CBSE Class 12 English A Thing of Beauty VBQs

The Thing of Beauty

This poem tries to perceive the world through language. The believes that there are certain things which are beautiful and worth to be treasured. He points out the intransient nature of beautiful things. These things leave a lasting impression on our mind.

The pleasure got by them is not momentary. They are very valuable as they provide peace to human mind. Life is full of tribulations. Loss of faith and disappointment are the result of our own making. beautiful things make life worthwhile as they lift the veil of gloom, finding way for optimism and hope.

The poet names a few beautiful things which are simplest of things. These include sun moon trees etc. even things like sheep daffodils, clear springs, musk roses growing in the wild are things that give joy and happiness to the human heart. beauties of nature have an elixir of life. It is like a precious gift from heaven.
 

Question. Pick the statement that contradicts the idea of beauty as expressed by the poet.
a) People are beautiful not in looks but just in what they are.
b) Beautiful people have known suffering, struggle and loss.
c) We must think of all the beauty that is left around us and be happy.
d) We must dwell on the beauty in life and be inspired by it.

Answer : B

Question. On the basis of the extract, pick the opinion that is NOT TRUE about the theme of the poem.

a) Option 1
b) Option 2
c) Option 3
d) Option 4

Answer : B

Question. Pick the option that matches the words / phrases with the literary device.
Word/ phrase           Literary device
1. simple sheep         A. imagery
2. gloomy days          B. metaphor
3. bower quiet           C. symbolism
                                   D. transferred epithet
a) 1-C, 2-D, 3-B
b) 1-B, 2-A, 3-D
c) 1-D, 2-B, 3-C
d) 1-C, 2-A, 3-B

Answer : A

Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow:

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.

Question. Pick the option that is NOT an example of ‘unhealthy and o’er darkened ways.’
a) A person who is egoistic and looks down upon others.
b) A person who seeks God’s help for all his problems.
c) A person who is uses evil ways to deceive others.
d) A person who is corrupt and manipulative.

Answer : B

Question. Pick the option that enumerates what ‘noble natures’ would include.
1. selflessness
2. insensitivity
3. enthusiasm
4. aggression
5. meticulousness
6. judiciousness
a) 1, 4 and 5
b) 2, 3 and 6
c) 2, 4 and 5
d) 1, 3 and 6

Answer : D

Question. In which of the following options can the underlined words be replaced with ‘despondence’?
a) The man paced about the room showing restlessness.
b) A chat with a close friend can take away our blues.
c) I was in jitters, seeing the boy trapped in the trench,
d) Being dogged is what led him to negotiate the challenges.

Answer : B

Question. Based on the poem, choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below.
Statement 1: The earth without the beautiful things is a place full of despair and unpleasantness.
Statement 2: The ornate band created by human beings; ushers hope in their lives.
a) Statement 1 is true but Statement 2 is false.
b) Statement 1 is false but Statement 2 is true.
c) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 can be inferred.
d) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 cannot be inferred.

Answer : C

Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow:

Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms;
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.

Question. Pick the option that pairs the TRUE statements based on the extract, from the list below.
1. The bushes with fragrant flowers lift the human spirit and bring joy.
2. Death is inevitable and everyone faces it no matter how powerful.
3. Immortality is achieved by man when he drinks the nectar of joy.
4. Legendary heroes and their heroic deeds instil inspiration in us.
a) 1 and 2
b) 2 and 4
c) 1 and 4
d) 2 and 3

Answer : C

Question. Pick the option that uses the same literary device as the ‘mighty dead’.
a) sleepless nights
b) deafening silence
c) glaring lights
d) time is a thief

Answer : B

Question. Pick the quote that matches best with—
‘And such too is the grandeur of the dooms we have imagined for the mighty dead.’
a) In the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing.
b) When a great man dies, for years the light he leaves behind him, lies on the paths of men.
c) Endings are not always bad, most times they’re just beginnings in disguise.
d) Cowards die many times before their death; the valiant never taste of death but once.

Answer : B

Question. Pick the option that refers to what ‘an endless fountain of immortal drink’ suggests.
1. inspirational deeds of great men
2. a ceaseless series of dreams
3. an infinite source of strength
4. an elixir of life for upliftment of the soul
5. an eternal source of delight
6. a boundless gift of love
a) 1, 4 and 5
b) 2, 3 and 5
c) 1, 2 and 6
d) 2, 4 and 6

Answer : A

Stanza 1
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
'Giants the hot season; the mid forest brake,
Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms.

Question. What moves away the pall?
a) a thing of beauty
b) the poet
c) the philosopher
d) the politician
Answer : A

Question. What does the phrase ‘in spite of all’ refer to?
a) troubles
b) inhuman dearth of noble natures
c) disagreement
d) all of the above
Answer : A

Question. What example does the poet give for ‘some shape of beauty’?
a) the sun
b) trees young and old
c) the moon
d) all of the above
Answer : D

Question. What is forest brake rich with?
a) A sprinkling of fair musk blooms
b) sheep
c) trees young and old
d) all of the above
Answer : A

Question. Which word in the stanza means – ‘cover’?
a) pall
b) covert
c) boon
d) rills
Answer : A

Question. Which word in the stanza means – ‘blessing’?
a) pall
b) spirit
c) boon
d) rills
Answer : B

Question. Which word in the stanza means – ‘Shelter’?
a) spite
b) covert
c) spirits
d) rills
Answer : C

Question. Which word in the stanza means – ‘Streams’?
a) covert
b) boon
c) shady
d) rills
Answer : D

Question. Which poetic device is used in ‘some shape’, ‘simple sheep’, and ‘cooling covert’?
a) Alliteration
b) Simile
c) Assonance
d) Metaphor
Answer : A

Stanza 2
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.

Question. What grandeur is the poet talking of?
a) birth
b) death
c) marriage
d) all of the above
Answer : B

Question. What lovely tales does the poet talk of?
a) great myths
b) tales of mighty dead
c) tales of olden days
d) all of the above
Answer : D

Question. What is the function of imaginary tales?
a) they give us a lot of sadness
c) they remind us to the past
b) they give us a lot of joy
d) all of the above
Answer : C

Question. What does the poet call the beautiful things?
a) the grandeur of the dooms
c) the mighty dead
b) an endless fountain of immortal drink
d) the heaven’s brink
Answer : C

Question. Which word in the stanza means – ‘Splendour’?
a) grandeur
b) doom
c) brink
d) mighty
Answer : A

Question. Which word in the stanza means –‘Death’?
a) mighty
b) doom
c) tales
d) pouring
Answer : C

Question. Which word in the stanza means –‘Powerful’?
a) immortal
b) dooms
c) endless
d) mighty
Answer : D

Question. Which word in the stanza means -Edge.
a) mighty
b) grandeur
c) brink
d) imagined
Answer : B