Poem 1 the noble nature (1)

Subject-English
class -12
Poetry section- Poem-'The Noble Nature' b Ben Jonson
Introduction of the poet,text of the poem, summary & questions

1. CLASS-12 Sub-English Book- Rainbow Ch-12 The Noble Nature - Sukhwant Kaur

2. The Noble Nature –by Ben Jonson Born in 1572, Ben Jonson is regarded as one of the major dramatists and poets of the seventeenth century

3.       It is not growing like a tree      In bulk, doth make man better be; Or standing long an oak, three hundred year, To fall a log at last, dry, bald, and sere:

4. To fall a log at last, dry, bald, and sere:

5. A lily of a day   Is fairer far in May,      Although it fall and die that night—       It was the plant and flower of Light.

6. In small proportions we just beauties see; And in short measures life may perfect be. Word Meanings- Bulk-very large Doth-does( Doth is an archaic word) Bald-without leaves Sere-withered Fairer –beautiful Proportion-parts

7. Summary The poet, Ben Jonson, in the poem ‘The Noble Nature’, talks about what makes a man noble. He compares man to a sturdy oak and to a delicate lily in order to do this. Growing physically like a bulky tree or living long like a sturdy oak does not make a man a noble being. The huge, strong and aged oak will soon become a lifeless, ‘dry’ and withered piece of log. So too will be the fate of a man who is only blessed with long life and physical and material well being. The lily plant has a short life. It blooms in May and is very beautiful. Although the flower has the life span of a day and falls and dies by nightfall, it spreads beauty and delight in that short period. The poet feels that a meaningful life like the lily flower, though short, is what makes a man noble and even though a man’s life is short it can be a perfect life.

8. Questions Short Answer Questions Question 1. What symbols does Ben Jonson draw from nature? Question 2. Mention the qualities of an oak tree? Question 3. How does a lily of a day impress us? Question 4. How can human life be perfect, according to the poet? long Answer questions Question 5. How does the poet juxtapose two objects of nature with human life? Question 6. Discuss the theme of the poem Noble nature.

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