Updated on 31/05/2026
Poem-3 ‘A Thing of Beauty’ by John Keats
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, 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 natures, 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 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;
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.
Very Short Type Q-Ans.
Q. 1 Who is the poet of the poem ‘A Thing of Beauty’?
Ans. John Keats.
Q. 2 What is a joy forever?
Ans. A thing of beauty.
Q. 3 What will never pass into nothingness (never end)?
Ans. True beauty.
Q. 4 What binds us to the earth every morning?
Ans. A flowery band made of beautiful things.
Q. 5 What does the poet feel about human life on this earth?
Ans. Human life is full of sadness, suffering, and disappointments.
Q. 6 What dearth (lack) does the poet talk about?
Ans. The lack of noble human beings.
Q. 7 What removes the pall (cloud of sadness) from our dark spirits?
Ans. Some beautiful shape or object of nature.
Q. 8 Name the beautiful things of nature mentioned in the poem.
Ans. The sun, the moon, old and young trees, daffodils, clear streams, and musk-roses.
Q. 9 Where do daffodils live?
Ans. In the green world (forest).
Q. 10 What do 'clear rills' (small streams) do in the hot season?
Ans. They make a cooling shelter for themselves against the hot season.
Q. 11 What is the mid-forest brake rich with?
Ans. It is rich with fair musk-rose blooms.
Q. 12 What grandeur is the poet talking of?
Ans. The grand and noble deeds of our mighty ancestors (mighty dead).
Q. 13 What is described as an 'endless fountain of immortal drink'?
Ans. All beautiful things of nature and lovely tales of heroes.
Short Type Q-Ans.
Q. 1 List the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.
Ans. The poet has mentioned many beautiful things in this poem such as – the sun, the moon, the trees, the daffodils, the clear rills, the musk - roses and lovely tales.
Q. 2 List the things that cause suffering and pain.
Ans. The things which give us suffering and pain are hatred, disappointment, dearth, gloomy days and unhealthy way of people.
Q.3 What does the line ‘Therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to earth’ suggest to you ?
Ans. It means that the world is full of sorrow and suffering. But the beautiful things keep us bound to the earth. The link is constant and unbroken.
Q. 4 What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings?
Ans. No doubt there are endless troubles and sufferings in life. But at the same time there are beautiful things also. These beautiful things are a source of permanent joy. We can enjoy our life in the lap of nature.
Q. 5 Why is ‘grandeur’ associated with the ‘mighty dead’?
Ans. ‘Mighty dead’ is used for such people who did great things in their life. Their creations are still a source of joy for the world. This is their grandeur.
Q. 6 Explain: ‘It will never pass into nothingness’.
Ans. The poet says that there are many beautiful things. The beauty of these things increases day by day. It does not decrease with passing of time.
Q. 7 How does a thing of beauty keep a bower quiet for us?
Ans. According to the poet, beautiful things give us joy forever. They make us forget the sorrow and sufferings of the world. They give us peace of mind and health.
Q.8 What is the 'endless fountain of immortal drink' and what does it pour unto us?
Ans. The 'endless fountain' refers to Nature's endless beautiful bounties and the lovely tales of mighty heroes. It pours divine joy and inspiration directly from heaven's brink into human hearts.
Q.9 What image does the poet use for 'clear rills'?
Ans. Clear rills are small, clear streams of water. They create a 'cooling covert' (shady shelter) for themselves to find protection against the hot summer season.
Long-Answer
1. What is the theme of the poem ‘A Thing of Beauty’?
OR
Summarise the poem ‘A Thing of Beauty’ in your own words.
Ans. ‘A Thing of Beauty’ is a beautiful poem by John Keats. The poet says that nature is a storehouse of beauty. There are many beautiful things in nature such as – the sun, the moon, the old and young trees, the daffodils, the clear rills and the musk – roses. The poet says that the loveliness of beautiful things never comes to an end. Rather it increases day by day. It gives comfort to our soul and mind like a sweet bower of flowers. It also gives us peaceful sleep and good health. A thing of beauty removes all kinds of sadness from our mind. It gives us joy. The poet says that there are so many things in the world, which make us sad. These are deaths, dismays, troubles, sufferings, hatred etc. But a thing of beauty removes all of them from our heart and soul. The tales of heroes are an immortal fountain of endless joy. Really a thing of beauty is a joy forever.
*Important spellings*
Beauty
Forever
Loveliness
Nothingness
Bower
Breathing
Wreathing
Flowery
Despondence
Sprinkling
Inhuman
Sprouting
Daffodils
Immortal
Fountain
Grandeur
*Word-meanings*
Poetic device-
It's loveliness increases, it will..- Metaphor
Noble natures, Simple Sheep, Cooling covert, band to bind- Alliteration
Rhyming Scheme- aabbcc..
Beauty
Forever
Loveliness
Nothingness
Bower
Breathing
Wreathing
Flowery
Despondence
Sprinkling
Inhuman
Sprouting
Daffodils
Immortal
Fountain
Grandeur