A thing of beauty is a joy forever

Class 12 Flamingo

1. A THING OF BEAUTY IS A JOY FOREVER– JOHN KEATS -Shivani Singh PGT English, APS - Delhi Cantt

2. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

3. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

4. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

5. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND INTRODUCTION: Extract ENDYMION: A POETIC ROMANCE THEME: -LOVE, BEAUTY AND YOUTH

6. Beauty as a source of perennial joy and pleasure Any thing which appeals to the senses gives everlasting and ever- increasing joy Beautiful things make pain and sufferings tolerable. They are a source of inspiration to all earthlings.

7. Message: A beautiful object is treasured in our minds because it provides eternal and everlasting joy. This happiness never fades away into oblivion but quite on the contrary multiplies manifold whenever we are reminded of it.

8. 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. Words: Loveliness- beauty, charm bower- a pleasant place in the shade under trees quiet breathing – peaceful moments pass into nothingness- die, be forgotten

9. POETIC DEVICE EXTRACT MEANING METAPHOR bower quiet A secluded and a peaceful place where man can relax and forget all his troubles sweet dreams Sound and pleasant sleep required for mental peace

10. What are pleasures that beautiful sights/ objects give us, the humans? A beautiful object is a constant/ perennial source of joy. Its beauty increases every time an onlooker sees it. Since beauty is eternal, it never fades away or dies/ forgotten and is immortal. Its charms grow even more enchanting with the passage of time. It gives us everlasting joy and dispels all sadness and grief from our lives, thereby enabling us to live comfortably and blissfully. The poet compares the joy with the pleasure we get from: ‘Quiet bower’-the cool shade is comforting ‘sleep full of sweet dreams’- mush needed for good health and mental peace. It provides us a shelter (quiet bower) which is peaceful and a comfortable sleep that is full of sweet dreams. It also gives us good health and a life which is free of tensions. ( ‘quiet breathing ’).

11. Answer these: What kind of joy does a beautiful thing provide? Explain: “ its loveliness increases”. What does the poet mean by saying: ‘it will never pass into nothingness’? Explain: ‘ quiet breathing’. What is a bower? Which figure of speech has been used in ‘bower quiet’? Explain: ‘ sleep full of sweet dreams’. Why do we need sweet dreams, health and quiet breathing in our lives? According to Keats, what treasures does a beautiful thing store for us?

12. 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 spirits … Words: Morrow - the next day: tomorrow Wreathing - flowers or leaves twisted or woven together into a circle together worn on the head as a crown. spite –short for ‘in spite’ despondence- disappointment Spite of despondence- inspite of the disappointment due to lack of noble men and manners Dearth- scarcity, lack of Gloomy- sad: pall –a thick, dark cloud of something Unhealthy and over- darkened ways- lack of human value and evil practices

13. POETIC DEVICE EXTRACT MEANING METAPHOR Flowery band Unhealthy and over- darkened ways Link with nature Hardships and troubles in life/ being alive in this world TRANSFERRED EPITHET Unhealthy and over- darkened ways Gloomy days Those who follow the wrong paths The people that are gloomy not the days ALLITERATION Noble natures Band to bind PERSONIFICATION Inhuman dearth of noble natures Scarcity of noble men - ARCHAISM morrow Old English IMAGERY Flowery wreaths Vivid descriptions suggesting various images

14. It saves us from negativity! The poet draws a conclusion that since a beautiful thing gives us eternal happiness, every morning we renew our link with nature by weaving a band of flowers and leaves. This is metaphorical in nature in order to signify man’s connection to mother Earth. This band keeps our connection with nature eternal. This close connection with nature saves us for all the negativity pervasive in this world. The negativity arises out of dejection, disappointment and uncertainty. Bit despite all this, beautiful objects uplift our dull spirits. Man is dejected, disappointed and uncertain because of lack of human values and evil practices. The sight of beautiful objects uplifts our spirits as the sadness dissipates.

15. Answer these: What, according to the poet, does beauty inspire us to do every morning? What are the flowery bands that bind us to the Earth? Explain: ‘wreathing a flowery band to bind us to the earth.’ What does the expression, ‘spite of despondence’ imply? Why there is ‘inhuman dearth of noble nature’? What makes our days gloomy? Explain:’ unhealthy and o’er- darkened ways’.

16. ….yes , inspite 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: Words: Pall- dark clods of sadness Sprouting- to appear: to develop something Boon- blessing

17. POETIC DEVICE EXTRACT MEANING METAPHOR The pall Dark spirits The shroud of happiness unhappiness TRANSFERRED EPITHET Gloomy days The people are gloomy and not the days PERSONIFICATION Shape of beauty daffodils Beauty has been personified by giving it a shape METONYMY Green world Used for forest IMAGERY SYMBOL/ REFERENCE Shady boon Green world Simple sheep The objects of beauty provide protection just like Jesus did to all his followers

18. Where do we find these beautiful sights and objects? Inspite of all the pessimistic and negative thoughts that obstruct our way to happiness (and inspite of all the sadness that overshadow and darken our ways), we are able to find happiness in the beautiful objects of nature. Beauty in any form helps in dispelling sadness and driving away despondency. Some objects found in nature which are beautiful are: the sun, the moon, old and young trees. Keats describes these trees as providing shade which acts like a blessing to all the people on this earth. Trees are symbolic of protection. Nature, through the trees, showers on us the blessing of shade, protecting us from heat and rain.

19. ‘for simple sheep’- here is a Biblical reference. Lamb and sheep are envisioned as the embodiments of innocent and trusting followers of Jesus Christ.. He is viewed as a shepherd surrounded by his flock of sheep- the followers. the reference is to the sheep as symbols of common people who have faith in the bounties of nature. Daffodil flowers in the green forests too are pleasing to behold. ‘With the green world they live in’ Green world means the forests and nature is at its best in these lish green forests. While mentioning some beautiful objects in nature, Keats emphasizes the fact that man can find comfort and true khappiness only in the lap of nature as characterised by the trees, streams , musk- roses and daffodils.

20. Answer these: What does in spite of all refer to? What according to the poet, drives away the sadness from our life? Or What moves away the pall from our lives? What images of beauty has the poet referred to here? How does the poet celebrate the beauty of a ‘tree’? What does the reference , ‘simple sheep’ symbolize? Explain : ‘with the green world they live in’.

21. ….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: Words: Rills- small streams Covert- an area of thick low bushes and trees where animals can hide Brake- a thick mass of ferns Hot season- summer time Musk- rose blooms- flowers This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

22. POETIC DEVICE EXTRACT MEANING ALLITERATION Cooling covert PERSONIFICATION Rills METONYMY ( change of name) Hot season summer IMAGERY Clear rills Cooling covert Mid- forest brake

23. The poet draws our attention to the small rivers with clear water that cool the bushy thickets in the hot season. He reminds us of the resplendent beauty of the thick ferns found in forests which have fragrant flowers spread in them. These ordinary things too have the potential to lift the human spirit and fill it with joy.

24. Answer these: What does ‘clear rills’ refer to? How are they beneficial to mankind? Explain: ‘mid- forest brake’.

25. 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. Words: Grandeur- splendour Dooms- sacrifices made by the brave men Mighty dead- martyrs Immortal- that which cannot die Brink- edge

26. POETIC DEVICE EXTRACT MEANING METAPHOR endless fountain of immortal drink A thing of beauty is like an elixir of life just like the nectar was for the gods. OXYMORON The mighty dead The martyrs are living in the memories of people because of the sacrifices they made. These were beautiful and inspiring to all. IMAGERY Endless fountain of eternal drink

27. The poet speaks about the ‘ mighty dead’ who are ancient, powerful and brave men who had done noble deeds in the past but are now dead. He refers to the beautiful stories of these great men which we have heard or read. ‘Grandeur of the dooms’- there is greatness in the sacrifices made by the brave men. These stories are beautiful as they create an indelible impression on us. They inspire and make us happy.

28. In the last two lines, Keats wants to establish the idea that beautiful objects are a source of endless happiness. He uses the metaphor of the immortal drink of the gods: According to him, just as the nectar pours from the edge of the heaven and makes the gods immortal, similarly, beautiful things provide us with endless joy and inspiration. They make life comfortable and worth living. In other words, Beauty, in all respects, is an endless fountain of immortal drink. It is so because Beauty is a perennial source of motivation in whose glory men on earth derive eternal joy and inspiration.

29. Thankyou!