W. B. Yeats and His W. B. Yeats and His PoemsPoems

William Butler YeatsWilliam Butler Yeats (1865-1939) (1865-1939)

An Irish poet, drew wisdom and inspiration froAn Irish poet, drew wisdom and inspiration from the ancient culture of Ireland. In his later yem the ancient culture of Ireland. In his later years he found a metaphysical approach to poetrars he found a metaphysical approach to poetry and wrote on the great, eternal subjects of tiy and wrote on the great, eternal subjects of time and change, love and age, life and art (“Thme and change, love and age, life and art (“The Wild Swans at Coole”). There is profound bee Wild Swans at Coole”). There is profound beauty in his poetry.auty in his poetry.

Acknowledged as one of the greatest poets in the EngAcknowledged as one of the greatest poets in the English language, Yeats’s work covered 50 years.lish language, Yeats’s work covered 50 years.

He was deep-rooted in Irish culture with its folklore, He was deep-rooted in Irish culture with its folklore, legends, music and magic, from which he draw wisdolegends, music and magic, from which he draw wisdom and inspiration and he wrote about the traditions anm and inspiration and he wrote about the traditions and history of the Irish nation. (He was active in the Irisd history of the Irish nation. (He was active in the Irish struggle for independence and the founding of a nath struggle for independence and the founding of a national Irish theatre). ional Irish theatre).

Born in Dublin influenced by the currents of IrBorn in Dublin influenced by the currents of Irish nationalism ish nationalism

With a fellow Irishman Oscar Wilde he organiWith a fellow Irishman Oscar Wilde he organized the Rhymer’s clubzed the Rhymer’s club

In 1899 fell desperately in love with Maud GoIn 1899 fell desperately in love with Maud Gonne a beautiful actress and passionate Irish natinne a beautiful actress and passionate Irish nationalist who refused to marry him and she is thonalist who refused to marry him and she is the subject of most of his love pe subject of most of his love p

Yeats actively participated the movement but dYeats actively participated the movement but disapprove the bloodshedding together with a nisapprove the bloodshedding together with a noble woman and playwriter found the Irish Natoble woman and playwriter found the Irish National Theatre in Dublin When Ireland finally ional Theatre in Dublin When Ireland finally won its true independence in 1922 he was appwon its true independence in 1922 he was appointed a senator in the following year he won ointed a senator in the following year he won the Nobel Prize of literature the Nobel Prize of literature

His poetry was characterized by disillusion, bitHis poetry was characterized by disillusion, bitter satire, strong symbolism and the combinatiter satire, strong symbolism and the combination of colloquial and formal language. There is on of colloquial and formal language. There is profound beauty in his poetry. profound beauty in his poetry.

He wrote 26 plays and 11 volumes of poetry bHe wrote 26 plays and 11 volumes of poetry but his reputation rests on his 50 years of poetic ut his reputation rests on his 50 years of poetic career which falls roughly into 5 phases of abocareer which falls roughly into 5 phases of about one decade each.ut one decade each.

The Three Periods of His WorkThe Three Periods of His Work

1.During the 1980’s he wrote chiefly in the tra1.During the 1980’s he wrote chiefly in the tradition of romanticism a leading member of the dition of romanticism a leading member of the Aesthetic movementAesthetic movement

2. his second period was influenced by the 2. his second period was influenced by the Irish nationalist movement and his passion of Irish nationalist movement and his passion of Maud Gonne worked with the Irish National Maud Gonne worked with the Irish National Theatre attempting to develop an Irish cultural Theatre attempting to develop an Irish cultural revival to complement the political movementrevival to complement the political movement

3.by the second decade of the 20thc Yeats no l3.by the second decade of the 20thc Yeats no longer a romantic influenced by the modernist onger a romantic influenced by the modernist movementmovement

4. the fourth period was the greatest of his p ca4. the fourth period was the greatest of his p career in his sixties he attained full maturity as a reer in his sixties he attained full maturity as a realist-symbolist-metaphysical p with an uncanrealist-symbolist-metaphysical p with an uncanny(ny( 离奇的离奇的 ) power over words and symbols, s) power over words and symbols, summing up in his poems many of his lifelong iumming up in his poems many of his lifelong ideas.deas.

His early poetry was marked by dreamy His early poetry was marked by dreamy romanticism with clarity, imagery and romanticism with clarity, imagery and musicality. In his later years he found a musicality. In his later years he found a metaphysical and French simplistic approach metaphysical and French simplistic approach to poetry and wrote on the great, eternal to poetry and wrote on the great, eternal subject of time and change, love and age, life subject of time and change, love and age, life and art. and art.

Yeats believed that all history, and life Yeats believed that all history, and life follows a circular, spiral pattern consisting of follows a circular, spiral pattern consisting of long cycles which repeat themselves over and long cycles which repeat themselves over and over on different levels, so symbols like over on different levels, so symbols like winding stairs, spinning tops, gyres and spirals winding stairs, spinning tops, gyres and spirals are frequent and important in his poemsare frequent and important in his poems

Analysis of The Second ComingAnalysis of The Second Coming

See the textbookSee the textbook

QuestionQuestion

What does “gyre” mean in this poem?What does “gyre” mean in this poem? What does the line “things fall apart; the center What does the line “things fall apart; the center

cannot hold” mean?cannot hold” mean? What do the “ a shape with lion body and the What do the “ a shape with lion body and the

head of a man” and the “rough beast” refer to?head of a man” and the “rough beast” refer to?

DiscussionDiscussion

At the beginning of the 21st c, what do you At the beginning of the 21st c, what do you think of this poem?think of this poem?

Yeats and Eliot had great influence upon Yeats and Eliot had great influence upon modern English literature. Their principles and modern English literature. Their principles and wiring practice were a revolt against the wiring practice were a revolt against the imprecise language and sentimental emotions imprecise language and sentimental emotions of the Victorian poets. This revolt led to the of the Victorian poets. This revolt led to the modernist movement in literature.. modernist movement in literature..

Three influences of modern poetryThree influences of modern poetry

1. Imagism1. Imagism 2. Metaphysical poets2. Metaphysical poets 3. French symbolist poetry3. French symbolist poetry

Main traits of modern poetryMain traits of modern poetry

1. Direct treatment of things1. Direct treatment of things 2. Freer metrical movement (these two from 2. Freer metrical movement (these two from

Imagism)Imagism) 3. High degree of intellectual complexity3. High degree of intellectual complexity 4. Symbolism4. Symbolism 5. Close to conversation (colloquial, slang)5. Close to conversation (colloquial, slang) 6. Irony and puns6. Irony and puns 7. International and urban themes7. International and urban themes

In summaryIn summary

‘ ‘ the remarkable career of W.B.Yeats, stretchithe remarkable career of W.B.Yeats, stretching across the whole modern period, showed hong across the whole modern period, showed how a truly great p can at the same time reflect thw a truly great p can at the same time reflect the varying development of his age and maitain e varying development of his age and maitain an unmistakably individual accent…. Yet he is an unmistakably individual accent…. Yet he is always Yeats, unique and inimitable—without always Yeats, unique and inimitable—without doubt the great English speaking p of his age.’doubt the great English speaking p of his age.’ ---from Wang’s book ---from Wang’s book