W.B. Yeats

The Wild Swans at Coole Before you read: Swans are a common subject in poetry, as well as mythology and fairy tales. With the person beside you think of as many examples of swans in stories or popular culture. Discuss what you think swans might represent or stand for.

The Wild Swans at Coole This poem is set in Coole Park, Co. Galway. Yeats is wandering through the grounds of the park when he sees a flock of swans floating on a lake. The sight of the swans reminds Yeats of his first visit to the park 19 years earlier. He thinks about how much his life has changed since.

The Wild Swans at Coole Stanza 1 The poem begins by setting an autumn scene: “The trees are in their autumn beauty”. Yeats suggests this place is beautiful, calm & peaceful.

The Wild Swans at Coole Stanza 2 It is 19 years since Yeats first visited the park & saw the swans upon the lake. On the first visit he attempted to count the number of the swans, however the swans flew into the air before he could finish counting them. The strength (“clamourous”) & power of the swans is suggested by the poet’s description of them flying away.

The Wild Swans at Coole Stanza 3 The poet admires the swans, calling them “brilliant creatures”. But the sight of their beauty makes him feel sad because his life has changed so much since he first saw the swans 19 years ago, when he was a much younger man. Back then he “trod with a lighter tread” – his body was youthful.

The Wild Swans at Coole Stanza 4 The swans ‘hearts’ have not grown old. Their lives are still full of passion & adventure(“passion & conquest”). The swans are not alone, they travel in pairs: “lover by lover”. The swans are free to fly anywhere they please: “wander where they will”.

Wild Swans at Coole Stanza 5 Yeats knows he will wake up one day & they will be gone. He wonders where the swans will build their nests once they leave Coole: “Among what rushes will they build”. Wherever they go they will bring “delight to men’s eyes”.

The Wild Swans at Coole Themes Growing Older Yeats is preoccupied with getting older. He feels as a middle aged man, that passion & adventure are no longer a big part of his life. Beauty of Nature The poet describes the peacefulness of Coole Park. He praises the beauty of the swans.

An Irish Airman Foresees His Death Adrenaline Junkies – why do they do it??? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gqv1Fzj1Tg

An Irish Airman Foresees His Death Themes A bleak view of life: The airman has a very negative view of life. He has carefully weighed up or ‘balanced’ every part of his existence and decided the whole thing is a pointless ‘waste of breath’. The airman knows that he will ‘meet his fate’ in battle but continues to fly even though he doesn’t have to. It is as if he has a death wish. The airman takes ‘delight’ in the thrill of flying and in risking his own life. He only feels alive when he is involved in the chaos or ‘tumult’ of battle. As it is the only place he feels alive he thinks there is an appropriate ‘balance’ in dying during combat. The ordinary existence of working, falling in love and having children hold no appeal for the airman. He sees them as simply a ‘waste of breath’.

An Irish Airman Foresees His Death Themes Yeats’ attitude to Gregory: Yeats has a complex attitude towards those who risk their lives in combat. On the one hand he clearly admires men of action and he feels Gregory’s ‘lonely impulse of delight’ makes him superior to the average soldier. The speaker’s suicidal insistence on fighting even though he knows he will die are presented as rational by Yeats. He has weighed up his options and is happy to die. However, on the other hand there is a sense that Gregory is depicted as an adrenaline junkie. The thrill of flying and combat lures him into fighting even though he knows he ‘will meet his fate’ in the clouds. Yeats sees Gregory as brave and admirable but also as reckless and impulsive.

Helpful starts! After reading the poem………. I believe the poet is trying to convey….. I believe the poet displays a…. It is clear from the poem……….. There is a stark contrast between…… I feel Yeats is trying to highlight……. I think the poet is trying to suggest…..