W.B. YeatsW.B. Yeats1865-19391865-1939

Biographical InformationBiographical Information► ““William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet and William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet and

dramatist and one of the foremost figures of dramatist and one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature. A pillar of both the 20th-century literature. A pillar of both the Irish and British literary establishments, in his Irish and British literary establishments, in his later years Yeats served as an Irish Senator for later years Yeats served as an Irish Senator for two termstwo terms.”.”

► ““In 1923, he was awarded a Nobel Prize in In 1923, he was awarded a Nobel Prize in Literature for what the Nobel Committee Literature for what the Nobel Committee described as ‘described as ‘inspired poetry, which in a highly artistic inspired poetry, which in a highly artistic form gives expression to the spirit of a whole nationform gives expression to the spirit of a whole nation;’ ;’ and he was the first Irishman so honouredand he was the first Irishman so honoured.”.”

SOURCE: <www.wikipedia.org> accessed on 30/06/09

Biographical InformationBiographical Information►Yeats also collaborated with Edwin Ellis Yeats also collaborated with Edwin Ellis

on the first complete edition of William on the first complete edition of William Blake’s poetry and writings.Blake’s poetry and writings.

►He maintained a life-long interest in He maintained a life-long interest in mysticism, symbols and Irish mythology. mysticism, symbols and Irish mythology.

►Yeats was saddened and immensely Yeats was saddened and immensely moved by the tragedy of the Great War moved by the tragedy of the Great War and the Irish Civil War.and the Irish Civil War.

SOURCE: <www.wikipedia.org> accessed on 30/06/09

World War OneWorld War One1914-19181914-1918

► Also known as the “Great War”Also known as the “Great War”► “… “… was a global military conflict that involved was a global military conflict that involved

most of the world's great powers assembled in most of the world's great powers assembled in two opposing alliances: the Entente and the two opposing alliances: the Entente and the Central PowersCentral Powers.”.”

► ““Over 70 million military personnel were Over 70 million military personnel were mobilized in one of the largest wars in history.”mobilized in one of the largest wars in history.”

► In excess of In excess of 15 million people15 million people were killedwere killed, , making it one of the deadliest conflicts in making it one of the deadliest conflicts in history.history.

SOURCE: <www.wikipedia.org> accessed on 30/06/09

World War OneWorld War One1914-19181914-1918

► The enormous death and destruction caused The enormous death and destruction caused by this war immensely affected Yeatsby this war immensely affected Yeats. .

Irish Civil WarIrish Civil War(1922-1923)(1922-1923)

► This was a conflict in Ireland in 1922-1923, This was a conflict in Ireland in 1922-1923, about the nature of the new Irish Republicabout the nature of the new Irish Republic

► The conflict was waged between two The conflict was waged between two opposing groups of Irish nationalists: the opposing groups of Irish nationalists: the forces of the new Free State, who supported forces of the new Free State, who supported the Anglo-Irish Treaty under which the state the Anglo-Irish Treaty under which the state was established, and the Republican was established, and the Republican opposition, for whom the Treaty represented opposition, for whom the Treaty represented a betrayal of the Irish Republic. a betrayal of the Irish Republic.

► The war was won by the Free State forces. The war was won by the Free State forces. SOURCE: <www.wikipedia.org> accessed on 30/06/09

► It was an extremely violent conflict that cost It was an extremely violent conflict that cost close to 4000 lives. A huge toll for the small close to 4000 lives. A huge toll for the small Irish nation.Irish nation.

► Yeats was a passionate supporter of a free Yeats was a passionate supporter of a free Ireland, but was saddened by the violence.Ireland, but was saddened by the violence.

Irish Civil WarIrish Civil War(1922-1923)(1922-1923)

An explosion near Trinity College in Dublin

SOURCE: <www.wikipedia.org> accessed on 30/06/09

The Wild Swans at CooleThe Wild Swans at CooleThe trees are in their autumn beauty, The woodland paths are dry, Under the October twilight the water Mirrors a still sky; Upon the brimming water among the stones Are nine-and-fifty swans.

The nineteenth autumn has come upon me Since I first made my count; I saw, before I had well finished, All suddenly mount And scatter wheeling in great broken rings Upon their clamorous wings.

I have looked upon those brilliant creatures, And now my heart is sore. All's changed since I, hearing at twilight, The first time on this shore, The bell-beat of their wings above my head, Trod with a lighter tread.

Unwearied still, lover by lover, They paddle in the cold Companionable streams or climb the air; Their hearts have not grown old; Passion or conquest, wander where they will, Attend upon them still.

But now they drift on the still water, Mysterious, beautiful; Among what rushes will they build, By what lake's edge or pool Delight men's eyes when I awake some day To find they have flown away?

The Second ComingThe Second ComingTurning and turning in the widening gyreThe falcon cannot hear the falconer;Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhereThe ceremony of innocence is drowned;The best lack all conviction, while the worstAre full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand;Surely the Second Coming is at hand.The Second Coming! Hardly are those words outWhen a vast image out of Spiritus MundiTroubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desertA shape with lion body and the head of a man,A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,Is moving its slow thighs, while all about itReel shadows of the indignant desert birds.

The darkness drops again; but now I knowThat twenty centuries of stony sleepWere vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

Reading Yeats’s PoetryReading Yeats’s PoetryACTIVITYACTIVITY1.1. Read “The Wild Swans at Coole” and “The Read “The Wild Swans at Coole” and “The

Second Coming” by Yeats, and critically Second Coming” by Yeats, and critically annotate each poem using the 10 Step Grid annotate each poem using the 10 Step Grid to help you.to help you.

2.2. What symbol(s) dominate each poem? What symbol(s) dominate each poem? Explain in your own words how Yeats uses Explain in your own words how Yeats uses these symbols to convey ideas.these symbols to convey ideas.

3.3. What ideas and techniques are shared What ideas and techniques are shared between the two poems.between the two poems.