top of page
    Search

    8.2. For Anne Gregory - Class 10 - First Flight



    📘 Chapter Title :For Anne Gregory

    Author: William Butler Yeats

    Textbook Name : First Flight 

    Genre: Poem


    📝 Summary

    The poem For Anne Gregory is a dialogue between a young man and a young woman. The man expresses his belief that no young man could love Anne Gregory for who she truly is, but only for her physical beauty—particularly her “honey-coloured” hair, which he describes as ramparts around her ear. Anne responds assertively, saying she could dye her hair any colour—black, brown, or even carrot-red—and test whether someone could love her for her inner self.


    To this, the man replies with a profound reflection he heard from a religious figure. According to him, only God can love a person for who they truly are, beyond their appearance. The poem explores themes of love, appearance, and identity, and questions the nature of true love. Yeats uses this short yet powerful conversation to highlight how physical beauty often influences affection, suggesting that divine love might be the only form that is truly unconditional.


    👤 Character Sketch:

    Anne Gregory

    Anne Gregory is portrayed as a thoughtful and self-aware woman who desires to be loved for her true self and not just for her outer beauty. She challenges societal standards of beauty and shows maturity in recognising the need for deeper emotional connections.


    📚 Themes

    Theme

    Description

    Appearance vs Inner Self

    Emphasizes the conflict between external beauty and inner personality.

    Superficial Nature of Love

    Highlights that most people fall in love with looks rather than true character.

    Divine Love vs Human Love

    Suggests that only God is capable of loving someone purely for who they are.

    ✨ Literary Devices

    Device

    Example

    Explanation

    Metaphor

    “Ramparts at your ear”

    Compares Anne’s hair to castle walls, symbolizing allure and protection.

    Enjambment

    “Love you for yourself alone / And not…”

    Sentences flow without punctuation, adding a natural rhythm.

    Irony

    “Only God… could love you…”

    Ironic that humans are incapable of true, unconditional love.

    Alliteration

    “Brown, or black, or carrot”

    Repetition of ‘b’ sound enhances musical quality.

    📖 Title Justification

    The title “For Anne Gregory” suggests that the poem is addressed personally to Anne. It is not just a philosophical discussion, but a deeply personal reflection directed at her, urging her to see the difference between love for appearance and love for the soul. The title captures the intimate and introspective nature of the poem.


    ✅ One-Mark Questions

    1. What is the colour of Anne Gregory’s hair?

      Anne Gregory’s hair is honey-coloured.


    2. What does the young man compare her hair to?

      He compares her hair to high, golden ramparts around a castle.


    3. What does Anne say she can do to change her appearance?

      Anne says she can dye her hair black, brown, or carrot to alter her looks.


    4. Who does the young man say can love Anne for herself alone?He says that only God can love Anne for herself alone and not her yellow hair.


    5. What does the poem suggest about human love?The poem suggests that human love is often based on physical appearance, not inner qualities.


    ✅ Three-Mark Questions

    1. Why does the young man believe that no one can love Anne for herself alone?The young man feels that Anne’s physical beauty, especially her golden hair, is so captivating that men fall in love with her appearance. He believes that people are drawn to outward charm, and rarely consider the inner self when falling in love.


    2. How does Anne Gregory challenge the young man's opinion?Anne Gregory challenges him by saying she could change the colour of her hair to test whether someone would still love her. She believes that real love should be based on who she is as a person, not her physical traits.


    3. What does the poem say about divine versus human love?The poem suggests that only divine love—God’s love—is truly unconditional and based on the soul. Human beings, in contrast, are usually influenced by beauty and appearances in matters of love.


    🧠 Value-Based Question

    Question:What does the poem “For Anne Gregory” teach us about the nature of true love, and how can we apply this lesson in real life?

    Answer:The poem teaches that true love should go beyond physical appearance and focus on a person’s character, values, and inner beauty. In real life, we should strive to look past outward looks and appreciate people for who they truly are—their kindness, honesty, and emotions. Building relationships on genuine understanding leads to deeper and more lasting bonds.


    End


    About BhashaLab


    BhashaLab is a dynamic platform dedicated to the exploration and mastery of languages - operating both online and offline. Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Credit Framework (NCrF), we offer language education that emphasizes measurable learning outcomes and recognized, transferable credits.


    We offer:

    1. NEP alligned offline language courses for degree colleges - English, Sanskrit, Marathi and Hindi

    2. NEP alligned offline language courses for schools - English, Sanskrit, Marathi and Hindi

    3. Std VIII, IX and X - English and Sanskrit Curriculum Tuitions - All boards

    4. International English Olympiad Tuitions - All classes

    5. Basic and Advanced English Grammar - Offline and Online - Class 3 and above

    6. English Communication Skills for working professionals, adults and students - Offline and Online


    Contact: +91 86577 20901, +91 97021 12044

    Comments

    bottom of page