UP Board Solutions Class 12 English Chapter 2 The True Beauty

About The Poet

Thomas Carew was born in 1595. He got his education at Corpus Christ College, Oxford etc. He won the favor of King Charles I and was appointed to an office at his court. He became popular for his love of poems and many graceful songs and lyrics.

About The Poem

“The True Beauty” is one of the most famous lyrics. In this poem the poet glorifies spiritual beauty and condemns mere physical beauty. The language of the poem is very simple and figurative.

Central Idea [2009, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18]

In this poem Thomas Carew makes the readers aware that the charm of physical beauty is short lived. So the love inspired by it also dies soon. True beauty lies in virtues, e.g. constant and stable mind, gentle thoughts and calm desires etc. The

Explanations (With Meanings & Hindi Translation)

Question (1) He that loves a rosy cheek
Or a coral lip admires,
Or from star-like eyes doth seek
Fuel to maintain his fires;
As old Time makes these decay,
So his flames must waste away. [2011,17]
Answer:
Word-meanings: rosy cheek = गुलाब जैसे गाल (red cheeks like rose); coral lip = मूँगे के समान लाल होंठ (lips like coral); admires = प्रशंसा करता है (praises); doth = करता है (does); seek fuel = प्रेरणा खोजता है (find inspiration); maintain = बनाए रखना (to keep on); fire = प्रेम की भावना (passion for love); old time = बुढ़ापा (old age); decay = नष्ट करना (to destroy); flames = प्रेम की इच्छा (desire for love); waste away = समाप्त हो जाता है (comes to an end).

Hindi Translation: (कोई व्यक्ति उस स्त्री से प्यार करता हो जिसके गाल गुलाब जैसे लाल हों या वह उस स्त्री की प्रशंसा करता हो जिसके होंठ मूंगे के समान लाल हों या जिसकी आँखें सितारे के समान चमकीली हों और वह अपनी प्रेम की भावना को बनाए रखने के लिए इन सभी सुन्दरताओं में प्रेरणा पाता हो, किन्तु कवि कहता है कि उस स्त्री को बुढ़ापा आने पर ये सभी सुन्दरताएँ समाप्त हो जाएँगी और तब उस व्यक्ति के प्रेम की तीव्रता भी समाप्त हो जाएगी।)

Reference: These lines have been taken from the poem ‘The True Beauty’ composed by Thomas Carew.

Context: In these lines the poet describes the meaning of true beauty. He says that the physical charms are not true beauty because they decay with the passing of time. But the spiritual beauty is the true beauty because it never dies.

Explanation: In this stanza the poet says that red cheeks like rose, red lips like coral and the bright shining eyes like star make a woman beautiful. But these physical charms are temporary. They die with the passage of time. These physical attractions supply fuel to the fires of love. But in the old age these attractions die away and the fire of love also dies. So a man should not be attracted by the physical beauty of a woman. But he should seek love in virtues of a woman. This teaches us that inner beauty is far superior to external appearance.
In simple words: The poet explains that physical beauty like red lips and rosy cheeks will fade as a person grows old. If someone loves a person only for their looks, their love will also fade away when those looks are gone.

🎯 Exam Tip: When writing explanations, always clearly separate Reference, Context, and Explanation, and mention the poet's name correctly to secure full marks.

Poetic Devices / Comments

The poet has glorified the first stanza by using the metaphor figure of speech in 'rosy cheek' and 'coral lip', and the simile figure of speech in 'star-like eyes'.

Word Meanings

• Smooth: Constant (लगातार समान रहने वाला)
• Steadfast: Firm (दृढ़)
• Gentle thoughts: Honest and good ideas (अच्छे विचार)
• Calm: Free from agitation (शान्त)
• Kindle: Awaken (जाग्रत करना)
• Never dying: Permanent (स्थायी)
• Fires: Intense desire of love (प्रेम की तीव्र इच्छा)
• Despise: Hate (घृणा करना)
• Lovely: Beautiful (सुन्दर)

Hindi Translation

कवि कहता है कि जिस स्त्री का मन सरल एवं स्थिर होता है, जिसके विचार कोमल होते हैं और जिसकी इच्छाएँ शान्त एवं दोषरहित होती हैं और स्त्री एवं पुरुष को समान रूप से प्रेम करने वाले हृदय, यह सभी गुण मिलकर अमर प्रेम को जन्म देते हैं। जिस स्त्री में यह सभी गुण नहीं होते, मैं ऐसी स्त्री से घृणा करता हूँ चाहे शारीरिक सुन्दरता उसमें कितनी ही क्यों न हो।

Question 2. Explain the following lines with reference to the context:
"But a smooth and steadfast mind,
Gentle thoughts, and calm desires,
Hearts with equal love combined
Kindle never-dying fires :
Where these are not, I despise,
Lovely cheeks or lips or eyes."
Answer: Context: In these lines, the poet describes the meaning of true beauty. He says that rosy cheeks, coral lips, and star-like eyes form physical beauty. But this beauty decays with the passage of time. So the love inspired by this beauty also dies soon.
Explanation: In this stanza, the poet describes some of the qualities of a woman which make her really beautiful. She should have a constant and stable mind. She should have gentle thoughts and calm desires combined with love in the same degree. A lady with these qualities goes on inspiring her lover with renewed vigour. This love is everlasting. That is why the poet praises the beauty of mind and soul. Without these virtues, physical beauty is useless. True spiritual beauty remains eternal and never decays.
In simple words: True beauty comes from a stable mind, gentle thoughts, and pure love. These inner qualities never fade, unlike physical looks which disappear with age.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining these lines, clearly contrast physical beauty (which is temporary) with spiritual beauty (which is permanent) to secure maximum marks.