A Thing of Beauty is a poem written by the famous romantic poet, John Keats.

The poem tells about how nature and its wonder mesmerize us and take away all
the sorrow that surrounds us from time to time. The following explanation might
aid you in understanding this exceptional piece of work in poetry.

Explanation
A beautiful thing is a source of eternal joy, its attractiveness grows with the
passage of time and its impact never fades away. It is as pleasant as a cool quiet
bower or sound sleep with sweet dreams; or robust health and mental peace. It
provides the beholder with a haven of tranquility and solace.
It is the beauty of nature that keeps us attached to this earth. Every morning we
collect fresh lovely flowers and prepare garlands. The fascination for flowers is our
bonding with the earth. It helps us steer clear of despondency and disappointments.
We forget all our despair, of acute shortage of noble souls, of misfortunes that
overtake us to test our forbearance. Life is full of trials and tribulations and we
often find ourselves in the midst of gloom. It is at such depressing moments that a
sight full of beauty dispels the pall of sadness from our spirits making room for
hope and optimism.
The objects of beauty are countless. These include heavenly bodies like the sun
and the moon, the old and young trees that provide cool shelter to sleep, the
daffodil flowers encased in green leaves, the streams that flow through a shady
passage which they make themselves with plants, and the bushes that bear fragrant
flowers. These simple and even commonplace things lift the human spirit filling it
with joy and delight. In addition to these objects of nature, there are wonderful
tales of our legendary heroes, who lived and died heroically, which inspire us with
their matchless beauty. These beautiful things are metaphorically an endless source
of nectar that pours down to us from heaven bringing eternal joy for the soul’s
grandeur. They are like an elixir of life, a never diminishing source of pleasure and
delight, an endless fountain of joy that seems to be a precious gift from Heaven.
 ANALYSIS

Very simply put, yet graceful, Keats describes a thing of beauty as proceeding joy
forever. Its beauty only increases and it will never come to an end. The benefits
hold out by a thing of beauty is listed as giving sound repose with good dreams and
well-being.
The earth without the beautiful things is a hopeless, unpleasant place flourishing in
cold-hearted unresponsive scarcity and is severe toward human beings. Every day
human beings face miserable days packed with unhealthy malevolence and
darkness. However, in spite of all, a thing of beauty helps eradicate the dark cloud
that loads our souls. Hence, the poet says that we, the human beings create an
elaborate band each day, made of all the lovely things we see. This band keeps us
destined to the downcast earth as we would otherwise be hopeless.
The concluding section simply tells us some of the beautiful things on Earth. After
all, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. Everyone can highpoint something
beautiful in anything. The examples cited by the poet are as such: the sun, the
moon, trees, flowers, streams, musk-rose blooms, architectural tombs, even fairy
tales or heroic legends. The ‘simple sheep’ are human beings. The poet expresses
sympathy with the innocence of human beings. Keats sees the beauty in guiltless
humans seeking comfort in nature, and Mother Nature in its own way develops a
shady abode of relief and consolation. The clause, Lily of the valley is quite well
known and incites images of a subtle unique white flower holding up its head
amongst a setting of thorns and tips and everything contrary in nature to
delicateness – so too are the daffodils mentioned in the poem.
The poet also perceives beauty in the death of martyrs and legends. ‘The mighty
dead are those idealists who have died bravely for a cause. We honor them by
establishing splendid, grand sepulchers in which beauty is seen. If one looks
around, there are numerous beautiful things to notice. They seem to flow
immortally as a fountain, from the gods above to help the pitiable human beings to
deal with with the harshness of life.
The poem concludes by saying that beautiful things are figuratively an endless
source of nectar that pours down to us from heaven bringing eternal joy for the
soul’s grandeur. They are like a medicine of life, a never diminishing source of
pleasure and delight, a boundless source of joy that seems to be a precious gift
from Heaven .A beautiful thing will give joy throughout one’s lifetime. One can
return to the beautiful thing and never finish finding it a source of joy. Even after
one dies, the thing of beauty will continue to exist and will give joy to people of
the next age group. When they in turn pass, it will give joy to the peer group after
theirs, and so on. Thus a beautiful thing may in that sense is a joy forever. Even if
the thing of beauty, practiced in the past, can’t for whatever reasons be experienced
at the present moment, our memory of the past experience can still give present
pleasure. Even when we are depressed or dejected, our experience of a beautiful
thing can help us shake off our sadness and can bring us joy.

(1) How is a thing of beauty a joy for ever?

A thing of beauty is a source of constant joy. Its beauty goes on increasing and it
will never pass into nothingness.

(2) What kind of sleep does it provide ?

It provides a sound sleep, full of sweet dreams, health and peaceful breathing.

(3) What are we doing every day ?

We are weaving a flowery wreath to bind us to the beauties of this earth.

(4)Describe bad and evil things that we possess in us.

We suffer from disappointment, lack of noble qualities and unhealthy and evil ways.

(5) What removes the pall from our dark spirits and how ?
Some beautiful shape or a thing of beauty removes the pall of sadness from
our hearts or spirits.
 (6) What sprouts a shady boon for sheep and how ?
Trees old and young sprout to make a green covering. It becomes a shelter for simple
sheep and proves a blessing for them.

(7) Describe the role of daffodils and clear rills in enriching the environment.
Daffodils bloom among the green surroundings. The small streams (rills) with clear
water make a cooling shelter for themselves against the hot season.

(8) What is lovelier than all lovely tales we have heard or read ?
The beauty of daffodils, rills and musk-roses is more enchanting than all lovely sto-
ries that we have heard or read.

(9) What is the source of 'the endless fountain of immortal drink' ?

An endless fountain of nectar that makes us immortal pours into us the heavenly
bliss of nature.

(10) What is the effect of that 'immortal drink' on us ?

That immortal drink that nature's endless fountain pours into our hearts is a source
of immense joy for us.

1. List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.

Every little or big thing of nature is a thing of beauty and a source of pleasure.
The sun, the moon, trees old and young and daffodil flowers are all things of
beauty. So are small streams with clear water, mass of ferns and the blooming
musk-roses. They are constant sources of joy and pleasure.

2. List the things that cause suffering and pain.

There are many things that cause human suffering and pain. The biggest source
of suffering is our malice and disappointment. The lack of noble qualities is
another. Our unhealthy and evil ways also give birth to so many troubles and
sufferings. They depress our spirits. They are like a pall of sadness over our lives.
3. What does the line, 'Therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to earth',
suggest to you ?
John Keats is a sensuous poet. He is firmly attached to the endless beauty of the
earth. The link of man with nature is constant and unbroken. The things of beauty
are like wreaths of beautiful flowers. We seem to wreathe a flowery band that
keeps us attached to the beauties of this earth.

4. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings ?
So many things bring troubles and sufferings. They depress our spirits. But 'some
shape of beauty' brings love and happiness in spite of such unpleasant things. A
thing of beauty removes away the pall of sadness and sufferings from our lives.
It makes human beings love.

5. Why is 'grandeur' associated with the 'mighty dead' ?

The mighty dead were the people who were powerful and dominating in their
own times. Their achievements made them 'mighty' and great. Their works dazzle
our eyes. We imagine that such mighty dead forefathers will attain more grandeur
at the doomsday. They will be rewarded. Hence grandeur is associated with the
'mighty dead'.

6. Do we experience things of beauty only for short moments or do they make a lasting
impression on us ?
John Keats makes it clear in the very first line of this excerpt that 'a thing of
beauty is a joy forever'. It is a constant source of joy. Nor does its beauty decrease.
Its loveliness goes on increasing every moment. Its value remains undiminished.
It never passes into nothingness. It always removes the pall of sadness that covers
our dark spirits.

7. What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth ?
John Keats uses various images to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth. The
bounty of the earth is like an endless fountain. This endless fountain of immortal
drink constantly pours from the heaven into our hearts.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q. 1. How is a thing of beauty a joy forever?

Ans. John Keats, a great Romantic poet, considers that a thing of beauty is a joy
forever. It is a constant source of happiness and pleasure. Its loveliness increases
every moment. A thing of beauty is never devalued. It never passes into nothingness.

Q. 2. How does a thing of beauty keep a bower quiet for us?

Ans. Keats is rich in sensuous imagery. Nature provides us with things of rare
beauty. A pleasant place in the shade under a tree provides us a quiet bower.
Similarly, a thing of beauty transports us to peace and security. We enjoy a sleep full
of dreams, health and peace.

Q. 3. How do we bind us to the earth every morning?

Ans. Like all Romantic poets, Keats stresses the unbreakable bond of man with
nature and the earth. The beauties of the earth fascinate man. Every object of nature
is a source of beauty and happiness. Every day we are weaving a wreath through
these beautiful things. This flowery band binds us with the earth.

Q. 4. What are the things that give sufferings and sadness to man?
Ans. Man, himself, is the root cause of his woes. We suffer from malice and distress.
Unfortunately, we lack human qualities and it makes us inhuman. Our life becomes
gloomy. We cultivate unhealthy and evil ways. All such things bring misery and
sufferings to men.

Q. 5. What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings?

Ans. In spite of all troubles and sufferings human beings love life. The beauties and
blessings of nature move away the 'pall' from our 'dark spirits'. Such things of beauty
are joys forever.

Q. 6. How is the pall of despondence moved away from our dark spirits?
Ans. Man makes his life miserable by his own nature and actions. He faces miseries
and pains. Amid these miseries and sufferings, a thing of beauty provides a hope to
man. Some shape of beauty works wonders. It removes the pall of despondence and
sadness from our 'dark spirits'.

Q. 7. Name the things of nature that are constant sources of beauty.

Ans. The beauties of nature are endless. The sun, the moon, trees old and young,
beautiful daffodil flowers, green surroundings are some of such beautiful things.
Similarly, small streams of clear water, green ferns and thickets of the forest and
musk-roses are some other things of beauty. All such things of beauty are a constant
source of joy for us.

Q. 8. Why does Keats associate 'grandeur' with 'the mighty dead'?

Ans. The 'mighty dead' were people of great power, authority and grandeur. They
were wealthy, brave and awesome people. They are dead in their grave but still
reflect that grandeur and glory.

Q. 9. What is the source of the 'endless fountain' and what is its effect ?
Ans. The beauties of nature know no limits. Nature is an eternal source of joy to
mankind. A fountain of eternal joy and immortality pours into the heart and soul of
man. It flows and pours right from the heaven's brink.

Q. 10. What is the message that John Keats wants to give through 'A thing
of Beauty' ?
Ans. The very first line of the poem conveys the message of the poet. John Keats
was a worshipper of beauty. A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Beauty never fades.
Nor is it devalued. It never passes into nothingness. A thing of beauty removes away
the pall of sadness and sorrows and gives us joy and pleasure.