A Thing of Beauty
NCERT Book for 12th Class English Flamingo Poetry 4 A Thing of Beauty is available for reading or download on this page. Candidates who are in class 12th or preparing for any test which is based on 12th Class English can refer to NCERT English Flamingo Book for their preparation. Here you can read Poetry 4 of 12th Class English NCERT Book.
Questions and Answers
Q.1 What pleasure does a beautiful thing give us? Are beautiful things worth treasuring?
Ans. The world is filled with negative elements that make our life dull, sad, depressing, and bereft of hope. In such moments, a beautiful thing gives us everlasting joy and helps us forget our sorrows. Yes, a beautiful thing is worth treasuring because even its memory soothes our nerves and inspires us to overcome the challenges of life.
Q.2 List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.
Ans. The thing of beauty mentioned in the poem are:
- A Flowery band
- The Sun
- The moon
- Trees – old and young
- Daffodils
- Green world (forest)
- Clear rills
- I Fair musk – rose
- Lovely tales
- Fountain of an immortal drink
- Heaven’s brink
Q.3 List the things that cause suffering and pain.
Ans. Following are the things that cause suffering and pain:
- Despondence: The losing of hope in life
- Inhuman: That is cruel and brutal behavior.
- Dearth: Scarcity of food. (dearth) of Noble nature Scarcity of good and gentle people.
- Gloomy days: The disappointing and unfortunate dark period.
- Unhealthy ways: The ways which make us ill are unhealthy.
- Dark – spirits: people of evil spirits, ghosts.
- Hot season: The excessive heat of summer.
Q.4 What does the line, ‘Therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to earth’ suggest to you?
Ans. The poet feels that life on earth would not be worth living without its beauty He feels that every morning we weave a beautiful string of flowers or memories which help us to support ourselves on earth. This further motivates us to live a life full of beauty.
Q.5 What makes human beings love life despite troubles and sufferings?
Or
What is the message of the poem ‘A thing of Beauty?
Ans. Human life is full of misery. He struggles a lot to fulfill his basic needs. He faces securities of all kinds. But despite all sadness and gloominess, there are some beautiful shapes of beauty. These shapes provide comfort to the wanton soul. These shapes move away from the cloth of coffin from our evil spirits. So the effective shapes of beauty make human beings love life despite troubles and suffering.
Q.6 Why is ‘grandeur’ associated with the ‘mighty dead’?
Ans. Grandeur means in majestic, and mighty dead are those warriors or those who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country. The poet has associated grandeur with the mighty dead because he saw spiritual beauty in their grand and magnificent death.
Q.7 Do we experience things of beauty only for short moments or do they make a lasting impression on us?
Ans. According to the poet. “A thing of beauty is a joy forever” Human life is full of suffering and struggle. To seek some relief, human beings enjoy the beauty. Whenever we go near these beautiful things, they provide us calmness and peace. They leave a lasting impression on our minds.
Q.8 What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth?
Ans. The poet uses the image of the fountain which pours into us in the form of immortal drink from the heavens above. The sun, the moon, the trees, the sheep, the daffodils the green fields, and the clear rivers are images and reflections of the bounties of the earth.
