John keats is the Second Generation British Romantic Poet of the English Literature.With him the other Romantic poets are Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelly.
He was Born on 31st October, 1796 in London, United Kingdom. He died in 23rd february, 1821 in Rome, Italy.
His famous poems are:
- Ode To A Nightingale
- To Autumn
- Ode On A Grecian Urn
- Bright Star
- La Belle Dame Sans Marci
- Endymion:A Poetic Romance
About the poem:
The poem is an excerpt is from his epic poem 'Endymion:A Poetic Romance'.The poem is based on a Greek legend. Endymion is a beautiful young shepherd and poet who lived on Mount Latmos. He was in eternal sleep and he had a vision of Cynthia, the Moon godess. In his vision he was enchanted by her immortal beauty and resolved to seek her and posses her. He started his journey through the forest and down under the sea. His journey is suggestive of his quest for discovering the ultimate truth that is the truth is beauty and the beauty is truth.
keats is a romantic lyric poet. Though in profession keats was a surgeon he devoted his whole life in writing poetry. His poetry has the characteristics of vivid Imageries and Sensuousness in appeal.
Summary of the poem:
'A thing of beauty is a joy forever'
Beautiful things can gives us a never ending joy or pleasure. Time has no power to fade it's beauty. It has never gone into nothingness.The value of true beauty will ever be increasing.
A bower quiet for us'
A beautiful thing is like a soothing 'bower'. The shelter provides by a shady tree is always quiet and peaceful. Like a shady tree, beautiful things can give us a peaceful sleep and a sweet dream. Under the influence of a beautiful thing we can enjoy good health and a peaceful life.
'A flowery band to bind us to the earth, '
It is because of that sense of true beauty in us we adore all beautiful objects in nature. On every morning we appreciate the beauties of nature we've seen around us and it is like a flowery band,a strong and sweet relationship with nature which makes us to attach ourselves with nature.Man's relationship with nature is defined as flowery band by which we are attached to nature for ages. So the poet says man and nature are interdependent.
Human being suffer because of the darkness or ignorance in spirits:
'Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth/ Of noble nature's, of gloomy days, of all gloomy days, /Of all the unhealthy and o'er-darkened ways/Made for our searching:'
Our earthly life is full of depression because of our ignorance about our life we are living and often fail to perceive the true beauty in our life. In our life we are always distracted by immoral ways for which we've to discard our noble values and suffer from so much gloom and despondence. But inspite of all we are always in search of the true beauty which is nothing but our sense of perception of true beauty which is always soothing and pleasing like the cooling shade of a bower.
'Some shape of beauty':
Some shape of beauty, which are the beautiful objects of nature such as the sun, the moon, green young trees and shady bowers,have the wonderful effects to recover us from the pain of not understanding the real happiness which lies in the true perception of beautiful things.
Quest for the search of true beauty:
Though this phrase'Made for our searching' the poet says that some beauties are enchanting and allures us to possess.That journey lead us to discover the true beauty.We suffer because we failed to see the true beauty and walked in the path of darkness and looses our noble values.
But ultimately we find consolation in the lap of nature which has the magical power of healing our depressed soul and guide us to see the true beauty.
Nature's beauty can heal our depressed soul:
'Some shape of beauty moves away the pall/From our dark spirits. Explanation:
True beauty can remove all kinds of the sufferring from our depressed soul. True beauty can remove the pall of ignorance from our dark spirits. We feel depressed as we failed to perceive the the true beauty. We are ever charmed by the beauties of nature.The beauties in nature are always guiding and inspiring. In the nature 'some shape of beauty', such as the sun, the moon and the trees young and old are like blessings to the simple shepherds who are constantly depended on nature. The term 'simple sheep' means the simple shepherds or innocent mankind.
Belief in Christianity:
In christianity Jesus Christ is regarded as simple shepherd because he sacrificed his life for a noble cause to guide the mankind.
Nature's beauty is supreme to all:
Nature has the bounty of beautiful things. Simple folks are always enchanted by the blooming daffodil flowers in the green world, the clear small streams in hot summer exerted a cooling environment in the midst of the forest and the blooming of wild musk Rose's sparkling beauty. Therefore they are always attached to the nature. The poet says Nature's beauty is the best of all.
'Mighty dead' are the things of beauty:
'And such too is the grandeur of the dooms/We have imagined for the mighty dead;'Exp.
The poet considers that our old brave ancestors who were great heros of the past are also the things of beauty. Because they've achieved an immortal status by their good deeds and valour in their life. Their lives are an inspiration and guide to human being for all ages.
Belief in christianity:
In Christian religion it is believed that those who sacrificed their life for the noble causes are believed to be rewarded in the doomsday. So our great ancestors of the past who died for the noble causes achieves an immortal status and they become the object of inspiration for human being. In that sense they are the objects of beauty.
Old tales are the things of beauty:
The poet says the old tales which we may have read or listened are also the things of beauty as they could guide us always.
Eternal blessings of God:the cauldron image:
'An endless fountain of immortal drink, Pouring into us from the heaven's brink. 'Exp.
Beautiful things are like ever flowing fountain of immortal drink. Like immortal drink the joys that gives us by the beautiful things have never been an end. It is like God's blessings pouring unto us from the edges of heaven in an endless way. The poet employs an image of pouring.
Poetic devices used in poem:
John keats uses some poetic devices such as:alliteration, metaphor and imagery in his poem'A Thing Of Beauty'.
The use of alliteration:
The repetitive consonant sounds in the initial words are effectively used, which is called consonance.such as:
- sleep-sweet
- never-nothingness
- cooling covert
- brake-blooms
Metaphor:
The poet uses some figure of speech in metaphorical sense.
- A bower quiet for us
- wreathing A flowery band
- moves away the pall
- endless fountain of immortal drink
Imagery:
The poet uses imageries which has the vividness of expression.
A bower quiet for us
moves away the pall
a shady boon
Simple sheep
Cooling covert
grandeur of dooms
endless fountain
immortal drink
Pouring unto us from the heaven's brink.
Central idea of the poem:
Beautiful things gives us an unending pleasure. It's gives us happiness which is ever increasing. Therefore it's beauty or it's value is ever increasing. Beautiful things always inspires us with good thoughts and gives us a peaceful life and sweet dreams.
Beauty is truth in it's essence. It is permanent in nature. Beautiful objects are like blessings from God. It recovers us from ignorance and guide us in all ages to lead a peaceful and quiet life.
Questions and answers:
1.list the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.
Ans:-The things of beauty mentioned in the poem are -a bower, the sun, the moon, old and young trees, daffodils in the green world, the clear rills, fair sparkling musk-rose, mighty ancestors and the old tales .
2.list the things that cause suffering snd pain.
Ans:-The things that cause
suffering and pain in human life the lake of noble nature for which they often choose immoral ways to possess beautiful things. The darkness or ignorance in our spirits for which human being fails to understand the true beauty in life.
3.what does the line, 'Therefore are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to earth. 'Suggest to you?
Ans. -Human being and nature are interdependent. Man can't survive without nature. We are strengthening our relationship with nature by appreciating the beauties of nature. Flowery band is suggestive of a band made of flowers as our attachment with nature is unique and always renewable. Nature always guides us and inspires us to live a simple life but high in ideal.
4.what makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings?
Ans. - Nature always guides and inspires us to lead a good life. We suffer so much from depression and gloom because we lake noble natures in our character and true perceptions of beauty in our mind.In that case nature alone can heal and soothe us. Therefore we always appreciate the beauties abundant in nature.
5.why is 'grandeur'associated with the 'mighty dead'?
Ans-The poet considers the mighty dead who are noble heroes of the past are the things of beauty. They are believed to be rewarded in the doomsday for their noble deeds. Their life is an inspiration and courage for the human being in all ages. In that sense the mighty heroes of the past, who sacrificed their life for the noble cause are the objects of beauty.
6.Do we experience things of beauty only for short moments or do they make a lasting impression on us?
Ans:- The things of beauty gives an infinite joy and happiness in our life. We experience an ever lasting joy in our life when we could appreciate the true beauties in our life. The beautiful objects, such as the sun, the moon, the green trees, the blooming daffodils and musk roses in the dense forest, , the clear streams in hot summer, and also the life of mighty heroes of the past and the old tales which are always guiding human being to follow the right path are the things of true beauty.
7.what image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth?
Ans:-The poet uses the image of an "endlessly flowing fountain of immortal drink" from heaven, by which the poet compares the joy and happiness that gives us by the beautiful things are like never ending blessings of God form heaven to mankind.
The poet says the nature's beauty is the supreme beauty on earth. He also says in his poem 'A Thing Of Beauty', we are surrounded by the abounding beauties of nature . They always inspire us and encourage us to lead a good moral life.
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