W.B. Yeats | Topic Notes Background information 1 Main Themes 4 Imagery and Key Quotes 7 A personal response to Yeats’ poetry 9 Sailing to Byzantium 13 Easter 1913 16 The Lake Isle of Inishfree 18 The Second Coming 24 The Wild swans at Coole 27 W.B Yeats, Background information 13 June 1865 - 28th January 1939. (74 years old.) John Butler Yeats and Susan Yeats Age 9 moved to London, 1880 at 15 returned to Howth and attended high school. 1 W.B. Yeats | Topic Notes The Yeats family had aspirations to maintain its wealth and traditions and this shaped WB Yeats and his poetry. Born into a family context that respected culture and art. As he reached manhood, most of his education consisted of private tuition and reading- this accounts for the extreme individualism found in his poetry. Developed an interest in theosophy (esoteric philosophy - direct knowledge of mysteries of the universe.), ancient civilisations, psychic power, eastern religions, the supernatural, spiritualism etc. He sought symbolisms for his poetry in these topics. These symbolisms account for the difficulty of some of his poetry especially in his later work. Studied at college of Arts in Dublin, however his interest in art gave way to his enthusiasm for literature. Mysticism and the occult,( supernatural,symbolic,religious, obscure thought) particularly Indian mysticism. Drama and literature served Yeats as a cultural vehicle to express his views Launched the Irish Literary Renaissance - revived interest in Ireland’s literary heritage and was inspired by political and cultural nationalism. 1888 - Maud Gonne, married to John MacBride, both of whom were committed Irish nationalists. Great influence. Marriage proposals. 1917 married Georgie Hyde-Lee, 2 children: Anne (1919) and Michael (1921). Automatic writing (writing under influence or guidance of spirits, Yeats used her spiritual writing as material for his theories and poetry). 2 W.B. Yeats | Topic Notes 1896 Lady Augusta Gregory, Assistant and mentor. Mistress of Coole Park estate in Co. Galway - where he composed many poems. 1917 bought old Norman tower at Ballylee near Lady Gregory. After establishment of Irish Free State in 1922, took a lively interest in politics and became member of Irish senate. Took a sympathetic interest in facism during the 1930’s, particularly in its Irish variety; The Blueshirt movement. 1923 Nobel Prize for literature There is no record in English literary history of another poet who produced greatest work between age 50 - 74. Phase 1: Romantic era, early phase, early 20’s, late teens. 1889-1909. Celtic Myths and motifs, escapist. Nature, the struggle for Irish independence and his unrequited love for Maud Gonne (yellow hair...) Phase 2: Transitional phase, political poetry. 1909 - 1914. He gradually ceased to be a romantic poet and his work became less decorative and musical, more harsh and realistic, above all, more in tune with contemporary realities and public issues. 1916 rising and the revolutionary turmoil had a profound effect on his mind and writings. Political events in Ireland from 1916 onwards confronted Yeats with a series of acute personal dilemmas. On one had, his instinctive Irish nationalism responded with pride to the patriotic surge and heroic endeavor (exertion) that inspired the 1916 rising. On the other hand, he knew that triumphant nationalism was bound to destroy the Anglo-Irish civilisation that he regarded as the ideal embodiment of the aristocratic (high class, exceptional rank) way of life. 3 W.B. Yeats | Topic Notes Phase 3: Best work, Self critical, ironical, last 20 years. 1919 - 1939 4 outstanding books published; “The Wild Swans at Coole”, “Michael Robartes and the Dancer”, The Tower and The “Winding Stair”. Poems feature a comprehensive mythology in which contemporaries who impressed Yeats appear larger than life. He also draws from the great deposit of history and philosophy (Plato, art of Byzantine empire) and universal symbolism. ‘A Vision’ - mysticism and his bizzare concept of cycles of history, presented the dualities often expressed in later poetry; subjectivity and objectivity, art and life, soul and body. Helped to explain obscure symbolism of later works. The civil war led to Yeats’s increasing disillusionment with Irish public life and caused him to question patriotic, often fanatical, strivings of friends who had involved themselves in the nationalist cause. Disillusioned with the ignorance and the conservative cultural attitudes of Dubliners - eg. narrow minded reaction of catholic nationalists to Playboy of the Western world in the Abbey theatre. The poetry written in the final phase of his life is notable for its vigorous rhythms within a generally plain, unornamented style, with few adjectives and few, if any, of the luxuriant trappings of his earlier work. In the case of Yeats, there is constant renewal, experimentation and utter dedication to the craft of poetry, leading to the ultimate command of words and images characteristic of his mature work. 4 W.B. Yeats | Topic Notes 5 W.B. Yeats | Topic Notes Main Themes Theme of death or old age and what it leaves behind death of patriotism, leaving selfishness as the norm “Romantic Ireland’s dead and gone, it’s with O’Leary in the grave.” Death as useless sacrifice, home rule might be granted; “Was it needless death after all? For England may keep faith, for all that is done and said.” A man in old age alienated vibrant youthfulness “The young in one another’s arms, birds in the trees - those dying generations - at their song.” Death of innocence; “The ceremony of innocence is drowned.” Demise of the aristocracy and despair at the vanity of human grandeur Death and destruction at war Theme of disintegration, chaos, sudden change “Scatter wheeling in great broken rings upon their clamorous wings.” “All changed, changed utterly: A terrible beauty is born.” Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold; mere anarchy is loosed upon the world”. Theme of Nature 6 W.B. Yeats | Topic Notes Transience (lasting only for a short time) in nature’s beauty: “A shadow of cloud on the stream changes minute by minute.” Radiance of nature’s beauty: “I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore.” “The trees are in their autumn beauty, the woodland paths are dry, Under the October twilight, the water mirrors a still sky.” The unattractive side of nature: “While all about it reel shadows of indignant birds.” Paradoxically, Yeats saw nature as immortal in comparison to humans: “Their hearts have not grown old; Passion or conquest, wander where they will, attend upon them still.” Theme of Immortality Politics: the rising has changed politics and this force for change has become an immortal and steadfast national symbol. Natural beauty: the swans as a species are ageless in comparison to Yeats. Cycles of history: Perpetually repeating millennial patterns- Sailing to Byzantium Soul and art transcend time (surpass) 7 W.B. Yeats | Topic Notes Theme of the quest for Truth The quest for truth is fundamental, whether experienced through the emotional self, reason, imagination or at the expense of sanity. Intuitive truth The pursuit of national ideals at the cost of public ridicule Pursuit of beauty and the truth by a questioning spirit. Truth believed in by political fanatics Truth that is fanatical and yet unemotional Truth that is emotional, imaginative and philosophical Truth that is prophetic yet based on historic cycles Truth attained through educating the imagination with art Polemical poetry - argument intended to establish truth of a specific understanding and the falsity of the contrary opposition/ Various visions of the model Irish society Primitive (early), Celtic, peasant, rural romantic, patriotic, heroic Pastoral and aesthetic (wild swans) 8 W.B. Yeats | Topic Notes Explored conflicting dualities, often counterbalancing the ideal and the real The beauty of nature versus the sombre monotony of city existence The meanness of municipal policy versus the generosity of patriots The immortality of political heroes versus the fickleness of politics Mortality of self versus immortality of swans Protests against reality despondency at short sighted and self serving civic attitudes re 1913 lockout and hypocritical religious devotion Hurt at disrespect for the memory of political martyrs. Criticism of political fanaticism Disgust at insincere nationalism, patriotic bluster (aggression) Disillusion at war, lack of civic responsibility and an apocalyptic spiral disenchantment at materialism, hedonism (maximize net pleasure, devotion to pleasure- sex etc...) and neglect of art 9 W.B. Yeats | Topic Notes Imagery Contradiction, balance and contrast are central to Yeats’ imagery. Recurring imagery of the heart as a metaphor for emotions or the inner self. Recurring imagery of water - purity and the medium of time stone seems to mean something impassive and steadfast that can catalyse change Conceit - elaborate comparison and metaphor where some concrete object is used to illustrate an abstract reality Metaphors Symbols Analogy - a simile or metaphor that functions as a parallel image Simile Paradox - contradicts itself and might be true Logic - communicates by direct statement and imagery Hyperbole Aphorism - an original thought, spoken or written in concise and memorable form - definition, principles, truth Antithesis (balance) 10 W.B. Yeats | Topic Notes Compound words & pun Yeatsian affirmation Key quotes “People who lean on logic and philosophy and rational exposition end by starving the best part of the mind” “Think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people.” “All empty souls tend toward extreme opinion.” “Why should we honour those that die upon the field of battle? A man may show as reckless a courage in entering into the abyss of himself.” “Talent perceives differences; genius, unity.” “Out of the quarrel with others we make rhetoric, out of the quarrel with ourselves we make poetry.” “ An intellectual hatred is the worst.” “I am a healthy long lived race and our minds improve with age.” 11 W.B.