I.
Answer the following questions in two or three sentences:
1. According to the poem, what qualities should a person aspire
to instead of beauty?
According to the poem, a person should aspire to qualities such
as intelligence, wit, courage, talent, passion, adventure, and individuality
rather than mere physical beauty. The poet suggests that these inner qualities
are more meaningful than external appearance.
2. How does the poem reflect on society's obsession with
physical appearance?
The poem reflects society’s obsession with physical appearance
by criticizing the repeated insistence that a girl must be “beautiful.” By
questioning this idea, the poet exposes how society reduces a woman’s value to
her looks and urges readers to reject such narrow standards.
3. What tone does the poet adopt in delivering her message, and
why is it significant?
The poet adopts an assertive, rebellious, and empowering tone.
This tone is significant because it challenges traditional beauty norms and
inspires women to redefine their worth beyond physical appearance.
II. Answer the following questions in a paragraph:
4. Discuss how Nikita Gill empowers women through her poem
“Don’t Be Beautiful.” How does she challenge societal expectations?
In “Don’t Be Beautiful,” Nikita Gill empowers women by
encouraging them to reject the restrictive idea that beauty defines their
worth. She challenges the expectations of the society by listing alternative
qualities such as intelligence, wit, bravery, and creativity, suggesting that
these qualities are far more valuable than physical attractiveness. By
declaring that beauty is merely “a set of letters strung together to make a
word,” she deconstructs the authority of the concept itself. The poem thus
liberates women from the pressure of conforming to external standards and urges
them to embrace their individuality and inner strength. In doing so, Gill
transforms the poem into a feminist statement that reclaims women’s identity
and self-definition.
5. How does the poem explore the relationship between external
beauty and inner strength? Illustrate your answer with examples from the text.
The poem explores the relationship between external beauty and
inner strength by contrasting superficial appearance with deeper personal
qualities. While society insists that a girl must be “beautiful,” the poet
urges her to be “angry,” “intelligent,” “witty,” and “talented,” emphasizing
the importance of inner attributes over outward looks. By questioning the very
meaning of beauty—“what is beautiful anyway but a set of letters strung
together to make a word?”—Gill undermines its power and highlights the
superiority of self-defined strength and individuality. Thus, the poem suggests
that true value lies not in external beauty but in inner courage, intellect and
authenticity.
III. Essay:
6. Nikita Gill's poem “Don’t Be Beautiful” is a manifesto
against superficiality and a call for individuality. Discuss.
Nikita Gill’s poem “Don’t Be Beautiful” functions as a powerful
manifesto against superficiality and a passionate call for individuality. In a
society where women are constantly pressured to conform to idealized standards
of beauty, Gill boldly dismantles the myth that physical attractiveness is the
primary measure of a woman’s worth. The poem rejects the traditional equation
of femininity with beauty and replaces it with a celebration of inner strength,
intelligence, creativity, and freedom.
From the very beginning, the poet exposes the repetitive and
oppressive nature of societal expectations: “They keep saying that beautiful is
something a girl needs to be.” The phrase “keep saying” suggests the
persistence and inevitability of such messages, revealing how deeply ingrained
beauty standards are in cultural consciousness. Gill responds to this pressure
with defiance: “But honestly? Forget that. Don’t be beautiful.” This direct and
conversational tone transforms the poem into an act of rebellion, urging women
to resist the tyranny of appearance.
Instead of beauty, Gill proposes an alternative vision of
identity. She encourages women to be “angry,” “intelligent,” “witty,” “klutzy,”
“interesting,” “funny,” “adventurous,” “crazy,” and “talented.” This list is
significant because it embraces complexity, imperfection, and diversity. By
valuing traits often discouraged in women—such as anger and eccentricity—the
poet challenges patriarchal norms that demand submissiveness and elegance. Her
emphasis on an “eternity of other things” highlights the limitless
possibilities of selfhood beyond the narrow confines of beauty.
One of the most striking moments in the poem is the rhetorical
question: “And what is beautiful anyway but a set of letters strung together to
make a word?” Here, Gill deconstructs the concept of beauty itself, reducing it
to a linguistic construct rather than an absolute truth. This line exposes the
arbitrariness of beauty standards and reveals them as socially constructed
rather than inherently meaningful. By doing so, the poet strips beauty of its
oppressive power and reclaims agency for women.
The concluding lines of the poem reinforce its central message:
“Be your own definition of amazing, always.” This statement encapsulates the
poem’s call for individuality. Gill does not merely reject beauty; she replaces
it with self-definition. The idea that each person should create their own
meaning of “amazing” reflects a deeply feminist and humanistic philosophy. It
asserts that identity should not be dictated by external norms but shaped by
personal values and inner strength.
In fact, “Don’t Be Beautiful” is more than a poem; it is a
declaration of independence from superficial ideals. It challenges the
dominance of appearance in defining women’s worth and celebrates authenticity,
diversity, and self-expression. By encouraging women to look beyond mirrors and
embrace their inner power, Nikita Gill transforms poetry into a tool of
resistance and empowerment. The poem thus stands as a manifesto against
superficiality and a timeless call for individuality in a world obsessed with
appearances.