FLAMINGO || A THING OF BEAUTY || JOHN KEATS
A THING OF BEAUTY -
--JOHN KEATS
ABOUT THE POET ----- JOHN KEATS :
John Keats was an English Romantic Poet. He was born in 31 October 1795 in London, UK. Keats was called an English of the second generation. The exact location where he was born is called Moorgate. His parents were Thomas and Frances Keats. Keats was the eldest of the four sons of his parents. At the age of eight Keats lost his father. Again at the age of fourteen he lost his mother. Initially he was trained as a surgeon, but he devoted his life to poetry. This poem is an excerpt from his poem 'Endymion' and is based on a Greek Legend.
Keats is known a reputed poet since he composed some great poems like - On First looking into Chapman's Homer, Ode to the Grecian Urn, Ode to the Nightingale, Ode to Melancholy, The Eve of St. Agnes, La Belle Dame Sans Merci. In this poem the poet raises question whether beautiful things are worthless or not.
ABOUT THE POEM :
'A Thing of Beauty' is known as an extraction from his poem "Endymion'. Here, the poet highlights that a thing of beauty is a perennial source of joy. Every person in this earth feels happiness when sees beautiful scenery, landscape and such other things. When one feels disappointed, beautiful sight may be a source of joy for him. He or she may feel relaxed. The poet says that beautiful objects of nature never makes anyone unhappy. Apart from such things, the necessity of The Sun, Moon, trees, streams, flowers etc are perennial source of happiness.
A THING OF BEAUTY -Text
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.
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble nature, 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 he green world they live in and clear rills
That for themselves a cooling covert make
'Gainst the got season: the mid forest brake
Rich with 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.
DIFFICULT WORDS AND MEANINGS:
Bower: a pleasant place under the shade of tree.
Morrow : morning
Wreathing : weaving into a wreath.
Spite : Malice
Despondence : disappointment.
Dearth : lack or scant of.
Pall : covering
covert :shelter of bushes.
Rills : stream.
Boon : blessing
Brake : thicket
Grandeur: magnificence
Brink : corner.
TEXTUAL QUESTION ANSWER :
THINK IT OUT
1. List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.
Answer:
In the poem the poet has mentioned various things of beauty. They are constant source of joy and inspiration. Among them the Sun, the Moon, trees and plants are important. Besides these, daffodil flowers, clear rills, the brakes with blooming rose are also remarkable.
2. List the things that cause suffering and pain.
Answer:
The things which cause human suffering and pain are day to day disappointments, lack of noble qualities among beings, unhealthy and evil ways of living, sad spirits due to various factors and above all, lack of humanity.
3.What does the line 'Therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to earth suggest to you ?
Answer:
The things of beauty makes our lives happier. Hence we feel attracted to such things of joy and constant inspiration.
As far as the above line is concerned it suggests that man has an emotional attachment with beauty. The things of beauty, indeed bind us with the nature and the earth as well. Gradually we develop noble and close relation with the nature.it seems that we make flowery band to keep us bound with the earth..
4. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings ?
Answer:
Yes, in spite of common troubles and sufferings human beings love life; for life is a unique gift to us. The healing touch of nature gives us remedy to all our troubles and anxieties. Moreover, nature's beautiful things remove the pall of sadness from our dark spirits and enlighten us to the core.
5. Why is grandeur associated with the 'mighty dead' ?
Answer:
The mighty dead, as mentioned by the poet, performed heroic deeds and died bravely. They were none other than great leaders, soldiers, great kings of the past.
However the word 'grandeur' is associated with them as they performed extraordinary deeds. Their works captivates our eyes even after a long time.
6. Do we experience things of beauty only for short moments or do they make a lasting impression on us ?
Answer:
The things of beauty, undoubtedly, makes a lasting impact on us. They are, indeed, a source of inspiration for while we are in gloomy mood. Besides their loveliness always increases. Also their significance passes into nothingness. That is to say, they are the perennial source of joy and inspiration throughout our lives.
7. What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth?
Answer:
The poet has used the image of endless fountain of immortal drink to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth. It is, however, like an overflowing fountain. It constantly flows from the edge of the heaven to our heart directly. Thus, we are blessed by the nature to a great extent.
EXTRA QUESTION - ANSWERS:
1. What is bower ?
Answer
A bower is beautiful place under the shade of a tree.
2. Why is a thing of beauty a joy forever ?
Answer:
As the beauty of such thing increases and never passes into nothingness, so a thing of beauty is a joy forever.
3. What removes the pall from our dark spirits ?
Answer:
The things of beauty which are found amidst nature, removes the pall from our dark spirits.
4. What weaves the flowery band ?
Answer:
The fascinating things of nature like the Sun, the Moon, hills and streams, plants and flowers etc weave the flowery band on earth.
5. How has the poet presented 'Daffodils' in the poem ?
Answer:
In the poem it is said that daffodils bloom among the green surrounding. They are found by the side of river, stream etc where they make a cooling shelter against the hot season.
6. What is meant by the 'mighty dead'?
Answer:
The mighty dead means the people of power, name and fame, who once lived wealthy and sophisticated life in this earth.