CBSE Class 10 English NCERT Solutions: For Anne Gregory

Reviewed by NCERT Help Editorial Team · Updated on 29 Jul 2026

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 10 PDF

This resource provides detailed NCERT Solutions for CBSE Class 10 English, focusing on the poem 'For Anne Gregory'. It delves into the poem's exploration of superficial versus inner beauty, using the young man's admiration for Anne's hair and Anne's own reflections on her appearance. The solutions clarify the poem's central themes, including the transient nature of physical attractiveness and the desire for love based on one's true self. It also prompts students to think critically about the nature of love, desirability, and the relationship between a person's inner and outer self. These solutions are designed to help students grasp the poem's nuances and prepare effectively for their English examinations by offering clear explanations and thought-provoking discussions.

Home

Quick info

Board	CBSE
Class	Class 10
Subject	English
Session	2026
Language	English
Type	NCERT Solutions
Chapter	22. For Anne Gregory

Chapter summary

This chapter's NCERT Solutions for CBSE Class 10 English focus on the poem 'For Anne Gregory'. It unpacks the poem's central conflict between external beauty, represented by Anne's hair, and the desire for inner self-acceptance and love. The solutions explain the young man's infatuation and Anne's contemplation of changing her appearance to be loved for her soul. It encourages critical thinking on the nature of love and desirability, both for objects and people.

Learning outcomes

Understand the contrast between physical and inner beauty as depicted in the poem.
Analyze the symbolism of Anne's hair and its role in the poem's theme.
Interpret the young man's perspective on love and admiration.
Discuss the concept of being loved for oneself versus external qualities.
Reflect on the transient nature of physical appearance.
Consider the complexities of love in various relationships.

Topics covered

Paper topics

Inner vs. Outer Beauty
Symbolism of Hair
Nature of Love
Self-Acceptance
Superficiality
True Love
Poetic Interpretation
Character Analysis (Anne, Young Man)

Important topics

Contrast between physical and inner beauty
The desire for genuine love
Symbolism in poetry
Self-worth beyond appearance

PDF preview

Read page by page below. PDF is streamed from the official NCERT website — no download button on this page.

Loading document …

Page of

Loading page …

Questions and Solutions

Question 1

What does the young man mean by "great honey-coloued /Ramparts at your ear?" Why does he say that young men are "thrown into despair" by them?

Solution: The young man in the poem is describing Anne's beautiful, golden-yellow hair, comparing them to "ramparts" or walls. These ramparts are so striking and attractive that they prevent young men from looking beyond her hair to see her true inner self or soul. Her hair are so captivating that young men fall hopelessly in love with her physical appearance. Because her beauty is so overwhelming and perhaps unattainable, or because they are fixated only on her looks, they are filled with despair.

Question 2

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

Solution: The young woman, Anne, has yellow hair, which she describes as being the colour of honey. She states that she can change her hair colour to black, brown, or even a carrot-like shade. Anne suggests this to make a point: that outer beauty is superficial and can be easily altered. She wants young men to look beyond her physical appearance and love her for her inner qualities and her soul, rather than her changeable looks.

Question 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?

Solution: Objects become desirable due to qualities that meet our needs or appeal to our senses. For instance, a car might be desirable for its speed, fuel efficiency, safety features, or luxurious design. A phone is desired for its processing power, camera quality, battery life, and user interface. A dress is chosen for its style, fabric, comfort, and how well it fits or enhances one's appearance. If I were selling a dress, I would emphasize its aesthetic appeal (colour, design), the quality and comfort of the fabric, its durability, and perhaps its uniqueness or trendiness to make it more attractive to potential buyers.

Question 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: A parent or caregiver's love for a newborn baby, for a mentally or physically challenged child, for a clever child or a prodigy; The public's love for a film star, a sportsperson, a politician, or a social worker; Your love for a friend, or brother or sister; Your love for a pet, and the pet's love for you.

Solution: This question invites personal reflection and group discussion. Love for people is complex and can stem from various factors, including their qualities (physical, mental, emotional), shared experiences, and inherent worth. A parent's love for a child is often unconditional, valuing the child for 'themselves alone,' regardless of their abilities or challenges. Public admiration for celebrities or public figures is often based on their achievements or perceived qualities, which can be more conditional. Love for friends and family usually involves a mix of appreciating their qualities and loving them intrinsically. A pet's love is often seen as pure and unconditional. The discussion aims to explore whether love is always based on specific desirable traits or if it can exist independently of them, and how different types of love vary.

Question 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?

Solution: This question prompts deeper philosophical thought. It's challenging to completely separate a person from their external attributes (looks, voice, mannerisms) as these are part of their identity and how they interact with the world. The analogy of the dancer and the dance suggests that the person and their actions or appearance are intrinsically linked. Considering personal changes over time, relationships often evolve as people grow and change. For example, a relationship with a sibling might deepen as you both mature, or a friendship might shift if interests diverge. These changes can affect the dynamics of the relationship, sometimes strengthening it, other times altering its nature, reflecting the continuous evolution of individuals and their connections.

Common mistakes

Confusing superficial admiration with genuine love.
Overlooking the poem's message about inner beauty.
Failing to connect the poem's themes to broader concepts of love and self-worth.

Revision tips

Focus on the contrast between the young man's view and Anne's perspective.
Identify and explain the symbolism of Anne's hair.
Consider the poem's message about true love versus infatuation.
Think about how the poem relates to real-life experiences of love and attraction.

Practice MCQs

Q1. What physical attribute of Anne does the young man admire?

Q2. According to the poem, why are young men 'thrown into despair'?

Q3. What colours does Anne say she can change her hair to?

Q4. What does Anne want young men to love her for?

Q5. The poem contrasts physical beauty with:

Frequently asked questions

What is the main theme of the poem 'For Anne Gregory'?

The main theme is the contrast between superficial physical beauty, represented by Anne's hair, and the desire for love based on one's inner self or soul.

What does the 'young man' admire about Anne?

The young man admires Anne's beautiful, honey-coloured hair, which he describes as 'great honey-coloured Ramparts'.

Why does Anne mention changing her hair colour?

Anne mentions changing her hair colour to demonstrate that outer beauty is superficial and changeable, hoping to encourage love for her inner self.

What does the poem suggest about true love?

The poem suggests that true love should be directed towards a person's inner self, their soul, rather than their external, transient physical qualities.

How do these NCERT Solutions help Class 10 students?

These solutions provide clear explanations of the poem's themes, symbolism, and characters, aiding students in understanding the text and preparing for exams.

Content reviewed by the NCERT Help team. Editorial Team and update policy

NCERT Solutions PDF PDF on NCERT Help. URL unchanged for search indexing.