Topic: Autobiographical influence of Topic: Autobiographical influence of WB Yeats on his PoemsWB Yeats on his Poems

WB Yeats and His Poems WB Yeats and His Poems

William Butler YeatsWilliam Butler Yeats • William Butler Yeats was a famous Irish poet, dramatist and one of

the pioneers of the literary world in 20th century. • He was also a member of the Irish Senate and served it for two

terms. His contribution to the English literature is as high as that to his native the Irish literature, where he is remembered for his role in reviving the literature.

• In 1923, Yeats was awarded the honorary Nobel Prize in literature making him the first Irishman to be honored with the award.

• An Irish National Poet• Poet Laureate ( Nobel Prize in 1923) • Modernist Poet • The leader of Irish Literary Movement • A good friend of Rabinrdanath Tagore

Biography of WB YeastsBiography of WB Yeasts

• Early Life • Different stages of life• His Marriage and Love affair • His society • His poetic career • Influences of society in his poems

W B Yeats & His WifeW B Yeats & His Wife

His GraveHis Grave

His Born and ParentsHis Born and Parents • On June 13, 1865 in Dublin in Ireland• His father was John Butler Yeats, a portrait artist • And his mother was Susan Mary Pollexfen, daughter of a wealthy family from

county Sligo.• Here is the Map of Dublin

Education and CareerEducation and Career

• Learning from his mother • Godolphin primary school • Erasmus Smith High School, Dublin • Metropolitan School of Art (the National College of

Art and Design) • Influenced by PB Shelley and William Blake • Pre-Raphaelite verse and Irish myth and traditions • Tradition of Myth and Culture of Irish people

Maud Gonne and Marriage & Maud Gonne and Marriage & Family Life Family Life

• In 1889, Yeats met Maud Gonne, a poet, feminist and a fervent nationalist.

• He proposed marriage to her at least three times; in 1899, 1900 and 1901 and was rejected each time which was probably a result of his lack of enthusiasm to contribute in the revolutionary movement.

• In 1903, Maud married a nationalist revolutionary Major MacBride • Maud remained his inspiration and an immense impact on his life • Lady Gragory helped in founding Abbey Theatre in Dublin• On 20 October 1917, Yeats married a friend George Hyde Lees • Two children; daughter Anne, born in 1919 and son Michael, born in

1921. Yeats wrote two poems "A Prayer for My Daughter" and "A Prayer for My Son" for them

• A Vision, a book elucidating his philosophy and use of symbolism which was published in 1921.   

His Works and different stages of His Works and different stages of his life and Abbey Theatrehis life and Abbey Theatre

• “Mosada” (A Dramatic Poem) in 1880• “The Wanderings of Oisin” in 1889• “Responsibilities” (1916)• The Tower” (1928) • “Later Poems” (1922)• “Collected Poems”(1949) • In 1899, Yeats co founded the Irish Literary Theatre in Dublin • One of the first plays performed there was his Catheleen ni

Houlihan, with Maud Gonne portraying the main character • Abbey Theatre, which was also known as the National Theatre of

Ireland

W B YEATS TIMELINE W B YEATS TIMELINE • 1865- : William Butler Yeats was born on 18 June.• 1876- : His family moved to England.• 1877- : William Yeats was sent to the Godolphin primary school.• 1881- : Yeats enrolled into Erasmus Smith High School.• 1884- : William Yeats joined the Metropolitan School of Art.• 1885- : He wrote his first poem and essay The Poetry of Samuel Ferguson.• 1887-: Yeats and his family returned to London.• 1889- : Yeats met Maud Gonne.• 1890- : He established the Rymer's Club, a group of poets.• 1899- : Yeats co founded the Irish Literary Theatre in Dublin.• 1904- : The theatre opened.• 1904- : Yeats founded the Cuala Press with the help of his sister.    • 1911- : The Abbey Theatre set on a tour to the United States.• 1917- : Yeats married George Hyde Lees.• 1919- : His daughter Anne was born.• 1921- : Their son Michael was born.• 1922- : His father died.• 1922- : There was appointed to the first Irish Senate.• 1925- : He was reelected to the Senate.• 1923- : Yeats was honored with Nobel Prize for Literature.• 1924- : A coinage committee appointed him as its chairman.• 1928- : Yeats took retirement from the Senate.• 1934- : Yeats underwent a Steinach operation.• 1939- : William Yeats passed away on 28 January.• 1948- : He was removed from there and was reentered in Drumcliffe, County Sligo.

Influences on the poemInfluences on the poem“The Second Coming”“The Second Coming”

• Yeats’ Philosophy of Irish History • Changing of the old Irish Civilization • The birth of New Irish Civilization • His disappointment towards his society • And Using of Irish Myths and Phrases (Widening

gyre, Ceremony of Innocence, Spritus Mundi, a shape with lion body and the head of a man etc.)

Sailing To ByzantiumSailing To Byzantium

• Yeats’ searching for ideal Ireland • His Philosophy of Irish Culture • Use of different phrases related to art and

painting of Ireland ( Unageing Intellect, God’s Holy fire, Golden Bough, Paltry thing etc)

• His wishing to be Immortal

Easter1916Easter1916

• Maud gonne was a beautiful lady in her young age but now defeated.

• Maud gonne’s husband: a only drunken vain glorious lout.

• Poet’s meaningless talking with some persons who died in the movement of ‘Easter1916’.

• John Mac Bride had done most bitter wrong to some people who were near to his heart.

• All changed, changed utterly, a terrible beauty is born.

No Second TroyNo Second Troy

• No blame on Maud Gonne for his ruined.• The only trouble was that those people’s

courage did not lived up to their desire.• Her beauty is like a ‘tightened bow’.• She was capable of burning another Troy.• There is no second Troy to burn for her.• Was a good example of how Yeats was able to

use Greek mythology to great advantage for poetic purposes.

A Prayer for My DaughterA Prayer for My Daughter• A personal poem. Annie Butler Yeats.• Worried about the future of his daughter.• Yeats’s love for tradition and custom. (not any Christian

values).• He wishes her to have beauty but not vanity. Helen,

Maud Gonne and Venus the goddess of love. • He wanted her to be glad naturally.• Intellectual hatred is the worst of all.• ``Ceremony’’ is lie the horn of plenty and ``custom’’ is

like the growing laurel- tree providing shade and comfort to all.

ConclusionConclusion

• To sum up, it can be easily said that the auto-biography of W B Yeats is vividly reflected in his poems. We fine almost all cultures and tradition as well as history of Irish people in his poems. He was very much attracted to his own culture and history. That’s why he is considered as the National Poet of Ireland. At last we may conclude by reciting the some unforgettable lines from his poem “ A Prayer of Daughter”- “Ceremony is a name for name for the rich horn, And custom for the spreading laurel tree.”