Ben Jonson compares man to an oak tree and a lily in his poem "The Noble Nature" to discuss what makes a man noble. While an oak tree is strong and lives for hundreds of years, it eventually becomes dry, bald and lifeless. Similarly, long life and physical well-being alone do not make a man noble. In contrast, a lily flower is delicate but spreads beauty in its short life of one day. The poet believes a meaningful life lived well, even if short, makes one truly noble, rather than long life alone.

1. CLASS-12
Sub-English
Book- Rainbow
Ch-12 The Noble Nature
- Sukhwant Kaur

2. The Noble Nature –by Ben Jonson
•Born in 1572, Ben
Jonson is
regarded as one
of the major
dramatists and
poets of the
seventeenth
century

4. • 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:

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

6. 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.

7. In small proportions we just beauties see; And
in short measures life may perfect be.
Word Meanings-
Bulk-very large
Doth-does(Doth is an archaic word)
Bald-without leaves
Sere-withered
Fairer –beautiful
Proportion-parts

8. Summary
• The poet, Ben Jonson, in the poem ‘The Noble Nature’, talks
about what makes a man noble. He compares man to a sturdy
oak and to a delicate lily in order to do this. Growing physically
like a bulky tree or living long like a sturdy oak does not make a
man a noble being. The huge, strong and aged oak will soon
become a lifeless, ‘dry’ and withered piece of log. So too will be
the fate of a man who is only blessed with long life and physical
and material well being. The lily plant has a short life. It blooms
in May and is very beautiful. Although the flower has the life
span of a day and falls and dies by nightfall, it spreads beauty
and delight in that short period. The poet feels that a meaningful
life like the lily flower, though short, is what makes a man noble
and even though a man’s life is short it can be a perfect life.

9. Questions
Short Answer Questions
Question 1. What symbols does Ben Jonson draw from nature?
Question 2. Mention the qualities of an oak tree?
Question 3. How does a lily of a day impress us?
Question 4. How can human life be perfect, according to the
poet?
long Answer questions
Question 5. How does the poet juxtapose two objects of nature
with human life?
Question 6. Discuss the theme of the poem Noble nature.

10. THANK YOU