A Thing of Beauty

A THING OF BEAUTY
-BY JOHN KEATS
1. 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,
& a sleep full of sweet dreams & health, & quiet breathing.
The poet says that , a beautiful object is a constant source of happiness. Its
value increases with the passage of time. It never loses its worth because
everytime we think of it, it gives us the same kind of joy. It is like a shady
place under a tree as it provides us a sense of peace, calm and security.
Therefore, it is pleasant shelter (bower) against the sorrows of life. It helps
us sleep soundly and we see beautiful dreams, gain good health and feel
completely relaxed with a peaceful mind.
Thus, the poet counts various benefits of beautiful objects or beauty in
general.
2. Therefore, on every morrow, are wreathing a flowery band to bind us to the

Earth, spite of depondence , of the inhuman dearth of the noble natures, of
the gloomy clays, of all the unhealthy and over-darkened ways made for our
searching : yes inspite of all some shape of beauty moves away the pall.
The poet has listed out advantages of beauty. So, he questions people if they
are creating a connection with the Earth every morning through their
appreciation of natural beauty. According to the poet, the link between man
and nature is very essential.
Our appreciation of things of beauty is like a ring of beautiful flowers which

connects us to the Earth. (flowery band – metaphor – just as a flowery band
is beautiful and binds together all the flowers, similarly our appreciation of
nature is a very beautiful sentiment and it binds us to the earth).
There are many negative forces around us. For example the sadness which is
all around, there is acute shortage of people with gentle and generous nature,
there are also days when man is overwhelmed with the cares of life and there
are also a number of unfair and evil methods which tempt us to explore them
for quick and easy success.
The poet empathically says that inspite of the presence of so many negative
factors, beauty in one or the other form removes the covering of sadness
from our dejected hearts and thus refreshes us.
3. Such the sun, the moon, trees old and young, sprouting a shady boon for a
simple sheep…… heaven’s brink / edge & such are daffodils with the green
world they live, musk – rose blooms.
The poet has listed out beautiful natural objects like the sun, the moon,
young and old trees which provide a blissful shade for helpless creatures like
the sheep.
(shady boon – helpless timid creatures like the sheep get shelter under the
trees which is like a boon/ blessing for them because it protects them from
harshness of the weather).
He finds the flowers of daffodils equally beautiful which are growing in the
green surroundings of the forest. The small streams with clear water running
in them have created a cool shelter / covert of bushes along their banks to
protect themselves from the heat. The middle of the forest has different
flowers like the forest brake and the musk rose in full blossom, growing
together and enhancing each other’s beauty.
Thus , the nature teaches us the beautiful lesson of harmony and how to live
in peace.
4. 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.
The magnificent stories of the fearless warriors who attained glory in their
lifetime through their remarkable feats and were equally fearless in their
death, such inspirational stories are also a source of beauty. They are like the
never ending fountain of nectar which is flowing to us from the edge / brink
of heaven itself. Thus, beauty is divine (godly) in nature.
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1. A thing of beauty ………. quiet breathing.
Q1. How is a thing of beauty, a joy for ever?
Ans. A thing of beauty is a constant source of happiness as it becomes a

cherished memory.
Q2. How does loveliness increase with time?
Ans. Its loveliness increases because everytime we think of it, we experience

the same amount of pleasure. Thus, making it a cherished memory.
Q3. Briefly discuss the benefits of beauty?
Ans. Beauty relaxes our mind to give us a sound sleep which helps us to
gain good health.
Q4. How is beauty like a bower (shady place under a tree)?
Ans. Just as a bower refreshes the tired travelers similarly things of beauty
refresh tired human minds by giving a sense of peace and calm.
2. With the green world they live in ……….mighty dead.
Q1. What does green world refers to ?
Ans. Forest
Q2. What is the cooling covert for clear rills / stream?
Ans. Trees that are growing along the banks of the rills.
Q3. What lesson does the nature teach us through the examples of musk rose
and forest brake?
Ans. The nature teaches the lesson of harmony, peace through the examples
of musk rose and forest brake, which are growing together and enhancing
each other’s beauty.
Q4. What does the mighty dead refer to?
Ans. ‘Mighty dead’ refers to the brave people who attained glory in their
lifetime through their remarkable feats / achievements and were equally
fearless at the time of their deaths. They are the ‘fearless warriors of the
past’.
Q5. What is the grandeur of the dooms and what is its impact on the
mankind?
Ans. ‘Grandeus of the doom’ are the inspirational stories which are a
constant source of beauty. It refers to the heroic death of the past warriors.
They continue to inspire mankind.

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A THING OF BEAUTY

-BY JOHN KEATS

1. A thing of beauty is a joy forever,

2. Therefore, on every morrow, are wreathing a flowery band to bind us to the

Our appreciation of things of beauty is like a ring of beautiful flowers which

1. A thing of beauty ………. quiet breathing.

Q1. How is a thing of beauty, a joy for ever?

Ans. A thing of beauty is a constant source of happiness as it becomes a

Q2. How does loveliness increase with time?

Ans. Its loveliness increases because everytime we think of it, we experience

Q3. Briefly discuss the benefits of beauty?

Q4. How is beauty like a bower (shady place under a tree)?

2. With the green world they live in ……….mighty dead.

Q1. What does green world refers to ?

Q2. What is the cooling covert for clear rills / stream?

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