CBSE Class 10 English For Anne Gregory Summary

CBSE Class 10 English For Anne Gregory Summary: The poem “For Anne Gregory” by William Butler Yeats is included in Chapter 8 of the CBSE Class 10 English First Flight textbook, as per the revised CBSE class 10 english syllabus 2025-26. This poem is important from the exam perspective, especially under the Literature section of the English Language and Literature paper. Based on the CBSE 10th exam pattern, students may be asked extract-based questions, short answer-type questions, or value-based questions related to this poem.

Understanding the summary, central idea, and poetic devices used in For Anne Gregory will help students score well in the literature portion and enhance their ability to interpret poetry effectively.

CBSE Class 10 English For Anne Gregory Summary

The poem is written as a conversation between the poet and Anne Gregory, a young girl with beautiful golden (honey-colored) hair.

Stanza 1: Love Based on Beauty

The poet tells Anne that young men fall in love with her only because of her beautiful yellow hair. Her physical beauty captures their attention, and they fail to look beyond it to appreciate who she truly is.

He uses a metaphor, comparing her golden hair falling over her ears to “ramparts” (high walls of a fort). This suggests that her physical beauty hides her true self—just like a wall hides the inside of a castle.

Key Idea: People are attracted to physical looks and often ignore the person’s true nature.

Stanza 2: Anne's Response

Anne disagrees with the poet. She says she can change her hair color—brown, black, or even carrot-colored—to make herself less attractive. In this way, she hopes that someone will love her for her true self, not just her physical appearance.

Key Idea: Anne believes that external beauty is temporary and that love should be based on a person’s inner qualities.

Stanza 3: The Poet’s Final Reply

The poet replies that he heard a religious man say that only God is capable of loving someone for who they truly are. Human beings, he says, are naturally drawn to outer beauty. They rarely have the ability to see the real person inside.

 Key Idea: Only divine love is pure and not influenced by appearance.

Central Theme of the Poem

• The poem discusses the difference between external (physical) beauty and internal (true) beauty.

• It questions whether true love is even possible among humans, as most people are drawn to looks.

• It emphasizes the idea that only God can love someone purely for their soul and inner self.

Moral of the Poem

The poem teaches us not to judge others by their looks. True love goes beyond appearance and values a person for their thoughts, behavior, and inner character. However, the poet questions whether such love is possible in a world obsessed with beauty — suggesting that only God can truly love a person for who they are.

CBSE Class 10 English For Anne Gregory Conclusion

In conclusion, For Anne Gregory by William Butler Yeats is a thought-provoking poem that explores the theme of inner versus outer beauty. Through a simple conversation between the poet and a young girl, the poem emphasizes that true love should be based on a person's character and not their physical appearance.

It also conveys the idea that only God has the ability to love someone purely for who they truly are. This poem not only helps students understand poetic expressions and devices but also encourages them to reflect on deeper values and emotions. Understanding the poem thoroughly will aid students in answering questions confidently in their Class 10 English board exam.

CBSE Class 10 English For Anne Gregory PDF Download

For students looking to enhance their understanding of the poem "For Anne Gregory" from the CBSE Class 10 English syllabus, a detailed PDF summary and notes are available for download. This resource includes the full text of the poem, in-depth explanations, and analysis to help in exam preparation. You can access and download the PDF through the link provided below:​