THE NOBLE NATURE: GLOSSARY, SUMMARY & QUESTION ANSWERS

The text of the poem:

"THE NOBLE NATURE"

It is not growing like a tree

In bulk, doth make Man better be;

Or standing long an oak, three hundred year,

To fall a log at last, dry, bald, and sere:

A lily of a day

Is fairer far in May,

Although it fall and die that night -

It was the plant and flower of Light

In small proportions we just beauties see;

And in short measures life may perfect be

🌿 Glossary

1. Growing – increasing in size or developing

Hindi: बढ़ना / विकसित होना

2. Bulk – size, mass, or volume; large quantity

Hindi: आकार / भारीपन

3. Doth – old form of “does”

Hindi: करता है (पुराने समय का रूप)

4. Man better be – make a man better or improve a man

Hindi: मनुष्य को बेहतर बनाना

5. Oak – a strong, large tree that lives many years

Hindi: बलूत का पेड़

6. Three hundred year – means 300 years (archaic form without “s”)

Hindi: तीन सौ वर्ष

7. Fall a log – become a log after falling down (when tree dies)

Hindi: गिरकर लकड़ी बन जाना

8. Dry – without moisture; lifeless

Hindi: सूखा

9. Bald – without leaves; bare

Hindi: नंगा / बिना पत्तों का

10. Sere – withered, dry, lifeless

Hindi: मुरझाया हुआ / सूखा

11. Lily – a delicate, beautiful flower

Hindi: कुमुदिनी / लिली फूल

12. Of a day – lasting only for a single day

Hindi: एक दिन का / अल्पकालिक

13. Fairer – more beautiful, more lovely

Hindi: अधिक सुंदर

14. Far – much; by a great degree

Hindi: बहुत अधिक / कहीं ज़्यादा

15. May – the spring month; symbolizes youth and freshness

Hindi: मई महीना / वसंत ऋतु का प्रतीक

16. Fall and die – to wither and perish

Hindi: गिरकर मर जाना / मुरझा जाना

17. Plant and flower of Light – symbol of purity, beauty, and perfection

Hindi: प्रकाश का पौधा और फूल; पवित्रता और सौंदर्य का प्रतीक

18. Proportions – correct or pleasing parts or measurements

Hindi: अनुपात / संतुलन

19. Just – proper, true, or perfect

Hindi: उचित / सच्चा

20. Beauties – beautiful qualities or features

Hindi: सुंदरता / सौंदर्य गुण

21. Measures – quantities, lengths, or durations

Hindi: मात्रा / सीमाएँ / अवधि

22. Perfect – complete, without any defect

Hindi: पूर्ण / निर्दोष

23. Be – exist; live; remain

Hindi: होना / अस्तित्व में रहना

LINE-WISE ANALYSIS OF THE POEM WITH HINDI TRANSLATION (NO SPACE BETWEEN LINES)

1. It is not growing like a tree,

A person’s greatness does not depend on how big or tall he grows like a tree.

किसी व्यक्ति की महानता इस पर निर्भर नहीं करती कि वह पेड़ की तरह कितना बड़ा या ऊँचा बढ़ता है।

2. In bulk, doth make Man better be;

A man’s size or physical growth does not make him morally or spiritually better.

मनुष्य का आकार या शारीरिक वृद्धि उसे नैतिक या आध्यात्मिक रूप से श्रेष्ठ नहीं बनाती।

3. Or standing long an oak, three hundred year,

Even if one lives long like an oak tree that survives for three hundred years,

भले ही कोई मनुष्य ओक वृक्ष की तरह तीन सौ वर्ष तक जीवित रहे,

4. To fall a log at last, dry, bald, and sere:

At the end of such a long life, one becomes lifeless, withered, and useless like a fallen log.

इतने लंबे जीवन के अंत में वह सूखी, झड़ चुकी और निष्प्रयोज्य लकड़ी के समान निर्जीव हो जाता है।

5. A lily of a day

A lily that blooms only for one day,

एक लिली जो केवल एक दिन के लिए खिलती है,

6. Is fairer far in May,

Is far more beautiful and lovely in the month of May,

वह मई के महीने में कहीं अधिक सुंदर और मनोहर होती है,

7. Although it fall and die that night—

Even though it fades and dies the same night,

यद्यपि वह उसी रात मुरझाकर मर जाती है,

8. It was the plant and flower of Light.

It remains a symbol of purity, brightness, and perfection.

फिर भी वह पवित्रता, प्रकाश और पूर्णता का प्रतीक बनी रहती है।

9. In small proportions we just beauties see;

We see true beauty in small, delicate, and perfect things.

हम सच्चा सौंदर्य छोटी, नाजुक और पूर्ण वस्तुओं में देखते हैं।

10. And in short measures life may perfect be.

Even a short life can be complete and perfect if it is lived meaningfully.

यदि जीवन अर्थपूर्ण ढंग से जिया जाए तो छोटा जीवन भी पूर्ण और श्रेष्ठ हो सकता है।

Multiple Choice Questions 

1. Who is the poet of "It is not growing like a tree"?

A) William Blake

B) Ben Jonson

C) Robert Frost

D) W. B. Yeats

Answer: B) Ben Jonson

2. What does the poet compare man's growth to in the first line?

A) A flower

B) A river

C) A tree

D) A mountain

Answer: C) A tree

3. What does “bulk” mean in the poem?

A) Beauty

B) Size or mass

C) Strength

D) Age

Answer: B) Size or mass

4. What kind of tree is mentioned in the poem?

A) Pine

B) Banyan

C) Oak

D) Willow

Answer: C) Oak

5. How long does the oak stand, according to the poem?

A) 100 years

B) 200 years

C) 300 years

D) 50 years

Answer: C) 300 years

6. What happens to the oak after 300 years?

A) It blooms again

B) It becomes dry and falls

C) It turns into gold

D) It grows taller

Answer: B) It becomes dry and falls

7. The words “dry, bald, and sere” describe what?

A) Youth

B) A river

C) The dead oak tree

D) A mountain

Answer: C) The dead oak tree

8. What does “sere” mean?

A) Green and fresh

B) Dry and withered

C) Wet and soft

D) Strong and tall

Answer: B) Dry and withered

9. Which flower is mentioned in the poem?

A) Rose

B) Lily

C) Lotus

D) Sunflower

Answer: B) Lily

10. How long does the lily live?

A) A year

B) A month

C) A day

D) A week

Answer: C) A day

11. The lily is described as fairer far in which month?

A) March

B) May

C) June

D) July

Answer: B) May

12. What happens to the lily at night?

A) It grows taller

B) It falls and dies

C) It blooms again

D) It turns to fruit

Answer: B) It falls and dies

13. What does the lily symbolize?

A) Short but perfect life

B) Long life

C) Strength

D) Pride

Answer: A) Short but perfect life

14. The oak symbolizes which quality?

A) Power and eternity

B) Long but useless existence

C) Joy

D) Love

Answer: B) Long but useless existence

15. What is meant by “plant and flower of Light”?

A) A bright star

B) A symbol of purity and beauty

C) The sun

D) Fire

Answer: B) A symbol of purity and beauty

16. According to the poet, what shows true beauty?

A) Wealth

B) Power

C) Small proportions

D) Big size

Answer: C) Small proportions

17. What does “In small proportions we just beauties see” mean?

A) Beauty lies in small, perfect things

B) Beauty lies in big things

C) Beauty depends on age

D) Beauty is an illusion

Answer: A) Beauty lies in small, perfect things

18. The poem suggests life can be perfect in __________.

A) Long years

B) Wealth and fame

C) Short measures

D) Many experiences

Answer: C) Short measures

19. What poetic device is used in “A lily of a day”?

A) Simile

B) Metaphor

C) Alliteration

D) Hyperbole

Answer: B) Metaphor

20. The oak’s fate teaches that __________.

A) Size ensures greatness

B) Long life has no meaning without worth

C) Old age is always glorious

D) Nature is cruel

Answer: B) Long life has no meaning without worth

21. “It is not growing like a tree” means __________.

A) Man should grow tall

B) Growth in virtue matters, not size

C) Trees are useless

D) Life should be long

Answer: B) Growth in virtue matters, not size

22. What is the central theme of the poem?

A) Power and success

B) True worth lies in quality, not quantity

C) Man vs. nature

D) Beauty and decay

Answer: B) True worth lies in quality, not quantity

23. What tone does the poem carry?

A) Angry

B) Joyful

C) Reflective and moral

D) Humorous

Answer: C) Reflective and moral

24. Which literary age does Ben Jonson belong to?

A) Romantic

B) Elizabethan

C) Victorian

D) Modern

Answer: B) Elizabethan

25. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?

A) ABABCC

B) AABBCCDD

C) AABBCCDDEE

D) ABBAAB

Answer: C) AABBCCDDEE

26. “Dry, bald, and sere” uses which poetic device?

A) Personification

B) Alliteration

C) Metaphor

D) Simile

Answer: B) Alliteration

27. What lesson does the poet give about human life?

A) Be long-lived

B) Be proud

C) Live meaningfully, even if life is short

D) Avoid beauty

Answer: C) Live meaningfully, even if life is short

28. The poem contrasts between __________.

A) Strength and weakness

B) Long life and short beautiful life

C) Man and woman

D) Heaven and earth

Answer: B) Long life and short beautiful life

29. Which word means “withered or dried”?

A) Fairer

B) Sere

C) Bald

D) Bulk

Answer: B) Sere

30. What moral does the poem teach?

A) Value lies in quality, not duration of life

B) Youth fades quickly

C) Beauty is temporary

D) Time destroys everything

Answer: A) Value lies in quality, not duration of life

🌿 

ONE-MARK QUESTIONS 

1. Who wrote the poem "It is not growing like a tree"?

Answer: Ben Jonson

2. What does the poet compare human life to?

Answer: A tree and a lily

3. What does “bulk” mean in the poem?

Answer: Size or largeness

4. What kind of tree is mentioned?

Answer: An oak tree

5. How long does the oak stand?

Answer: Three hundred years

6. What happens to the oak at last?

Answer: It becomes dry, bald, and sere

7. What does “sere” mean?

Answer: Withered or dry

8. What flower is compared with the oak?

Answer: A lily

9. How long does the lily live?

Answer: For one day

10. When does the lily bloom?

Answer: In May

11. What happens to the lily at night?

Answer: It falls and dies

12. What does the lily symbolize?

Answer: Short but perfect life

13. What does the oak symbolize?

Answer: Long but useless life

14. What does “plant and flower of Light” mean?

Answer: Symbol of purity and perfection

15. According to the poet, where do we see true beauty?

Answer: In small proportions

16. What does “small proportions” refer to?

Answer: Little but perfect things

17. What does “short measures” mean?

Answer: Short span of time

18. What is the message of the poem?

Answer: Quality matters more than quantity

19. What does the oak finally become?

Answer: A log

20. What poetic device is in “dry, bald, and sere”?

Answer: Alliteration

21. What poetic device is in “a lily of a day”?

Answer: Metaphor

22. What does “growing like a tree” symbolize?

Answer: Physical growth without moral worth

23. What is fairer far in May?

Answer: The lily

24. What is the tone of the poem?

Answer: Moral and reflective

25. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?

Answer: AABBCCDDEE

26. Which literary period did Ben Jonson belong to?

Answer: Elizabethan period

27. What does the poet prefer — quality or quantity?

Answer: Quality

28. What does the poem teach about life?

Answer: A short meaningful life is better than a long useless one

29. What is meant by “perfect life”?

Answer: A life lived with purpose and beauty

30. How many lines are in the poem?

Answer: Ten lines

TWO-MARK QUESTIONS 

1. Explain the comparison between man and tree.

The poet says that man’s worth is not like a tree’s physical growth. A person does not become better by being big in size or living long. True greatness depends on inner virtue and moral beauty, not on outward expansion or age.

2. Why does the poet mention the oak tree?

The oak tree is used to show that a long life without beauty or purpose is meaningless. Although the oak lives for 300 years, it finally falls down dry and lifeless. It represents useless longevity without inner worth or contribution.

3. Describe the lily’s life as mentioned in the poem.

The lily blooms for a single day in May. Though short-lived, it is beautiful and bright. Even if it dies that night, it remains the “flower of Light.” It symbolizes purity, perfection, and the idea that even brief life can be glorious.

4. What contrast does Ben Jonson draw in the poem?

Ben Jonson contrasts the long, dull life of the oak with the short, bright life of the lily. He suggests that beauty, value, and perfection do not depend on duration but on quality and purpose of life.

5. What is meant by “In small proportions we just beauties see”?

The poet means that true beauty exists in small, perfect things rather than in large, rough or long ones. It is not quantity but quality that reveals real charm and worth in life and in nature.

6. What is the central theme of the poem?

The central theme is that a short, meaningful, and beautiful life is far better than a long, dull, and useless one. The poem praises quality, virtue, and inner perfection over size and longevity.

7. What is the moral lesson of the poem?

The moral is that the value of life depends not on its length but on how beautifully and purposefully it is lived. A single day of virtue is better than hundreds of years of emptiness.

8. How does the poet use nature to express his idea?

Ben Jonson uses two symbols from nature — the oak tree and the lily. The oak stands for long but meaningless life, while the lily stands for short yet perfect existence. Through these images, he teaches the lesson of quality over quantity.

9. What does “plant and flower of Light” signify?

It signifies purity, brightness, and perfection. The lily, though short-lived, represents moral beauty and divine grace. It is spiritually radiant and full of life, unlike the dull, dry oak that only lives long.

10. Explain the meaning of the last line.

“In short measures life may perfect be” means that even a brief life can be complete if it is filled with goodness, purpose, and beauty. The poet values meaningful existence more than long survival.

THREE-MARK QUESTIONS 

1. Compare the oak tree and the lily as symbols in the poem.

The oak tree represents long life, strength, and size, but its end is dull—it becomes dry, bald, and useless. The lily, though it lives only a single day, blooms beautifully and symbolizes purity and perfection. Ben Jonson uses this contrast to show that quality, not quantity, gives true meaning to life. A short, bright life like the lily’s is more admirable than a long, lifeless existence like the oak’s.

2. What is Ben Jonson’s philosophy of life as shown in the poem?

Ben Jonson believes that the worth of life lies in its quality, not in its duration or physical greatness. A short but noble, virtuous life is more perfect than a long one wasted in emptiness. Through the comparison of the oak and the lily, he teaches that moral beauty and inner light make life truly valuable.

3. Explain the moral message of the poem.

The poem teaches that mere physical growth, size, or longevity does not make a person better. A man’s true greatness lies in his inner beauty, virtue, and meaningful deeds. Like the lily, even a short life full of goodness shines brighter than a long, dull, and wasted existence like that of the oak tree.

4. How does Ben Jonson use imagery to express his ideas?

Jonson uses vivid natural images—the oak and the lily—to contrast two kinds of life. The oak’s image of “dry, bald, and sere” conveys lifeless age, while the lily blooming for a day symbolizes purity and radiance. These powerful contrasts create clear imagery that supports the poet’s idea: beauty and worth lie in perfection, not in length.

5. Discuss the relevance of the poem’s message in modern life.

In today’s world, people often value long life, wealth, or fame, but Ben Jonson reminds us that true greatness lies in quality, not quantity. A life filled with goodness, love, and purpose, even if short, is worth more than a long, meaningless existence. The poem’s message remains timeless and deeply moral.

Five-mark questions 

Q1. What does Ben Jonson mean when he says “It is not growing like a tree / In bulk, doth make man better be”?

Q1. बेन जॉनसन का क्या अर्थ है जब वे कहते हैं – "It is not growing like a tree / In bulk, doth make man better be"?

Answer: Ben Jonson means that mere physical growth, bulk, or longevity does not make a person truly great or good. Just as a tree may grow tall and wide without any inner worth, a human being may live long without achieving moral or spiritual excellence. True greatness, according to Jonson, lies in the quality of one’s virtues and the beauty of one’s deeds, not in the number of years one lives. The poet thus rejects the idea that length or size measures perfection.

उत्तर: बेन जॉनसन का अर्थ है कि केवल शारीरिक वृद्धि, आकार या दीर्घायु मनुष्य को वास्तव में महान या अच्छा नहीं बनाते। जैसे कोई पेड़ ऊँचा और चौड़ा हो सकता है परन्तु भीतर से खोखला होता है, उसी प्रकार मनुष्य भी बिना नैतिक या आध्यात्मिक उत्कृष्टता प्राप्त किए लम्बा जीवन जी सकता है। जॉनसन के अनुसार सच्ची महानता व्यक्ति के गुणों की गुणवत्ता और उसके कार्यों की सुंदरता में होती है, न कि जीवन के वर्षों की संख्या में। कवि इस विचार को अस्वीकार करते हैं कि लम्बाई या आकार से पूर्णता मापी जा सकती है।

Q2. How does the poet use the oak and the lily to contrast two types of life?

Q2. कवि ओक और लिली का प्रयोग दो प्रकार के जीवन के विरोध के रूप में कैसे करते हैं?

Answer: The poet compares the oak and the lily as symbols of two opposing kinds of life. The oak stands for long life and strength but ends dry, bald, and lifeless. The lily, on the other hand, blooms brightly for only a day but shines with pure beauty and light. Through this contrast, Ben Jonson shows that a short but meaningful life, like that of the lily, is better than a long, dull, or unfruitful existence. The lily’s brief life represents perfection in small measure.

उत्तर: कवि ओक और लिली की तुलना दो विपरीत प्रकार के जीवन के प्रतीक के रूप में करते हैं। ओक लम्बे जीवन और शक्ति का प्रतीक है, परन्तु अन्त में वह सूखा, गंजा और निर्जीव हो जाता है। दूसरी ओर, लिली केवल एक दिन के लिए खिलती है, परन्तु वह शुद्ध सौंदर्य और प्रकाश से दमकती है। इस विरोधाभास के माध्यम से बेन जॉनसन दिखाते हैं कि लिली की तरह छोटा किन्तु अर्थपूर्ण जीवन लम्बे, नीरस या निष्फल जीवन से कहीं बेहतर है। लिली का अल्प जीवन छोटी मात्रा में पूर्णता का प्रतीक है।

Q3. Explain the meaning of the line: “In small proportions we just beauties see; / And in short measures life may perfect be.”

Q3. इन पंक्तियों का अर्थ स्पष्ट कीजिए – “In small proportions we just beauties see; / And in short measures life may perfect be.”

Answer: These concluding lines express the central theme of the poem — perfection and beauty are often found in small, limited things rather than in vast or prolonged ones. “Small proportions” refers to moderation, brevity, and balance, while “short measures” suggest a brief life that attains completeness through virtue and beauty. Jonson believes that the worth of life depends not on how long we live but on how well we live. A brief life filled with goodness and grace is truly perfect.

उत्तर: ये अन्तिम पंक्तियाँ कविता की मुख्य भावना को व्यक्त करती हैं — पूर्णता और सौंदर्य अक्सर बड़ी या दीर्घ वस्तुओं में नहीं, बल्कि छोटी और सीमित चीज़ों में निहित होते हैं। “Small proportions” का अर्थ है संयम, संक्षिप्तता और संतुलन, जबकि “short measures” अल्प जीवन को इंगित करती हैं जो सद्गुण और सौंदर्य से पूर्ण होता है। जॉनसन का विश्वास है कि जीवन का मूल्य इस पर निर्भर नहीं करता कि हम कितने वर्ष जीते हैं, बल्कि इस पर कि हम कितना अच्छा जीते हैं। अच्छाई और कृपा से भरा छोटा जीवन ही वास्तव में पूर्ण है।

Q4. What is the central theme or moral of the poem “It Is Not Growing Like a Tree”?

Q4. कविता “It Is Not Growing Like a Tree” का मुख्य विषय या नैतिक सन्देश क्या है?

Answer: The main theme of Ben Jonson’s poem is that quality is more important than quantity. The poet teaches that a long life, like that of an oak tree, is not necessarily better than a short one if it lacks beauty, virtue, or meaning. The lily, though it lives only a day, symbolizes the ideal life — bright, beautiful, and spiritually rich. Jonson thus praises intensity and moral perfection over mere duration. The poem conveys a stoic and spiritual message about the true measure of life.

उत्तर: बेन जॉनसन की इस कविता का मुख्य विषय है कि गुणवत्ता मात्रा से अधिक महत्त्वपूर्ण है। कवि सिखाते हैं कि यदि जीवन में सौंदर्य, सद्गुण या अर्थ नहीं है, तो ओक वृक्ष जैसा लम्बा जीवन भी श्रेष्ठ नहीं हो सकता। लिली, जो केवल एक दिन जीवित रहती है, आदर्श जीवन का प्रतीक है — उज्ज्वल, सुंदर और आध्यात्मिक रूप से समृद्ध। जॉनसन इस प्रकार केवल आयु की लम्बाई नहीं, बल्कि जीवन की नैतिक और भावनात्मक पूर्णता की प्रशंसा करते हैं। यह कविता जीवन के सच्चे मूल्य पर गम्भीर आध्यात्मिक सन्देश देती है।

Q5. How does Ben Jonson use imagery and symbolism to convey his message in the poem?

Q5. बेन जॉनसन इस कविता में अपने सन्देश को व्यक्त करने के लिए बिंबों और प्रतीकों का प्रयोग कैसे करते हैं?

Answer: Ben Jonson uses vivid natural imagery and symbolism to express his philosophical idea. The oak tree symbolizes strength, longevity, and worldly achievement, but its end as a dry log symbolizes emptiness without inner virtue. The lily, delicate and short-lived, represents purity, light, and moral beauty. The contrast between the oak and the lily symbolizes the difference between mere existence and meaningful life. Through these images, Jonson beautifully conveys that life’s perfection lies in quality, grace, and moral worth rather than in length or size.

उत्तर: बेन जॉनसन अपने दार्शनिक विचार को व्यक्त करने के लिए सजीव प्राकृतिक बिंबों और प्रतीकों का प्रयोग करते हैं। ओक वृक्ष शक्ति, दीर्घायु और सांसारिक सफलता का प्रतीक है, परन्तु उसका अन्त सूखी लकड़ी के रूप में होता है जो आन्तरिक सद्गुणहीनता को दर्शाता है। दूसरी ओर, लिली कोमल और अल्पायु होते हुए भी पवित्रता, प्रकाश और नैतिक सौंदर्य की प्रतीक है। ओक और लिली के विरोध के माध्यम से कवि यह भेद स्पष्ट करते हैं कि केवल अस्तित्व नहीं, बल्कि अर्थपूर्ण जीवन ही श्रेष्ठ है। इन बिंबों के माध्यम से जॉनसन यह सन्देश देते हैं कि जीवन की पूर्णता उसकी गुणवत्ता, सौम्यता और नैतिक मूल्य में निहित है, न कि उसकी लम्बाई या आकार में।

Courtesy: ChatGPT

Compiled by Dr. Shankar D Mishra

Sr. Lecturer in English

ପିଲାମାନେ ତୁମକୁ ଆଉ ଯେଉଁ chapter, grammar topic ଅଥବା essay, letter ଓ application ଆବଶ୍ୟକ, ମୋତେ ନିମ୍ନପ୍ରଦତ୍ତ WhatsApp number ରେ ମେସେଜ୍ କର ଓ ତୁମର ସାଙ୍ଗମାନଙ୍କୁ ଏ link ଟିକୁ ପଢିବା ପାଇଁ share ବି କର l

Contact number: 8249297412