A Thing of Beauty - Stanza wise explanation

 

A thing of beauty by John Keats

Stanza 1

The poet emphasis that ‘A thing of beauty’ is a permanent and incessant source of joy, happiness, serenity and ataraxy. He says that a beautiful thing will never pass into nothingness; which means it will never ever perish as it is free from the shackles of mortality and transience. Its loveliness is ever increasing. 

Poet than brings the image of a quiet bower which offers shade full of peace and solace. He further says that it offers us a sleep full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing. 

The poet uses all these images to highlight the significance of beautiful things. 

Stanza 2

The next stanza brings to fore the fundamental importance of the beautiful things. The poet says that our morning gets a fresh start with flowers; of which we make a band to get joy. Certainly, there are unhappy moments in our lives; we lack humanity and virtue in the materialistic world, we experience grieves, losses and even failures. To all these unhappy things, beautiful things apply their beautiful, peaceful and recuperating potions. 

Stanza 3

The third stanza brings to limelight some of the beautiful things from the nature like the Sun, the Moon, trees old, and young [which offer peace to the soul), innocent sheep, daffodils , fair musk-rose, streams, etc. all of which make Earth a beautiful place to live in. All these beautiful things offer an escape from life full of gloom and despondence. 

Stanza 4

The poet finally refers to the grandeur and beauty of the might dead (martyrs) who laid their lives for a good cause. There is a joy in the lovely tales/legends that we read or hear. The poet concludes by saying that the nature is an endless fountain of immortal drink which pours unto us from the heaven’s brink. The line states that the nature provides us with immortal joy that pours onto us from heaven. 

Endeavour by Sukhpreet Singh, English Faculty