4 Marks Questions
Question 1 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
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.
a) Whose loveliness will keep in increasing?
Answer : The loveliness of beautiful things will keep on increasing.
b) Identify the phrase which says that ‘it’ is immortal.
Answer : The phrase is ‘it will never pass into nothingness’ says that it is immortal.
c) What is a ‘bower’?
Answer : A ‘bower” is a pleasant shady place.
d) Why do we need sweet dreams, health and quiet breathing in our lives?
Answer : We need all these for a sound sleep, as it results in a healthy body and mind, providing us tranquility and mental peace.
Question 2 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
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
a) Name the poem.
Answer : The poem is ‘A Thing of Beauty’.
b) Who are the ‘mighty dead’ referred to here?
Answer : The ‘mighty dead’ referred to here are our ancestors, the great people of the world who are worthy of respect.
c) What is the endless fountain of immortal drink?
Answer : The endless fountain of immortal drink are all the things of beauty that sustain mankind.
d) What does the word, ‘brink’ mean?
Answer : The word ‘brink’ means ‘an edge at the top/the point of onset’.
Question 3 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
All the lovely tales that we have heard or read;
An endless fountain of immortal drink.
Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink.
a) Name the poem and the poet.
Answer : The poem is ‘A Thing of Beauty’ and the poet is John Keats.
b) What is the thing of beauty mentioned in these lines?
Answer : The thing of beauty mentioned in these lines are the tales we have heard or read describing the glorified sacrifices of our ancestors.
c) What image does the poet use in these lines?
Answer : The poet draws out the image of an endless fountain of immortal drink that pours joy on us in these lines.
d) What does the word ‘immortal’ mean?
Answer : The word ‘immortal’ means ‘endless’.
Question 4 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
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 heaven’s brink
a) Who are the ‘mighty dead’? How do we know about them?
Answer : Our ancestors, who were great in their own ways and the dead emperors have been referred to as the mighty dead.
We come to know about them by reading or hearing the tales, which speak of their innumerable sacrifices.
b) What images does the poet use to convey that beauty is everlasting?
Answer : ‘Endless fountain’ of joy is the image that has been used by the poet to convey that beauty is everlasting.
c) What is the effect of the immortal drink?
Answer : The immortal drink that nature’s endless fountain pours on us gives us immense joy and pleasure.
d ) Write the words from the extract which mean
i) stories ii) magnificence
Answer : i) tales ii) grandeur
Question 5 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o’ed darkened ways
Made for our searching: yes in spite of
all,
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits.
a) Name the poem.
Answer : The poem is ‘A Thing of Beauty’.
b) Give one cause of human suffering.
Answer : Man lacks noble qualities and his hostile and inhumane nature is the cause of human suffering.
c) What moves away the pall from our lives?
Answer : Nature’s beauty moves away the pall from our lives.
d) What does the word, ‘gloomy’ mean?
Answer : The word ‘gloomy’ means ‘dull or depressed’.
Question 6 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
“Some shape of beauty moves away the pall From our dark spirits.”
a) How does beauty help us when we are burdened with grief?
Answer : Whenever we look at a beautiful object, we are filled with comfort and joy. When we are burdened with grief, a thing of beauty comes as a ray of hope, and makes us forget our sorrow and suffering at least for some time.
b) Explain : “Some shape of beauty.”
Answer : Beauty is an abstract idea and has no specific shape. The poet here means beauty in some form or some beautiful object which pleases us.
c) Identify the figure of speech in the above lines.
Answer : The above lines present an example of metaphor.
d) Why are our spirits referred to as ‘dark’?
Answer : Our spirits are dejected due to extreme sadness and disappointment which may be the result of our evil actions. So, the poet refers to them as dark.
Question 7 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
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,………………
a) What is ‘morrow’?
Answer : ‘Morrow’ means the next day.
b) Why do we need ‘a flowery band’?
Answer : We need a flowery band to bind us to earth and makes us live our life despite the dejection that surrounds us.
c) What is inhuman in life?
Answer : Man’s self-centered nature and his inability to rise above pettiness is inhuman in life.
d) Name the poem and the poet.
Answer : The poem is ‘A Thing of Beauty’ and the poet is John Keats.
Question 8 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
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
a) What are we doing every day?
Answer : Every day we are wreathing a flowering band which binds us to the earth and enables us to live life despite the dejection that surrounds us.
b) Which evil things do we possess and suffer from?
Answer : We suffer from selfishness and self-centredness due to which there is dearth of noble souls on earth.
c) What are the circumstances that contribute towards making humans unhappy and disillusioned with life?
Answer : Man becomes unhappy and disillusioned because he suffers from pain and hopelessness at various junctures in life. Also the lack of nobility in human beings make him unhappy.
d) Name the poem.
Answer : The name of the poem is ‘A Thing of Beauty’.
Question 9 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
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
a) What are the effects of beautiful things on man’s spirit?
Answer : A thing of beauty provides eternal and everlasting joy to us. Whenever we are in a sad mood we can relive the joyful experience and happiness it gave us.
b) List any two things of beauty mentioned above.
Answer : The two things of beauty mentioned above are ‘bower’ and ‘sleep.’
c) What does the phrase ‘Pass into nothingness’ mean?
Answer : The joy that a thing of beauty gives us is eternal. It never loses its importance, but it only increases with time. This is meant by ‘never pass into nothingness.’
d) What is meant by ‘bower’?
Answer : A ‘bower’ refers to a quiet, peaceful place under the shade of trees.
3 Marks Questions
Question 1 : How can ‘mighty dead’ be things of beauty?
Answer : The ‘mighty dead’ refers to our forefathers. the glorious tales of our forefathers fill us with a sense of pride and are also things of beauty as they fill us with pleasure and motivation.
Question 2 : Which rich bounty has the heaven given us?
Answer : Heaven has given us many bounties. Nature, with its virgin landscape and innocent creatures, imparts indelible impression of joyful experiences. The world of art and literature provides perennial inspiration in form of stories of the valiant, which provide succour to us.
Question 3 : Mention any four things of beauty that add joy to our life.
Answer : The four things that add joy to our life are the sun, the moon, the clear streams and old and young trees.
Question 4 : Mention any two things that cause pain and suffering.
Answer : The things which causes pain and suffering are sadness, hopelessness, lack of noble qualities and an unhealthy and wicked style of living.
Question 5 : Which objects of nature does Keats mention as sources of joy in his poem, ‘A Thing of Beauty’?
Answer : The objects of nature mentioned by Keats as sources of joy in his poem ‘A Thing of Beauty’ are the sun, the moon, old and young trees, clear water streams, musk-roses and daffodil flowers.
Question 6 : What does a thing of beauty do for us?
Answer : A thing of beauty adds endless joy to our life and helps us to come out of sadness and hopelessness. The memory of such a thing gives us everlasting happiness. It also provides us shelter and comfort in many ways.
Question 7 : What makes human beings love life in spite of all troubles they face?
Answer : Human beings love life in spite of all the troubles they face because of all the things of beauty which surround them. These things remove their despondent state and allow them to enjoy the beauty of nature.
Question 8 : How do beautiful things help us to live a happy life?
Answer : We derive comfort and happiness when we look at objects of beauty, and the lasting impression they leave on our minds is a source of permanent joy. They provide us relief from our everyday trails and tribulations and help us live a happy life.
Question 9 : What does Keats consider an endless fountain of immortal drink and why does he call its drink immortal?
Answer : Keats considers nature’s beauty as an endless fountain of immortal drink. He calls this drink immortal as the pleasure and delight given by it never ends and only increases with time.
Question 10 : According to Keats, what spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits? How is it removed?
Answer : As per Keats, the pall of despondence is caused by man’s actions. A thing of beauty works miracles and gets rid of the cover/pall of sadness.
Question 11 : How does a thing of beauty provide shelter and comfort?
Answer : A thing of beauty provides shelter and comfort in many ways. It is like a bower as it gives us a sleep filled with sweet dreams and helps us in forgetting our worries.
Question 12 : How is a thing of beauty a joy forever?
Answer : A thing of beauty is a joy forever because it is a permanent source of joy and inspiration and leaves a lasting impression on us. The pleasure and happiness given by it never fades away but keeps on increasing.
Question 13 : Why does a thing of beauty never pass into nothingness?
Answer : The joy provided by a thing of beauty is everlasting. It leaves an indelible imprint on our mind. Its loveliness increases manifold each time we think about it and thus we are forever able to relieve the joyful experience.
Question 14 : Why is ‘grandeur’ associated with the mighty dead?
Answer : Grandeur is associated to the mighty dead because of their great deeds and achievements. Their achievements make their lives extraordinary. Therefore, their grandeur is a thing of beauty that is a source of inspiration for others.
Question 15 : What is the message of the poem, ‘A Thing of Beauty’?
Answer : The message of the poem ‘A Thing of Beauty’ is that beautiful things are a source of constant joy and inspiration. They give us eternal pleasure and leave an indelible mark on our minds and, therefore, every beautiful thing is worth being treasured.
Question 16 : What images does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth?
Answer : The poet uses the image of an ‘endless fountain’, which showers bounties on earth. He calls this an ‘immortal drink’ from heaven and it consists of the beautiful things in nature.