TS Inter 1st Year English Study Material 4th chapter The Nobel Nature

Annotations (Section A, Q.No. 2, Marks: 4)

Question 1.

It is not growing like a tree.
In bulk, doth make Man better be;?

Answer:

Introduction:
These are the opening lines of the impressive poem, ‘The Noble Nature’ written by Ben Jonson. He is regarded as the second most popular of English dramatists, after Shakespeare.

Context & Explanation:
The poet employs examples from flora to drive home his point. He straight away introduces the main idea how to become a better man. But, mere bulk doesn’t make one great. Smartness, even in small measure, impresses and impacts everyone. Neither long life nor large size can help one attain nobility. Quality counts more than quantity. Motherwords, matter matters, not the magnitude!. To explain this, the poet compares man to both an Oak tree and a Lily.

Critical Comment:
The poem seeks to explain what makes Man noble in his life.

Question 2.

A lily of a day
Is fairer far in May?

Answer:

Introduction :
These beautiful lines are taken from the poem, ‘The Noble Nature’ written by Ben Jonson. He is regarded as the second most popular of English dramatists, after Shakespeare. As a poet, he proved his expertise with his lyrics.

Context & Explanation :
Leading a meaningful life makes it noble, Jonson asserts. He employs analogies from nature. The lily flowers in May, flourishes for a day and shines for a short while, Yet, it pleases many. Beauty-even in little measures fills hearts with thrills. It’s life is meaningful. Similarly, a person’s life is meaningful only if he does some acts of benefaction.

Critical Comment:
The poet highlighs the qualities that a man must possess to be considered as noble. To explain this, he compares man to both an oak tree and a lily.

Question 3.

It was the plant and flower of light?

Answer:

Introduction:
This line is taken from the poem, The Noble Nature penned by Ben Jonson. He is regarded as one of the major dramatists and poets of the Seventeenth Century.

Context & Explanation:
The poem says leading a meaningful life even for a short while is worthier than leading a long life with neither charm nor value. The core meaning of the poem centres round this single idea. The lily plant has a short life. It blooms in May and is very beautiful. Although the flower has the life span of a day and falls and dies by nightfall, it spreads beauty and delight in that short period. The poet feels, that a meaningful life like a lily flower though short is what makes a man noble. Even though a man’s life is short, it can be a perfect life.

Critical Comment:
The poet advises one to lead a meaningful life-of light-like that of a lily.

Question 4.

And in short measures life may perfect be?

Answer:

Introduction:
This is the concluding line of the beautiful lyric, The Noble Nature written by Ben Jonson. He is very well known for his comedy of humours like Every Man in His Humour.

Context & Explanation:
The poet talks about what makes a man noble. He compares man to a sturdy oak and to a delicate lily in order to do this. He says that a person doesn’t become great or honourable by having long life or huge body. His greatest is analysed by his deeds. And to make man better or life perfect, the poet advises one to dead a meaningful life of light-like that of a lily. Thus, the focus of the poem is clearly on making man better. A person’s life is meaningful only if he does some acts of benefaction. Otherwise life is meaningless.

Critical Comment:
Leading a meaningful life makes it noble, Jonson asserts. He employs analogies from nature.

Paragraph Questions & Answers (Section – A, Q.No. 4, Marks: 4)

Question 1.

Discuss the aptness of the title “The Noble Nature” to the poem. *(Imp, Model Paper)?

Answer:

The Noble Nature is one of the most popular lyrics of Ben Jonson. He is regarded as one of the major dramatists and poets of the Seventeenth Century. In this poem, he seeks to explain what makes man’s life noble. The core meaning of the poem centres around this single idea. In just ten lines of the poem, the poet says twice. Man better be; and life perfect be.

Question 2.

Bulk does not make man better be. How does the Oak support this stand ?

Answer:

Ben Jonson’s poem, The Noble Nature is one of his most popular lyrics. This short poem discusses a noble thought in simple style. That profound message is expressed clearly with the help of example and images from nature. It highlights the point that equality counts more than quantity.

Growing physically like a bulky tree or living long like a sturdy Oak does not make a man noble being. The huge, strong a and aged Oak will soon become a lifelesss, ‘dry’ and withered piece of log. So too will be the fate of a man who is only blessed with long life and physical and material well being. Therefore, mere bulk doesn’t make Man better be. Matter matters, not the magnitude.

Question 3.

Explain with example of the Lily that size matters not but beauty counts a lot?

Answer:

Ben Jonson, in the poem, The Noble Nature talks about what makes a man noble. He compares man to a sturdy Oak and to a delicate Lily in order to explain this point. The Lily plant has a short life. It blooms in May and is very beautiful.

The Nobel Nature Summary in English

Ben Jonson is regarded as one of the major dramatists and poets of the Seventeenth Century. His poem The Noble Nature, one of his most popular lyrics. This poem is about the importance of noble nature in one’s life. The core meaning of the poem centres around this single idea. He compares man to a sturdy oak and to a delicate lily in order to explain this point.

Growing physically like a bulky tree or living long like a sturdy oak does not make a man noble being. The huge, strong and aged oak will soon become a lifeless, ‘dry’ and withered piece of log. So too will be the fate of a man who is only blessed with physical and material assets and long life. He will not remain for long in the minds of people around him.

However, the lily plant has a short life. It blooms in May and is very beautiful and perfect. It gives us light and happiness. It’s life is meaningful. Although it has the span of a day and withers by the night, it is appreciated for its beauty and delight in that short period.

Similarly if man does good during the short period he lives people will continue to talk good about him even after he is gone. This is what actually makes a man noble. The poet feels that a meaningful life like the lily flower, though short, is what makes a man noble. If means that a person’s life is meaningful only if he does some acts of benefaction. Otherwise his life is meaningless.

Meanings and Explanations

bulk (n) / balk / (బల్క) (monosyllabic) : size, quantity (usually large), mass, పరిమాణం, అధికభాగం , आकार
doth (v) / dp0 / (డోత్) (monosyllabic) : old form of ‘does’, ముగించుట , आदि की मादा
long (లాగ్) : measuring a great distance from end to end, పొడవైన , लंभा
oak (n) / Juk / (అఉక్) (monosyllabic) : a large tree with hard wood, పెద్ద సింధుర మ్రాను, शाहबलूत
log (n) / log / (లోగ్) (monosyllabic) : the trunk of a dead tree, మొద్దు నరికిన దుంగ , लड्डा

dry : not wet or moist, ఎండిన, తడిలేని , सूखना
bald (adj) / bo:ld / (బోల్డ్) (monosyllabic) : the trunk of a dead tree : without leaves, flowers etc : ఆకులు, పూలు లేని మోడు, पुष्य
sere (adj) / sla(r) / (సిఅ(ర్)) (monosyllabic) : without moisture, dry : ఎండిపోయిన, सूखना
proportions / pro’po:fnz / (ప్రపో(ర్)షన్) (trisyllabic) : quantities; measures : భాగాలు, పరిమాణాలు, परिमाण
measures (n) / mey (r) / (మెజ(ర్)) (disyllabic): sizes ; కొలతలు, పరిమాణాలు, नापना
short : not tall ; not long : పొట్టి, చిన్నది, छोटा
perfect : complete, faultless : పరిపూర్ణమైన, లోపంలేని, पूर्ण करना