the dooms" of the mighty dead inspire them to find beauty even in their struggle.

Warmly, John Keats

Q.6. 'A Thing of Beauty' and 'A Roadside Stand' are poetic expressions of human relationships. The first engages with nature while the latter highlights the individual's place in society. Describe with reference to the two poems. (120-150 words)  (5 Marks)

Answer: These two poems explore human relationships from different angles. In "A Thing of Beauty," Keats focuses on the spiritual relationship between humans and nature. He argues that nature acts as a guardian, providing a "bower quiet" and a "flowery band" that binds us to the earth. This relationship is healing, as nature's beauty restores our "dark spirits".

In contrast, "A Roadside Stand" explores the fractured social relationship between the rural poor and the urban "polished traffic". Frost highlights the "double standards" of "greedy good-doers" who pretend to help the poor but actually "soothe them out of their wits". The poem reveals the isolation of individuals in society, where the "trusting sorrow" of the farmers is met with the "mean" indifference of city folk.

In summary, Keats describes a harmonious, restorative relationship with the natural world, while Frost exposes a disjointed and exploitative relationship within human society

Extract-Based Questions 

Q.7. Read the following extract and answer the questions:  (6 Marks)

"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."

(i) Which of the following themes is best represented in the given extract?
(A) Beauty provides security and peace. 
(B) Beauty lies in possession of expensive things. 
(C) Beauty is synonymous with power and riches. 
(D) Beauty lies in our rich heritage and palaces and temples.

Answer: (A) Beauty provides security and peace.
Solution: The extract highlights that beauty provides a "bower quiet" and a sleep full of "sweet dreams" and "quiet breathing," which are symbols of peace, security, and mental well-being.

(ii) Complete the following sentence appropriately. A thing of beauty never passes into nothingness because it is ________ .

Answer: ...a joy forever and its loveliness increases with time.
Solution: The poet states that beauty is eternal; rather than fading, its value and the joy it provides grow stronger as time passes.

(iii) 'Quiet bower' means a pleasant, shady, quiet place under trees or in the woods. This creates a sense of ________ .

Answer: peace and tranquillity.
Solution: A bower is described as a "quiet" place that facilitates restful sleep and health, indicating a state of calm and protection from the harshness of life.

(iv) State whether the given statement is True or False with reference to the extract.The quality of a thing ensures that its beauty lasts forever.

Answer: True
Solution: The poet explicitly mentions that "a thing of beauty is a joy forever" and that it will "never pass into nothingness," confirming the permanence of its quality.

(v) Based on the rhyme scheme in lines 3 and 4 of the given extract, which word will rhyme with them?
(A) please 
(B) sweep 
(C) help 
(D) self

Answer: (B) sweep
Solution: Lines 3 and 4 end with the words "keep" and "sleep". The word "sweep" follows the same "ee-p" sound pattern, maintaining the established rhyme scheme.

(vi) The use of the word 'health' in the extract suggests that beautiful things will give us a happier and more wholesome life. It creates a powerful image of ________ .
(A) rejuvenation 
(B) attachment 
(C) long life 
(D) eternity

Answer: (A) rejuvenation
Solution: By associating beauty with "health" and "quiet breathing," the poet suggests that beauty has a healing effect that refreshes and restores the human spirit.

Q.8. Read the following extract and answer the questions:  (6 Marks)
"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:"

(i) Which of the following themes is best represented in the given extract?
(A) The beautiful things in nature 
(B) Things that cause unhappiness 
(C) The immortality of human beings 
(D) The early morning fragrance of flowers

Answer: (B) Things that cause unhappiness
Solution: While the extract mentions beauty, it focuses heavily on the negative aspects of human existence that beauty helps us overcome, such as "despondence," "inhuman dearth of noble natures," and "gloomy days".

(ii) State whether the given statement is True or False, with reference to the extract.The paths we follow are often not worthy of our noble nature.

Answer: True
Solution: The text refers to "unhealthy and o'er-darkened ways" that humans search through, implying that the paths taken are often disappointing or ignoble.

(iii) Complete the following sentence appropriately:We wreathe for ourselves a flowery band every morrow because ________ .

Answer: it helps to bind us to the earth despite the suffering we face.
Solution: The "flowery band" represents the beautiful things in nature that provide us with a reason to live and stay connected to the world, even amidst "despondence".

(iv) The use of the word 'dearth' creates a powerful image of ________ .

Answer: a lack or scarcity of noble human values.
Solution: "Inhuman dearth of noble natures" refers to the shortage of virtuous and kind-hearted people in the world, which contributes to human suffering.

(v) Based on the rhyme scheme in lines 4 and 5, which of the following word will rhyme with 'days' and 'ways'?
(A) craze
(B) pays 
(C) haste 
(D) waste

Answer: (B) pays
Solution: The words "days" and "ways" end with the "ay-z" sound. Among the options, "pays" is the only word that matches this phonetic ending.

(vi) The lack of punctuation at the end of line 3 in the extract is to:
(A) create a sense of continuity and flow that connects it with the fourth line. 
(B) encourage the reader to understand grammar. 
(C) forewarn the reader of gloomy days ahead. 
(D) keep us connected to this earth.

Answer: (A) create a sense of continuity and flow that connects it with the fourth line.
Solution: This is a poetic device (enjambment) used to ensure the ideas of "dearth" and "gloomy days" are read as a continuous list of the struggles humanity faces.