The NCERT Solutions of Class 10 English First Flight Poem Chapter 8, "For Anne Gregory," is prepared based on the newest syllabus of CBSE and guided by NCERT to enable students to understand and analyse the poem appropriately for their examinations. The solutions provided are specific and detailed, answering every question in the textbook and serving as a good companion to help learners grasp the themes, literary devices, and overall message of the poem.
“For Anne Gregory” by William Butler Yeats is a meditative poem on the complexities associated with beauty, love and the importance of the inner qualities of people to be valued over their outward appearance. The poet talks about physical beauty and the spiritual and emotional depth than he thinks true love, or admiration is a result of an appreciation of someone’s inner self and not their appearance.
Access the Class 10 English Chapter 8 NCERT Solutions in PDF format at no cost. The poem’s exploration of genuine love and beauty is captured as follows:
“For Anne Gregory” is a contemplative poem that questions how much importance society puts on outward beauty. The poet speaks to a young woman called Anne Gregory, is quite clear that Anne may not have the conventional beauty or charm associated with a strong sense of self yet informs her that the speaker's love is authentic and transcends outward appearance. The poem reinforces the idea that love that has integrity values a heart and mind above and beyond appearance.
There are some key themes to pick out from the poem as follows:
Ans. Honey-coloured or yellow is the young woman's hair. She says she can change it to brown or black or carrot. She would want to do so because the young man in despair may love her for herself alone. She wants to change the colour as the poet told her that young man will her love for her hair, her beauty and not for the person she is. She does not want this to happen. She wants to be loved for her inner beauty and not for physical attributes.
3. Objects have qualities which make them desirable to others. Can you think of some objects (a car, a phone, a dress ...) and say what qualities make one object more desirable than another? Imagine you were trying to sell an object : what qualities would you emphasise?
Ans. Of course, qualities make the objects desirable to others. Qualities of durability, cheapness, modernity, easy-handling, low-maintenance etc. make one object more desirable than another. Suppose I'm selling a dress. I would like to emphasise on its charming colour, simple, sober but attractive design, economic price, durability and so on.
4. What about people? Do we love others because we like their qualities, whether physical or mental? Or is it possible to love someone "for themselves alone"? Are some people 'more lovable' than others? Discuss this question in pairs or in groups, considering points like the following. (i) a parent or caregiver's love for a new-born baby, for a mentally or physically challenged child, for a clever child or a prodigy. (ii) the public's love for a film star, a sportsperson, a politician, or a social worker. (iii) your love for a friend, or brother or sister. (iv) your love for a pet, and the pet's love for you.
Ans. About people, I have the opinion that qualities of people like those of objects make them desirable to others.
Yes, we love others because we like their qualities, whether physical or mental as public love a film star, a sportsperson, a politician or a social worker. Yes, it is also possible to love someone 'for themselves alone', as a parent or caregiver's love for a new-born baby, for a mentally or physically challenged child, for a clever child or a prodigy. Yes, some people are more lovable than others as our love for a friend, or brother or sister or a pet.
5. You have perhaps concluded that people are not objects to be valued for their qualities or riches rather than for themselves. But elsewhere Yeats asks the question: How can we separate the dancer from the dance? Is it possible to separate 'the person himself or herself from how the person looks, sounds, walks, and so on? Think of how you or a friend or member of your family has changed over the years. Has your relationship also changed? In what way?
Ans. Yes, I have perhaps concluded that people are not objects to be valued for their qualities or riches rather than for themselves.
Yes, Yeats asks elsewhere how we can separate the dancer from the dance. Yes, it is possible to separate the person himself or herself from the looks, sounds, walks and so on.
I have observed how I or my friends or members of my family have changed over the years. There is much change in the looks, sounds, walks and so on. Yes, our relationship has also changed. It has changed in many ways. Previously, we had joint families but now we have nucleus families. Now we use our relations for our purposes only. We are more selfish and individualistic.
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