A thing of Beauty – Chapter Summary & Explanation | Class 12 English (Flamingo) | CBSE 2025

Stanza-wise Explanation of "A Thing of Beauty"

"A Thing of Beauty" is an excerpt from John Keats' poem Endymion, which highlights how beauty brings eternal joy and provides comfort to the soul.

Stanza 1

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing."

• Keats begins by stating that anything beautiful provides eternal joy.
• Unlike material things that lose value, beauty only increases over time.
• It never fades or disappears; rather, it stays with us, offering comfort.
• Beauty acts like a peaceful shelter ("bower quiet") that gives rest and relaxation.
• It fills life with pleasant dreams, good health, and tranquility.

Stanza 2

"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,"

• Every day, humans create a connection with nature and beauty.
• This beauty acts like a “flowery band” that keeps us connected to life.
• Despite sorrow, cruelty, and lack of noble qualities in people, beauty gives hope.
• It helps us deal with life's struggles and dark moments.

Stanza 3

"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; 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."

• Beauty has the power to remove sadness (“move away the pall from our dark spirits”).
• Examples of natural beauty include the sun, moon, trees (old and young), and daffodils.
• Trees provide shade and comfort, even to animals like sheep.
• Flowing streams (“rills”) create a cooling effect, offering relief in the heat.
• Forests are adorned with fragrant musk roses, enhancing their beauty.

Stanza 4

"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."

• Beauty is not just in nature but also in the grand legacy of great people.
• The noble deeds of the mighty dead (heroes of history) inspire us.
• Beautiful stories and myths that we hear or read also bring joy.
• Keats compares beauty to an endless fountain of divine nectar that flows from heaven, enriching our souls.

Conclusion

Keats emphasizes that beauty is eternal, offering happiness, peace, and inspiration. Whether through nature, heroic deeds, or stories, beauty uplifts our spirits and connects us to the deeper joys of life.