A Thing of Beauty

What is the main theme of ‘A Thing of Beauty’?

The poem 'A Thing of Beauty' gives a message that beauty never diminishes or fades. We can choose to see
beauty in the most simple and common things around us. But this beauty becomes a source of unending joy for
us

A Thing of Beauty summary tells us the value of beautiful things that are all around us and that one must
cherish them. They provide us timeless joy and leave an unforgettable imprint on our minds, therefore, every
beautiful thing is worth preserving

What is the concept of beauty?

Beauty is a heavenly tonic/drink – an endless fountain of nectar. This beauty comes in different forms– a tale, a
poem, a play, a lovely object of nature or the heavenly bodies. It soothes our spirits and gives us good health,
sound sleep and mental peace. It removes sadness from our lives and gives an everlasting joy

What type of poem is A Thing of Beauty?

`A Thing of Beauty' belongs to the Romantic genre. The poem is written in rhyming couplets and the rhyme
scheme of the poem is: AA BB, CC, DD

Metaphors used in the poem:

 bower - a calm, pleasant shade

 sweet dreams - happy dreams
 flowery band - to bind us to earth
 pall - a cloth covering/a cloud of dust, smoke
 endless fountain of immortal drink - a shower of blessings of good health

Alliteration used in the poem:

 A flowery band to bind us to the earth,

 Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
 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
 That for themselves a cooling covert make
 'Gainst the hot season; the mid forest brake,
 Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms:

Imagery used in the poem :

 A flowery band to bind us to the earth

 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
 With the green world they live in; and clear rills
 That for themselves a cooling covert make
 Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms
 An endless fountain of immortal drink
 Pouring unto us from the heaven's brink

Summary of A Thing of Beauty

A Greek legend happens to be the basis for A Thing of Beauty summary. In this Greek legend, a young
shepherd by the name of Endymion had a vision of Cynthia, the moon goddess. This youth makes a
resolution to go after her and seek her. In this quest, he wanders through the forest and under the sea. In the
poem, the poet tells us that beautiful things bring immense pleasure and delight. Furthermore, the poet
explains that God’s creations provide happiness as well as energy. The things present all around provide us
with plenty of reasons to feel happy. Moreover, the brave soldiers’ stories bring inspiration and enthusiasm
to the love of life. Beauty is a heavenly tonic. Furthermore, it is like an endless fountain of nectar. Also,
beauty can come in various forms. Beauty gives us good health and removes sadness from our lives,
resulting in everlasting joy.

The Theme of the Poem

The poem A Thing of Beauty by John Keats delivers the concept that beauty can be discovered anywhere
and at any time. The content of this poem is mostly concentrated on nature and the unexpected beauty that it
brings. The topic of this poem is that beauty may be discovered anywhere and, when appreciated, can be
used to lift one’s spirits in times of adversity. Any beautiful object is always kept in our minds since it
brings us permanent and everlasting happiness. The enjoyment that a beautiful object brings never fades
away, but multiplies many times over anytime it returns to our mind.

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

Everything of nature is a thing of beauty and a source of pleasure. Some of them are: the sun, the moon, old and
young trees, daffodil flowers, small streams with clear water, mass of ferns and the blooming musk-roses. All of
them are things of beauty. They are a constant source of joy and pleasure.

2. List the things that cause suffering and pain.

There are many things that cause us suffering and pain. Malice and disappointment are “the biggest source of
our suffering. Another one is the lack of noble qualities. Our unhealthy and evil ways also give birth to so many
troubles and sufferings. They dampen our spirits. They act as a pall of sadness on our lives.

3. What does the line, ‘Therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to earth’ suggest to you?
Keats is a lover of beauty. He employs his senses to discover beauty. The link of man with nature is eternal. The
things of beauty are like wreaths of beautiful flowers. We seem to weave a flowery band every day. It keeps us
attached to the beauties of this earth.

4. Why is ‘grandeur’ associated with the ‘mighty dead’?

The mighty dead were very powerful and dominating persons during their own times. Their achievements made
them ‘mighty’ and great. Their noble works dazzle our eyes. We imagine that such mighty dead forefathers will
attain more grandeur on the doomsday. Hence ‘grandeur’ is associated with the ‘mighty dead’.
The dooms day is considered the day of judgement, when the dead will receive what is due to them. Our mighty
dead forefathers earned name and fame with their noble deeds. It is hoped that they will be rewarded with rare
magnificence and grandeur.

5. What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth?
John Keats uses a very beautiful image to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth. It is the endless fountain of
immortal drink. It pours constantly into our hearts from heaven. Thus, the beautiful bounty of the earth is called
“an endless fountain of immortal drink.”

6. How is a thing of beauty a joy forever?

According to John Keats a thing of beauty is a joy of forever. It is a constant source of happiness and pleasure.
Its loveliness increases every moment. It will never pass into nothingness. In other words, a thing of beauty is
never devalued.

7. How does a thing of beauty provide us shelter and comfort?

John Keats is a great Romantic poet. He is rich in sensuous imagery. Nature provides us things of rare beauty. It
keeps a bower quiet for us. A bower is a pleasant place in the shade under a tree. A thing of beauty also
provides us peace and security. We enjoy a sound sleep which is full of sweet dreams, health and peaceful
breathing.

8. How do us bind our self to the earth every morning?

All the Romantic poets stress upon the relationship between man and nature. Keats believes that there is an
unbreakable bond which binds 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 of flowers. This
flowery band binds us to the beauties of this earth.

9. What are the things that cause miseries, sorrows and sufferings to man?
Man himself, is the root cause of all his sufferings. We suffer from malice and distress because we lack human
qualities that makes us inhuman. Our life becomes gloomy. We cultivate unhealthy and evil ways. All such
things bring miseries, sorrows and sufferings to man.

10. What spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits? How is it removed?
Man is the creator of his woes. His own nature and actions make his life miserable. He faces miseries and
pains. A pall of despondence covers his dark spirits. A thing of beauty provides a ray of hope to man. Some
shape of beauty works wonders amid these sorrows and sufferings. It is a thing of beauty that removes the pall
of despondence over our dark spirits.

11. What is the source of the ‘endless fountain’ and what is its effect?
A fountain of eternal joy and immortality pours into the heart and soul of man. It flows right from the heavens
brink and pours into the human heart. It is like an immortal nectar. The immortal drink that nature’s endless
fountain pours into our hearts is a source of immense joy for us.

12. What is the message or the theme of the poem ‘A Thing of Beauty’?
The very first line contains the message that John Keats, the great Romantic poet, wants to convey. Keats was a
worshipper of beauty. For him beauty was truth and truth, beauty. Hence, for him a thing of beauty is a joy
forever. Beauty never fades. Nor is it ever devalued. It never passes into nothingness. When we are full of
sorrows and sufferings, some form of beauty comes to our rescue. It removes the pall of sadness and sorrows
and gives us joy and pleasure. Thus, beauty is a boon for human beings.
13. Write in brief the central idea of the poem.
In this poem, the poet says that a thing of beauty is a joy forever. He compares a thing of beauty with a bower,
where we can enjoy sweet sleep. Then the poet mentions many things of beauty. He says that there is so much
grief and sadness on this earth that we can sustain our life only because of the things of beauty.

He compares the things of beauty with ‘an endless fountain of immortal drink pouring unto us from the
heaven’s brink’. In this way the poet underlines the fact that we should preserve and take care of the things of
beauty. They are joy not for ourselves but also for our coming generations.

14. Analyse the myth of Endymion in the context of the poem.

The poem is an excerpt from John Keats’ first epic poem ‘Endymion’, which was published in 1818. The title of
this poem is taken from the very first lines of Endymion. According to Greek mythology, Endymion was a
handsome young shepherd who lived on Mount Latmos of Asia Minor. He was in love with the moon goddess
Selene, who was also known as Cynthia.

The enchanted shepherd resolved to seek her in his admiration. This poem echoes the pleasure of the shepherd
as he wanders through the forests and finds pleasure in beholding the beautiful sights of nature. That beauty can
create joy in the soul that will last forever, is what is conveyed in the poem. The nature with its beauty, the sun,
the moon and daffodils give to life a new meaning and significance.

15. Explain ‘An endless fountain of immortal drink’.

This line is taken from John Keats’ poem, ‘A Thing of Beauty’. That beauty is everlasting, as it creates an
eternal joy in the beholder. It is an endless fountain of joy that is immortal as a drink pouring down on us, as a
water of joy from the edge of heaven’s cliff. The eternal joy is like a bliss of heaven on Earth.
The poet here says these words in order to explain the nature of the pleasure and joy that is created when a
beautiful object is seen by a beholder. The poet here affirms the truth that beauty is not ephemeral, but eternal.
The pleasure we receive in perceiving a beautiful object is a gift that is worth treasuring, as the joy soothes the
gloom in our minds.

16. Explain ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever’.

It is the first line of John Keats’ first epic poem, ‘Endymion: A Poetic Romance’ and of the poem ‘A Thing of
Beauty.’ This line is dramatically very significant because it is multi-layered in its meaning. It explains the
effect of beauty on the soul. Beauty heals the negative impulses of our life.

It relieves us from being weighed down by worldly worries. Keats, as a romantic poet, brings out the belief in
the power of nature to heal and give happiness. A beautiful thing is an object of joy because it gives us mental
peace and makes us happy. Its value lies in its effect on us and it never breeds a sense of nothingness. It will not
diminish with the passage of time.

17. Analyse the poetic devices used in the poem.

The poem is rich in images and the use of various poetic devices. There is alliteration in ‘simple sheep’ which
actually refers to mankind. Metaphor has been employed in ‘moves the pall’ where our souls steeped in sadness
and hopelessness are compared to dead bodies covered with a shroud.

In the metaphor, ‘immortal drink’, a feeling of immense joy has been compared to a drink that flows down from
heaven’s brink, like an endless fountain. There is use of alliteration in ‘noble natures’, ‘simple sheep’ and
‘cooling covert’. The poem abounds in the use of imagery, as in ‘flowery bands’, ‘daffodils with the green
world they live in’, ‘clear rills’, and ‘endless fountain.’
18. According to Keats, what spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits? How is it removed?
Keats says that there is general grief on this earth. Man’s life is full of disappointment and sadness. It appears as
if a shroud of disappointment is spread over our dark spirits. It is only some or the other things of beauty that
removes this pall of despondence.

19. How can ‘mighty dead’ be things of beauty?

The ‘mighty dead’ are those people who lay their lives for the betterment of mankind. We read their stories and
it gives us immense joy. The poet says that these mighty dead be rewarded by God Himself on the day of
judgement.

20. How does Keats show his unhappiness with his fellow human beings?
Keats shows his unhappiness by saying that there are only few people, who are noble in character and who rise
above pretty differences by being magnanimous and generous. There is a dearth of such noble souls on our
earth; as man is selfish and self-centred. Trials and tribulations of life spread the pall of despondence over our
dark spirits. We can remove it by making life worthwhile by enjoying the beautiful things of life bestowed upon
us by nature, but we are keen on destroying them.

21. What troubles and sufferings do human beings face in life?

In life, humans face adverse circumstances and gloomy days which cause suffering. Malice and disappointment
dampen our spirits. Lack of noble qualities, death and bad health bring sadness in life.