A Thing of Beauty —by John Keats | CBSE Class 12 | Term-2
Central Idea of the Poem : John Keats (1795 - 1821) was an English romantic poet belonging to the second generation of romantic poets, along with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley. Although his poems were not generally well received by critics during his lifetime, his reputation grew after his death, and by the end of the 19th century, he had become one of the most beloved of all English poets. He had a significant influence on a diverse range of poets and writers.
Explanation of the Poem
Stanza 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, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.”
Explanation:
In the given lines, the poet speaks of the permanent nature of beautiful things which give us eternal joy. According to the poet, beauty is permanent. It is something that never fades away but increases with time. As the sight of beautiful things get stored in our memory, its loveliness increases. For the poet, beauty also brings peace as it provides a quiet shady place to sleep and have sweet dreams. This sound
sleep brings mental peace which results in the good health of our body and mind.
Stanza 2
“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, inspite of all,
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits.”
Explanation:
In these lines, the poet highlights that beautiful things are fundamentally important to us. Everyday, beauty of the nature helps us prepare a wreath of flowers that strengthens our bonds with Earth. It essentially fills us with the spirit to live. The poet also adds that life is full of trials and tribulations, lost faith and disappointments which fill us with stress, anxiety and fears. All
of these unhealthy and wicked ways of life are a result of our own actions. But inspite of all this, some wonderful sights of nature help us to shed sad and grim thoughts. They remove the veil of gloom, bringing about hope and optimism in our lives.
Stanza 3
“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;”
Explanation:
The poet now goes on to list the objects of beauty found on earth. He says that the sun, the moon, old and young trees which provide shade, the daffodils, the greenery, the cool and clear
streams which provide respite in the heat of summer and the bushes growing in the forest with musk-roses blooming amidst them, are all
eternal sources of joy and pleasure. All of these natural beauties brings joy and happiness to the simple and innocent spirit of man.
Stanza 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.”
Explanation:
According to the poet, there is beauty even
in death. He finds beauty in the stories about our dead ancestors who were deemed as heroic and mighty. The poet goes on to say that all the lovely tales that we have heard or read can also be placed among things of beauty, as they have a sublime effect on the human spirit.
The poet concludes by saying that all of these beautiful things are a gift from God. They are like an eternal fountain of immortal drink that flows from the heaven.
Reference @Arihant
Word Meanings
The given page numbers correspond to the pages in the NCERT textbook.
Page 98
- pass into — change or turn into
- bower — a pleasant shady place
- morrow — morning
- wreathing — weaving or forming into a wreath
- spite — malice, ill will
- despondence — disappointment, dejection
- pall — covering, shroud or cloth spread over a coffin
- spirits — souls, temperaments
Page 99
- rills — small streams
- covert — shelter or covering
- brake — dense undergrowth of ferns or other bush
- musk-rose — a wild rose with large white musk-scented flowers
