1. In notes and exercise copy
Heading
Poetry Date:
The Wild Swans at Coole
In notes and exercise copy

2. Warm-up
I see, I think, I wonder.
One sentence for each.

3. Learning Objectives To examine another poem by William Butler Yeats.
To examine the theme of lost love and nature.

4. What happened in 1916 It was the middle of World War One.
There was the Easter Rising in Ireland in which many Irish soldiers were executed INCLUDING Maud Gonne’s husband.
The 51 year old Yeats then followed her to France and asked one final time for Maud Gonne to marry him. After the poem, he then married someone else and lived in Coole.

5. The Wild Swans at Coole by W.B. Yeats
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 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.

6. The Wild Swans at Coole by W.B. Yeats
Exercise 1: First Impressions
Having read the poem once, write down one sentence in response and share it.
Try using: I think, I know, I don’t know, I want to know.
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 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.

7. Notes– stanza one
The poets describes the beauty of Coole park in autumn. This season is linked to the slowing down and death of things. The land is dry and barren while the water is “brimming” with life.
Question: Swans mate for life yet there are 59 swans. Can we link this, autumn or the dry land to Yeats and Maud.
Odd number
The 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.
Twilight: Sunset
Brimming: Full

8. Notes – stanza 2
The poet has been counting these swans for a long time. Before he is done though they fly away.
As they do, the swans look like circles or rings which are the symbol for eternity. While he is getting older then, the swans don’t seem to.
Question: Is Maud Gonne a swan here? What would that mean?
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.
Clamorous: Loud and confusing noise

9. Notes – Stanza 3
The poet is sad at what has changed. He is no longer a young man and has spent many years admiring this beauty. There is the sense that he regrets his failed romance.
Question: He had “Trod with a lighter tread”. What does that mean?
(Trod is the past tense of tread).
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.

10. Notes – Stanza 4
The poet admires and envies the swans. They are different than him. They are full of
energy, life and love. They have partners to keep them warm
and they seem not to age.
Question: This is in contrast to Yeats. How he is different?
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.
Unwearied: not tired

11. Notes – Stanza 5
The swans will continue floating peacefully on the water even when the poet is gone. They might make other people happy because they will stay the same beautiful creatures. The poet cannot stay with them any longer though.
Question: What comes after Autumn and what does it imply?
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?

12. Questions: Remember “quotes”.
Describe what the poet is seeing in front of him on this autumn evening.
Why is the poet sad?
What positive things does this poem say about love?

13. Homework part 2 Learn the first two stanzas
The 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.

14. The Wild Swans at Coole by W.B. Yeats
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 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.

15. Part 2

16. In notes and exercise copy
Heading
Poetry Date:
The Wild Swans at Coole 2
In notes and exercise copy

17. Learning Objectives
To examine the poetic techniques of ‘The Wild Swans at Coole’, including:
Rhythm
Rhyme
Sound
Personification

18. The Wild Swans at Coole by W.B. Yeats
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 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.

19. The Wild Swans at Coole by W.B. Yeats
Warm-up exercise - copies
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 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.
What is your opinion of the title?
In particular, what do you think about the word “Wild” there?

20. The Wild Swans at Coole by W.B. Yeats
Quick question
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 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.
Does Swans rhyme with stones?

21. The Wild Swans at Coole by W.B. Yeats
Quick question
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 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.
This is another example of slant/lazy rhyme and Yeats is made fun of for this rhyme quite a bit.

22. Notes – Rhythm
The rhythm is uneven and confusing with three different meters. This mirrors the poet’s mind as he is tired, unable to keep his thoughts structured.
Question: If we say this the difficult, we can say the theme is as well. How could we word this?
The 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.
Tetrameter – 4 beats
Trimeter – 3 beats
Tetrameter
Trimeter
Pentameter – 5 beats
Trimeter

23. The Wild Swans at Coole by W.B. Yeats
Quick question
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 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.
Is love difficult or simple?

24. Notes – Rhyme
In comparison, the form is very structured. There is a clear rhyming scheme of abcbdd. The first four lines are a classic simple four line rhyme with a couplet added at the end. This makes the poem pleasant like the swans and like love.
Question: There’s a couplet, a COUPLE of rhymes at the end of each
stanza – any comment?
The 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.

25. The Wild Swans at Coole by W.B. Yeats Find two cases of Alliteration.
Question
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 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.
Find two cases of Alliteration.
Can you find any examples of assonance or consonance. Do letters repeat a lot in a single line?

26. The Wild Swans at Coole by W.B. Yeats
The 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?

27. Notes – Sound
The choice of words go well together like the swans. The poet uses alliteration, assonance and consonance to show the smooth harmony of nature.
He also tries to convey the sounds of the swans. We hear the violent flapping of their wings upon take off as “clamorous” and then the graceful steady sound when in flight as “bell-beat”.
Question: Another example of
opposites. Loud and confusing,
then steady and graceful. Thoughts?
And scatter wheeling in great broken rings   
Upon their clamorous wings.
The bell-beat of their wings above my head,   

28. Do animals think this way do you think?
Quick question
Can swans have
“Passion or conquest”.
Do animals think this way do you think?

29. Notes – Personification
The poet treats the swans like humans and gives them human qualities. He is projecting his own issues onto them. This is called personification and shows he is trying to work out something using these animals.
Passion or conquest, wander where they will,  

30. Homework Copy the poem into your notes with images beside it.
Remember, the point is to help you learn the poem so choose images you see as being linked to the words. Simple is better.

31. The Wild Swans at Coole by W.B. Yeats
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 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.

32. Final class on this poem
We’re going to do questions to cement the story into our heads.
We’re going to write notes on themes.
We’re going to do advanced questions on the poem.

33. Questions to help us examine the poem Point – “quote” – explain each answer
From stanza one – what does the park look like?
From stanza two – what does the poet see? Describe it.
From stanza three – why is the poet sad? (since…the first time…)
From stanza four, how does he describe the swans?
From stanza five, how is he different to them?

34. THEMES
GROWING OLDER
In this poem, Yeats is preoccupied with growing older. He is struck by the fact that nineteen years of his life have rushed by since he saw the first swans. They are ‘unwearied’, whereas he has grown old and tired. The swans’ hearts ‘have not grown cold’ and are still filled with ‘passion’. As a middle-aged man, Yeats feels passion and adventure are no longer a big part of his life. The setting of the poem in autumn is significant, as the poet is in the ‘autumn’ stage of his life.

35. THEMES THE BEAUTY & MYSTERY OF NATURE
The poet describes the peaceful, still atmosphere of Coole Park, with its trees and tranquil lakes. He also praises the majestic and inspirational beauty of the swans. He regards the swans as graceful and elegant. But he also considers them powerful and strong as they suddenly take to the air.

36. A CLOSER READING: What is the poet’s attitude to growing older?
Why does he admire the swans so much?
Why does he think that the swans are ‘mysterious’?