NCERT Class 10 English First Flight Poem Chapter 8: For Anne Gregory

Chapter 8 of the Class 10 English First Flight 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. He thinks true love, or admiration is a result of an appreciation of someone’s inner self and not their appearance.

The NCERT Solutions of Class 10 English First Flight Poem Chapter 8, "For Anne Gregory," is prepared based on the updated NCERT syllabus and 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.

1.0Download NCERT Solutions Class 10 English First Flight Poem Chapter 8 - For Anne Gregory: Free PDF

For Anne Gregory is a poem where the poet puts greater emphasis on inner self of a person over the physical appearance. Download the free PDF of the NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 8 from below.

2.0Class 10 English First Flight Poem Chapter 8 – For Anne Gregory: Brief Explanation

The poem “For Anne Gregory” by William Butler Yeats 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:

• Contrast between external beauty and a person's 'worth' from within: The poem takes a stance against beauty on the outside and the speakers preference is for their inner goodness or worth. 
• Theme of true love or love of the heart: Again, the poet holds fast to the idea of 'love of the heart' or love that is honest and not defined by society as beauty.
• Critique of society's standards: The poet critiques batteries that we collate and recycle in our society, to the extent a person is forgettable if physically ugly. 
• Language that evokes strong emotion about love and about love that is beyond what we see in somebody's appearance: uses simple language and frequently repeated phrases to convey big thoughts.
• Moral lesson learnt: before forming a judgement consider who the person is rather than what they look like.

3.0NCERT Class 10 English Chapter 8: Detailed Solutions

1. What does the young man mean by "great honey-coloured/Ramparts at your ear"? Why does he say that young men are "thrown into despair" by them?

Ans. By this the young man means that she has beautiful golden hair which surround the outer wall of her ear. It refers to the girl's beautiful yellow hair which falls till her ears. The hair covers her ears like the high, wide walls which surround a castle. He says that young men are 'thrown into despair' by them because the lady wants them to love her interior and not the exterior. The beauty of the girl's hair is so distracting that the young man just by looking at it, fall in love with her.

2. What colour is the young woman's hair? What does she say she can change it to? Why would she want to do so?

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.

4.0Key Features and Benefits of Class 10 English Chapter 8 For Anne Gregory

• Responses constructed in a format consistent with the CBSE exam format and the updates to the NCERT syllabus.
• Language is modeled with simplicity to aid all students.
• Full explanations cover the subject matter, emotions and techniques in the poem.
• Increases analysis, interpretation and comprehension skills at exam time.
• Builds confidence for students to answer poetry questions succinctly and effectively.