Question

Who is Endymion in the poem "A Thing of Beauty"?

• A. Worker
• B. Farmer
• C. An office boy
• D. A young shepherd

Hint:

In Greek mythology, Endymion was a beautiful young shepherd loved by the moon goddess Selene. Keats uses this reference in "A Thing of Beauty" to symbolize eternal, timeless beauty.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

This question refers to the poem "A Thing of Beauty" by John Keats, which is an excerpt from his longer poem "Endymion." The poem is included in the Flamingo textbook for Class 12 English.

About Endymion in Greek Mythology:

In Greek mythology, Endymion was a young and handsome shepherd (in some versions, a hunter or a king) from Asia Minor. He was renowned for his extraordinary beauty.

The Myth:
Selene, the goddess of the moon, fell deeply in love with Endymion.
She was so captivated by his beauty that she asked Zeus to grant him eternal youth so that he would never age or die.
Zeus granted this wish but placed Endymion into an eternal sleep, ensuring that he would remain forever young and beautiful, preserved in timeless slumber.
Selene would visit him every night while he slept, gazing upon his beauty.

Endymion in Keats' Poem:
Keats begins his poem "Endymion" with the famous line, "A thing of beauty is a joy forever."
In the excerpt "A Thing of Beauty," Keats refers to Endymion as part of the "endless fountain of immortal drink" that pours beauty into the world from heaven’s brink.

The reference to Endymion serves multiple purposes:
It connects the idea of eternal beauty with the mythical figure who was granted everlasting youth.
It illustrates how beautiful legends and stories (like that of Endymion) themselves become "things of beauty" that provide joy across generations.
The shepherd boy’s eternal sleep symbolizes the timeless and unchanging nature of true beauty.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

(A) Worker:
Endymion was not depicted as a common laborer in Greek mythology.

(B) Farmer:
Although shepherds are associated with rural life, Endymion’s specific identity is that of a shepherd, not a farmer.

(C) An office boy:
This option is completely incorrect and anachronistic, as the myth belongs to ancient Greek times.

Final Answer: A young shepherd