Leda and the Swan

Poetry | William Butler Yeats
Back to Hub
Contents

How does Yeats create a mixture of history, myth.

Premium

How does Yeats create a mixture of history, myth, and vision in the poem “Leda and the Swan?”  

W.B. Yeats’s (1865-1939) “Leda and the Swan” (1924) is a famous poem that powerfully combines history, myth, and vision. The poem retells the Greek myth of Zeus and Leda. But beyond the myth, Yeats also connects it to history and his own vision of human destiny.

Use of Greek Myth: Yeats takes the ancient Greek myth of Zeus and Leda as his subject. Zeus, the king of the gods, takes the form of a swan. He forces himself upon Leda, the queen of Sparta. This violent act gives birth to Helen, Clytemnestra, and the twins Castor and Pollux. 

Connection with Historical Events: Yeats links this mythical event with real history. Helen’s birth leads to the Trojan War, which destroys Troy and starts a new era in Greek civilization. The poet says, 

“A shudder in the loins engenders there 

The broken wall,

the burning roof and tower.” 

Thus, myth and history blend together to show how fate shapes the world.

Yeats’s Philosophical Vision: Through this myth, Yeats expresses his vision of life and history. He believes that history moves in cycles of creation and destruction. The act of Zeus and Leda symbolizes the end of one era and the birth of another. The poet wonders, 

“Did she put on his knowledge with his power 

Before the indifferent beak could let her drop?” 

This question shows Yeats’s deep vision of divine power, human weakness, and the mystery of fate.

In “Leda and the Swan,” Yeats skillfully blends Greek myth, historical truth, and spiritual vision. The poem becomes not just a story of passion but a symbolic vision of how divine force shapes human history.

Continue Reading

Subscribe to access the full content

Upgrade to Premium
From this writer
W
William Butler Yeats
Literary Writer
More Topics