What is Beauty?
- Choose the correct answer from the alternatives.
(a) What could be the closest meaning for ‘repulsed’?
(i) disguised (ii) ignored (iii) attracted (iv) regarded
(b) The word ‘appreciate’ means_____.
(i) praise (ii) snatch away (iii) ask for something (iv) keep away
(c) Beauty also prevails in —
(i) truth (ii) pleasurable objects (iii) ugliness (iv) beautification
(d) We face difficulties—-
(i) when we go through any poem (ii) when we are told to define beauty
(iii) when we appreciate beauty (iv) when we are told to define truth
(e) Ugliness is an —-part of human life.
(i) indefinite (ii) inseparable (iii) inner (iv) indivisible
2. Answer the following questions.
(a) When do we run into difficulties?
Ans: We run into difficulties when we are asked to define beauty. Because beauty is the quality of being pleasing to the senses or the mind. As the sense of perception differs from person to person, it is difficult to define beauty.
(b) When and where do we discover beauty?
Ans: when we look around, we discover beauty in pleasurable objects and sights in nature, in the laughter of children, and in the kindness of strangers.
(c) Is ugliness a part of life? If so, how?
Ans: Yes, ugliness is a part of life. When we are repulsed by ugliness, we desire beauty. So, if there were no ugliness, beauty would be valueless.
(d) Do you think it difficult to define beauty and why?
Ans: Yes, I think, it is difficult to define beauty. Because beauty is the quality of being pleasing to the senses or to the mind. As the sense of perception differs from person to person, it is difficult to define beauty.
(e) What has John Keats written in “Ode on a Grecian Urn”?
Ans: In ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’ John Keats has written that beauty is truth, truth beauty.
3. Read the above text and make a flow chart showing various sources of beauty. (One is done for you.)
- Pleasurable objects and sights
- Nature
- Laughter of children
- Kindness of stranger
- Loveliness of human appearance
- Arts and cultures
- Summarize the following passage.
It is easy to praise beauty. But it is quite difficult to define beauty. We find beauty in pleasurable objects and sights, in nature, in the laughter of children, and in the kindness of strangers. Ugliness is also found in nature, human behaviour, and society. But we should prefer beauty. Truth is found in beauty. Actually, beauty is truth and truth is beauty. Poets and artists appreciate beauty in their arts and works.
