NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English poem 11: For Anne Gregory gives a detailed explanation of the poem "For Anne Gregory" by W.B. Yeats. It essentially talks about love, beauty, and inner worth; how a real lover looks beyond the trivial things of mere physical presentation of his ladylove. The solution elaborates on the breakdown of every stanza in the poem with key literary devices and themes to make the students understand it better. It is an ideal revision resource for those who want a complete study guide, as the Class 10 English Chapter 11 PDF includes all types of study material, including summation and word meanings.
Students can access the NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English poem 11: For Anne Gregory. Curated by experts according to the CBSE syllabus for 2023–2024, these step-by-step solutions make English much easier to understand and learn for the students. These solutions can be used in practice by students to attain skills in solving problems, reinforce important learning objectives, and be well-prepared for tests.
What does the young man mean by “great honey-coloued /Ramparts in your ear?” Why does he say that young men are “thrown into despair” by them?
The young man in the poem praises the great honey-colored hair of Anne. Anne’s hair has been called rampart, meaning a wall. It is called so because they act as a wall, as they prevent young men from looking beyond those yellow hair and into her soul. Her hair is so attractive that young men cannot look at anything else. Anne’s yellow hair are so pretty that young men hopelessly fall in love with her. She is so pretty that everyone wants her, which cannot happen; hence, they are thrown into despair.
What colour is the young woman’s hair? What does she say she can change it? Why would she want to do so?
Anne's hair is yellow, like the colour of honey. She says that she can change it to black, brown or carrot; she means that she can change it to any colour she wants. Anne says so to show that outer beauty is changeable and not permanent or real. She wants young men to look in her soul and love her for her inner beauty. In order to do so, she needs to show them the superficiality of her external beauty.
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 emphasize?
People desire objects because of their qualities that suit their needs. The things we consume, goods we use such as a car, a phone, a dress etc. physical qualities matter the most. Before buying anything, it is always considered that the object is durable and looks pretty. If I were to sell a dress, I would select the one that is very appealing to the eye and comfortable for the body. Then I would emphasize on the durability of the dress so that the customer feels that he/she is spending his/her money at the right place and in the right place.
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.
A parent or caregiver’s love for a newborn baby, for a mentally or physically challenged child, for a clever child or a prodigy
The public’s love for a film star, a sportsperson, a politician, or a social worker
Your love for a friend, or brother or sister
Your love for a pet, and the pet’s love for you.
The students should attempt on their own.
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?
The students should attempt on their own.
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