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Poem: Fairer than thee. English, 9th Grade. About the Poem.
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Poem: Fairer than thee English, 9th Grade
About the Poem In this poem a comparison is drawn between the material beauty and spiritual or sublime beauty. Every object we see around us, looks beautiful. It allures us, but it has a physical appeal. Truth and purity of heart are invisible beauties. They have a spiritual appeal. They are such virtues that add grace to one’s being and make one more acceptable and lovable. Author: Unknown
The Poem Fairer than thee, beloved. Fairer than thee, There is one thing, beloved, Fairer than thee. Not the glad sun, beloved, Bright though it beams; Not the green Earth, beloved, Silver with streams;
The Poem Continued… Not the gay birds, beloved, Happy and free; Yet there’s one thing, beloved Fairer than thee. Not the clear day, beloved, Glowing with light; Not (fairer still, beloved) Star-crowned night.
The Poem Continued… Truth in her might, beloved, Grand in her sway; Truth with her eyes, beloved, Clearer than day. Holy and pure, beloved, Spotless and free; Is the one thing, beloved, Fairer than thee.
The Poem Continued… Guard well thy soul, beloved; Truth, dwelling there, Shall shadow forth, beloved, Her image rare. Then shall I deem, beloved, That thou art she; And there’ll be naught, beloved, Fairer than thee.
Glossary • Beloved : dearly loved • Dwelling : place used for living • Naught : nothing • Sway : movement, swing • Thee (poetic) : you • Thou art (poetic) : you are
Exercise • How does the sun appear to the poet? The sun appears bright and it beams. • How do the birds appear? Birds appear happy and free. • What is clearer than day? Truth in poet’s beloved eyes. • What is fairer than the poet’s beloved? The truth and purity of heart is fairer than the poet’s beloved. • What advice does the poet give to his beloved? He advices to protect the truth and purity of her heart. • When would the poet’s beloved be fairer? Truth in the beloved’s heart is fairer than her physical beauty
Appreciation • Make a list of rhyming words in the poem • beams, streams • free , thee • light , night • sway , day • there , rare • she , thee • What qualities make one fairer and why? • Being truthful and honest makes one fairer. It is the true beauty of a person.
Appreciation • The poet describes ‘Sun’ as ‘Glad sun’. Why? • The sun is very bright and beautiful . It shines with its golden beams . The sun is called glad sun , because it brings out the happiness in everyone when the weather is warm.
Further Activity • Make a list of other such objects of nature and say how they are described by the poet.