Comprehension

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
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.
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,
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 :

Question: 1

List down two impacts of beautiful things on us :

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When a question asks for "impacts" or "effects," look for verbs in the text that show what the subject (in this case, "a thing of beauty") does to or for us. Words like "keep," "moves away," "provides" are good indicators.

Updated On: Oct 27, 2025

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Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks us to identify two effects or impacts that beautiful things have on human beings, according to the poem.
Step 2: Locating Information in the Extract:
The poem describes the positive effects of beauty in several places.
- Lines 3-5: "...but still will keep / A bower quiet for us, and a sleep / Full of sweet dreams, and health and quiet breathing." This describes beauty providing a peaceful refuge, good sleep, and health.
- Lines 12-13: "Some shape of beauty moves away the pall / From our dark spirits." This means beauty removes sadness and negativity from our minds.
Step 3: Listing Two Impacts:
Based on the text, we can list the following impacts:
It removes the pall from our dark spirits. (It removes sadness and negativity).
It provides a quiet bower for us. (It gives us a peaceful, shady place for rest).
(Another valid answer could be: It gives us a sleep full of sweet dreams, health, and quiet breathing.)

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Question: 2

Write down the Rhyme-scheme of the first four lines.

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To find the rhyme scheme, assign the letter 'a' to the last word of the first line. For each subsequent line, if the last word rhymes with a previous line's last word, assign it the same letter. If it doesn't rhyme with any previous line, assign it a new letter ('b', 'c', etc.).

Updated On: Oct 27, 2025

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Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The task is to determine the rhyme scheme of the first four lines of the given poem.
Step 2: Key Concept: Rhyme Scheme:
A rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhymes at the end of each line of a poem or song. It is usually referred to by using letters to indicate which lines rhyme; lines designated with the same letter all rhyme with each other.
Step 3: Analyzing the First Four Lines:
Let's look at the last word of each of the first four lines:
1. A thing of beauty is a joy for ever : (Let's label this 'a')
2. Its loveliness increases; it will never : (Rhymes with 'ever', so this is also 'a')
3. Pass into nothingness; but still will keep : (Does not rhyme with 'ever', so this is 'b')
4. A bower quiet for us, and a sleep : (Rhymes with 'keep', so this is also 'b')
Step 4: Final Answer:
The pattern formed is aabb. Therefore, the rhyme scheme of the first four lines is aabb.

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Question: 3

Read the following poem and write an appreciation of it with the help of the given points in a paragraph:
All the World's a Stage
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,
In a fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.
- William Shakespeare
You can use the following points while appreciating the given poem :
* Title
* Poet
* Rhyme scheme
* Figures of speech
* Central Idea/Theme

Show Hint

When writing a poem appreciation, structure your paragraph around the given points. Start with the title and poet, then discuss the technical aspects like rhyme scheme and figures of speech, and finally, conclude with the deeper meaning or central theme of the poem.

Updated On: Oct 27, 2025

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Solution and Explanation

Appreciation of the Poem: 'All the World's a Stage'
The poem 'All the World's a Stage' is a famous monologue from William Shakespeare's play 'As You Like It'. The title itself introduces the central metaphor of the poem. The poet, the legendary William Shakespeare, masterfully compares life to a theatrical play. The poem is written in blank verse, which means it is in iambic pentameter but does not have a consistent rhyme scheme, so it is considered free verse. The most prominent figure of speech is the Metaphor, which is established in the very first line, "All the world's a stage," and is extended throughout the poem by comparing men and women to "players" and the phases of life to "acts". Other figures of speech include Simile, as seen in "creeping like snail" and "Sighing like furnace," which create vivid imagery. Repetition is used effectively in the last line ("sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything") to emphasize the complete loss at the end of life. The central idea of the poem is the transient and cyclical nature of human life. Shakespeare divides a man's life into seven distinct stages, from infancy to old age, showing how a person's roles, responsibilities, and physical attributes change over time, ultimately leading to a state of helplessness similar to where life began. The theme reflects on the temporary nature of human existence and the universal journey that every individual undertakes.

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