Question Bank — A Thing of Beauty

NCERT Class 12 English · Chapter 18 · CBSE Board Pattern

Class 12 English Chapter 18 Question Bank CBSE Board Pattern

Section A — MCQs (10 questions, 1 mark each)

  1. What does the poet mean by “a bower quiet for us”?
    a) A noisy marketplace
    b) A shady, peaceful shelter
    c) A battlefield
    d) A hospital ward

  2. The phrase “flowery band” symbolises:
    a) A chain of flowers only
    b) The bond that links humans to the earth despite sorrows
    c) A wedding garland
    d) A crown of thorns

  3. Assertion (A): A thing of beauty is a joy forever.
    Reason (R): Its loveliness increases and it never passes into nothingness.
    Options: Both A and R true, R explains A / Both true, R does not explain A / A true, R false / A false, R true.

  4. Which of the following is NOT listed among the causes of human despondence?
    a) Inhuman dearth of noble natures
    b) Gloomy days
    c) Over-darkened ways
    d) Abundant noble natures

  5. The “pall” in the poem refers to:
    a) A festive cloth
    b) A covering of gloom over dark spirits
    c) A bridal veil
    d) A surgical mask

  6. Assertion (A): Beautiful things give us sweet dreams and quiet breathing.
    Reason (R): They keep a quiet bower for us.
    Options: Both A and R true, R explains A / Both true, R does not explain A / A true, R false / A false, R true.

  7. The line “wreathing a flowery band to bind us to the earth” suggests:
    a) Escaping from the earth
    b) Remaining attached to life despite difficulties
    c) Rejecting all natural beauty
    d) Binding prisoners

  8. “Some shape of beauty moves away the pall” uses which figure of speech?
    a) Simile
    b) Metaphor
    c) Personification
    d) Onomatopoeia

  9. The sun and the moon are presented as:
    a) Sources of despair
    b) Shapes of beauty that remove gloom
    c) Causes of despondence
    d) Symbols of death

  10. The overall tone of the given extract is:
    a) Pessimistic and hopeless
    b) Optimistic and uplifting
    c) Angry and rebellious
    d) Satirical and mocking

Section B — Reference to Context (3 extracts, 4 marks each)

Extract 1

“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…”

  1. Who is the speaker of these lines?
  2. What does the poet mean by “a joy forever”?
  3. Identify the literary device used in “bower quiet”.
  4. What does the word “nothingness” suggest in the context?

Extract 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…”

  1. What is the “flowery band” the poet refers to?
  2. Explain the phrase “bind us to the earth”.
  3. Name the figure of speech in “flowery band”.
  4. What does “inhuman dearth” mean?

Extract 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…”

  1. What does “moves away the pall” mean?
  2. Which examples of beauty are given in these lines?
  3. Identify the literary device in “shady boon”.
  4. How do these shapes of beauty affect “our dark spirits”?

Section C — Short Answer (5 questions, 3 marks each)

  1. Why does the poet say that a thing of beauty is a joy forever?
  2. What is the “flowery band” and why do humans weave it?
  3. How do beautiful things help humans despite “gloomy days”?
  4. Mention any two sources of beauty cited by the poet and explain their effect.
  5. What does the poet mean by “o’er-darkened ways made for our searching”?

Section D — Long Answer (2 questions, 6 marks each)

  1. “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” Discuss the central idea of the poem with reference to the given extract.
  2. How does Keats show that beauty has the power to remove human despondence and gloom? Explain with examples from the text.

Section E — Language and Writing (2 questions, 4 marks each)

  1. From the extract, pick out two compound words and two words showing alliteration. Also give the meaning of “despondence” and “bower” as used in the poem.
  2. Write a short paragraph (80–100 words) on “How beautiful things help us remain connected to life” drawing ideas from the poem “A Thing of Beauty”.
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Section A

  1. b
  2. b
  3. Both true, R explains A
  4. d
  5. b
  6. Both true, R explains A
  7. b
  8. b
  9. b
  10. b

Section B (model points)
Extract 1: 1. John Keats / the poet 2. Eternal source of happiness 3. Alliteration / metaphor 4. Complete disappearance / void
Extract 2: 1. Bond of beauty linking man to earth 2. Keeps us attached to life 3. Metaphor 4. Lack of noble human qualities
Extract 3: 1. Removes covering of sadness 2. Sun, moon, trees 3. Alliteration / metaphor 4. They lift gloom from our minds

Section C (key points – 40–50 words)
1. Never fades; loveliness grows; gives peace, health, sweet dreams.
2. Chain of beautiful experiences that keeps us attached to earth despite sorrows.
3. Remove pall of gloom, give quiet bower and hope.
4. Sun & moon – remove darkness; old & young trees – give shade and comfort.
5. Difficult paths created by our own searching that beauty helps us endure.

Section D (key content points)
1. Eternal joy, increasing loveliness, quiet bower, flowery band, removal of pall – 4–5 points with textual support.
2. Counteracts despondence, dearth of noble natures, gloomy days; examples of sun, moon, trees; moves away the pall – 4–5 points.

Section E

  1. Compound: flowery band, shady boon; Alliteration: bower quiet, shady boon; meanings: despondence = sadness, bower = shady shelter.
  2. Paragraph format: topic sentence + 3–4 points from poem + concluding sentence (format 1, content 2, language 1).
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All questions are answerable from the NCERT chapter text. Reviewed by GFIS faculty.