For Anne Gregory

Textual  Solutions for Class 10 English 

Poem – For Anne Gregory

The poem 'For Anne Gregory' by William Butler Yeats is about beauty and how people see it. The poet talks to Anne Gregory about how many men are sad because they can't have her. But these men only like her because of her pretty yellow hair, which covers her face like a wall and makes her even more attractive. They don't care about who she is inside, just her hair. Anne Gregory thinks if she changes her hair color, only men who like her for who she is will like her. But the poet disagrees. He says an older man once said that only God can love our inner selves, and other men only care about looks.

Textual Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 10 Poem – For Anne Gregory

1. What does the young man mean by “great honey-coloured /Ramparts at your ear?” Why does he say that young men are “thrown into despair” by them?

The guy in the poem loves Anne's beautiful yellow hair that falls nicely by her ear like a wall. Her hair is so pretty that guys can't help but fall for her. They feel really sad because they're so enchanted by Anne's beauty. She's so gorgeous that everyone wants her, but they can't have her, so they feel really upset.

2. What colour is the young woman’s hair? What does she say she can change it to? Why would she want to do so?

Anne's hair is yellow like honey. She talks about dyeing it black, brown, or carrot-colored, showing that she can change its color whenever she wants. She says this to show that outer beauty can change, but it's not what's really important. She wants guys to see past her looks and love her for who she is inside, not just for how she looks on the outside.

3. 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 emphasise?

There are various objects having qualities in our lives that make them desirable to others. Here we bring to you a list of objects that make it desirable to others:

Object	Qualities
Car	Colour, speed, fuel efficiency, brand
Dress	Pattern, colour, material, fit
Phone	Brand, technology, user-friendliness, memory, price
Bag	Design, colour, brand, price, style

While selling an object, a person should emphasise the different features of the product and also help the buyer identify how it is better than other products in the market. Students can also add some points on their own to understand how best an object can be sold to a customer.

4. 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.

(i) a parent or caregiver’s love for a newborn baby, for a mentally or physically challenged child, for a clever child or a prodigy

(ii) the public’s love for a film star, a sportsperson, a politician, or a social worker

(iii) your love for a friend, or brother or sister

(iv) your love for a pet, and the pet’s love for you.

Everyone has their own likes and dislikes. It's okay to have favorites based on our feelings and experiences.

Parents love their newborn baby, whether they have special needs or are really smart, because they care about them a lot.

We admire and are amazed by film stars, athletes, politicians, and social workers because of their personality and what they do.

We love our friends, siblings, and pets because we care about them, feel connected to them, and want to be there for them.

Pets love us back unconditionally, showing how much they care about us too.

5. 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?

People are not objects; we should value them for who they are, not just their qualities or wealth. Yeats asks, "How can we separate the dancer from the dance?" This means, can we separate a person from how they look or sound? Think about how you, a friend, or a family member has changed over the years. Has your relationship changed too? Maybe you've grown closer or drifted apart, depending on how you've both changed.