1. When You are Old by W.B. Yeats
Write this translation next to the poem
When you’re old, read this book and remember how pretty you once were.
Everyone loved your looks but only I really loved you as a person.
You’re not famous anymore so be sad because I am, and you lost your chance to be with me.
When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;
How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;
And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

2. Part 2

3. In notes and exercise copy
Heading
Poetry Date:
When You are Old 2
In notes and exercise copy

4. Learning Objectives
To examine the poetic techniques of ‘When You are Old’, including:
Rhyme
Rhythm and Repetition
Alliteration
Personification

5. When You are Old by W.B. Yeats
When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;
How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;
And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

6. When You are Old by W.B. Yeats
Warm-up exercise - copies
When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;
How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;
And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.
Write down the words that rhyme at the end of the lines.
(A-A, B-B, C-C....)
Do you think the rhyming words have a connection in what they mean as well as what they sound like? (2-3 sentence answer.)

7. When You are Old by W.B. Yeats
Warm-up exercise - copies
When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;
How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;
And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

8. Notes – Rhyme
The rhymes are well chosen as they are connected by both sound and meaning. They go together well, creating a sense of harmony and everything having a place.
Question: Let’s say the rhyming scheme is like the man. What kind of compliments can we create to make Maud Gonne interested? They are (organised )
When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

9. Question When You are Old by W.B. Yeats Find a case of repetition.
When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;
How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;
And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.
Find a case of repetition.
Note down the ‘S’ words in stanza one. Are they connected?

10. Notes – Rhythm and repetition
The poem is in Iambic Pentameter (Iambic – every second syllable stressed, Pentameter – 5 foot). This gives it the rhythm of a song or lullaby.
The repeated use of the word ‘and’ makes the poem feel drawn out. This and the soft ‘S’ sounds create a sense of drowsiness or sleep, reflecting old age.
Question: What command or request does the poet make here?
When you/ are old/ and grey/ and full/ of sleep,
And nod/ding by/ the fire/, take down/ this book,
And slow/ly read/, and dream/ of the/ soft look
Your eyes/ had once/, and of/ their shad/ows deep;
Da dum/da dum/da dum

11. Question When You are Old by W.B. Yeats
When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;
How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;
And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.
Find one case of alliteration in the poem.

12. Notes – Alliteration
Alliteration is used to speed up the poem at specific parts to make a point. It is used to show the speed the woman had when she was young, the speed of her fall and the speed of the man’s departure.
Question: Why make these lines or points sound quicker?
moments of glad grace,
bending down beside
hid his face

13. Notes – Personification
Love is given a capital ‘L’ as if it is a name. The poet is ‘Love’, the one and only love for Maud in his opinion.
Question: What does this mean? What does it mean to say ‘I am Love’.
how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

14. 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.

15. When You are Old by W.B. Yeats
When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;
How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;
And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.