Practice essay questions for Yeats After each question, the exam paper will include the following sentence: In your answer, explore the effects of language, imagery and verse form, and consider how the poem relates to other poems by Yeats that you have studied.
“The Stolen Child” Discuss ways in which Yeats presents the supernatural in “The Stolen Child”. Discuss Yeats’ treatment of nature in “The Stolen Child”.
“September 1913” Discuss ways in which Yeats presents Ireland in “September 1913” Discuss Yeats’ presentation of heroism in “September 1913”.
“The Cold Heaven” Discuss Yeats’ treatment of the afterlife in “The Cold Heaven”. Discuss Yeats’ presentation of intense emotion in “The Cold Heaven”.
“The Wild Swans at Coole” Discuss Yeats’ presentation of place in “The Wild Swans at Coole”. Discuss the ways in which Yeats presents ageing in “The Wild Swans at Coole”. Discuss the way Yeats presents nature in “The Wild Swans at Coole”.
“An Irish Airman Forsees his Death” Discuss Yeats’ presentation of the man of action in “An Irish Airman Forsees his Death”. Discuss ways in which Yeats considers the moment of death in “An Irish Airman Forsees his Death.”
“The Fisherman” Discuss how Yeats presents contemporary Ireland in “The Fisherman”. Discuss Yeats’ presentation of an artistic ideal in “The Fisherman”. Discuss how Yeats considers his poetic vocation in “The Fisherman”.
“Broken Dreams” Discuss how Yeats presents love in “Broken Dreams”. Discuss ways in which Yeats considers ageing in “Broken Dreams”.
“The Cat and the Moon” Discuss Yeats’ presentation of relationships in “The Cat and the Moon”. Discuss ways in which Yeats presents the supernatural in “The Cat and the Moon”.
“Easter 1916” Discuss how Yeats considers sacrifice in “Easter 1916”. Discuss how Yeats presents contemporary Ireland in “Easter 1916”.
“The Second Coming” Discuss how Yeats presents violence in “The Second Coming”. Discuss how Yeats considers history in “The Second Coming”. Discuss Yeats’ presentation of the supernatural in “The Second Coming”.
“Sailing to Byzantium” Discuss how Yeats presents the role of the artist in “Sailing to Byzantium”. Discuss Yeats’ presentation of mortality and immortality in “Sailing to Byzantium”.
“Leda and the Swan” Discuss how Yeats presents a significant moment in “Leda and the Swan”. Discuss how Yeats presents aggression in “Leda and the Swan”. Discuss Yeats’ treatment of fate in “Leda and the Swan”.
“Among School Children”
Discuss how Yeats presents learning in ‘Among School Children’ Discuss how Yeats explores the search for meaning in ‘Among School Children’
“In Memory of Eva Gore-Booth and Con Markiewicz”
Discuss Yeats’ presentation of the passing of time in ‘In Memory of Eva Gore-Booth and Con Markiewicz’ Discuss how Yeats presents the contrast between past and present in ‘In Memory of Eva Gore-Booth and Con Markiewicz’
“Man and the Echo” Discuss Yeats’ presentation of old age in “Man and the Echo”. Discuss Yeats’ presentation of responsibility in “Man and the Echo”.