Class 10 English — First Flight (Poetry): Poem 11 — For Anne Gregory
by W.B. Yeats
NCERT Questions & Answers + Important Extra Questions
NCERT Textbook Questions
What does the young man mean by "__( only God could love you for yourself alone and not your yellow hair"?
Answer
The young man means that human beings are incapable of looking beyond physical appearance. He is saying: (i) When people fall in love, they are attracted first by outer beauty — in Anne Gregory's case, her beautiful yellow (golden) hair. (ii) They cannot separate the person from their appearance — they love the whole package, and appearance is a major part of what draws them. (iii) Only God has the ability to love someone purely for their soul, inner qualities, and true self — "for yourself alone" — without being influenced by how they look. The statement is both a compliment (you're so beautiful that your hair captivates everyone) and a philosophical truth (human love is inevitably influenced by physical appearance).
What is Anne Gregory's__( response?
Answer
Anne Gregory disagrees with the young man. She argues: (i) She can dye her hair — change it to brown, black, or carrot colour — proving that her yellow hair is not essential to who she is. (ii) If someone truly loves her, they should love her regardless of her hair colour. (iii) Her point is that outer appearance is changeable and superficial — it shouldn't determine love. She believes it is possible for someone to love "herself alone" — her personality, character, and soul — not her looks. Her response represents the idealistic view: true love should be about the person inside, not outer beauty.
What is the__( message__( of the poem?
Answer
The poem explores the relationship between outer beauty and love: (i) Human love is influenced by appearance: The young man's view is realistic — when people fall in love, physical beauty plays a significant role. People cannot entirely separate a person from their looks. (ii) True love should transcend looks: Anne Gregory's view is idealistic — she wants to be loved for who she is, not how she looks. (iii) Only divine love is unconditional: The conclusion is that only God can love without being influenced by external appearance — human love will always be partly shaped by how someone looks. (iv) The poem raises an eternal question: Can anyone love us purely for our inner selves? Yeats suggests it is a noble aspiration but practically impossible for humans. The poem is also a gentle commentary on the superficiality of human attraction.
Important Extra Questions
What poetic devices are used?
Answer
(i) Dialogue/Dramatic form: The poem is structured as a conversation between a young man and Anne Gregory — it has two distinct speakers, giving it a dramatic quality. (ii) Synecdoche: "Yellow hair" represents overall physical beauty — Yeats uses one feature to stand for all external appearance. (iii) Rhyme scheme: The poem follows a regular ABAB rhyme scheme. (iv) Allusion: The reference to a "religious text" in the last stanza (a text that says only God could love for the soul alone) alludes to spiritual/religious ideas about divine vs. human love. (v) Contrast: The entire poem contrasts the young man's realistic view (humans can't ignore appearance) with Anne's idealistic view (they should). (vi) Symbolism: Yellow hair symbolises physical beauty and external attractiveness.
Do you agree with the__( young man or Anne Gregory? Justify.
Answer
Both perspectives have merit: (i) The young man is realistic: Scientific studies confirm that physical appearance plays a major role in initial attraction. First impressions are heavily visual. Most people notice how someone looks before knowing who they are inside. In this sense, his view is grounded in human psychology. (ii) Anne Gregory is idealistic but right in principle: While initial attraction may be physical, lasting, deep love should be based on character, values, and personality. True love grows when people connect on an emotional and intellectual level, not just physical. Hair colour can change, beauty fades — character endures. (iii) The best answer: Both are partially right. Initial attraction is often physical (the young man's point), but lasting love should and can transcend appearance (Anne's point). The poem beautifully captures this tension without fully resolving it.
Why does Yeats refer to a "religious text" in the last stanza?
Answer
Yeats mentions that he heard "an old religious man" declare that only God could love a person for themselves alone and not their appearance. This reference serves multiple purposes: (i) It gives authority to the young man's argument — it's not just his opinion; religious wisdom supports it. (ii) It introduces the idea of divine love as the ideal — God's love is the only purely unconditional love. (iii) It suggests that human beings are inherently limited in their capacity for purely spiritual love — this is a fundamental human condition, not a personal failing. (iv) It adds depth and universality to what could otherwise be a light conversation about hair — elevating it to a discussion about the nature of love itself.