A Prayer for My Daughter
Poetry
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William Butler Yeats
A Prayer for My Daughter Full Poem
Once more the storm is howling, and half hid
Under this cradle-hood and coverlid
My child sleeps on. There is no obstacle
But Gregory's Wood and one bare hill
Whereby the haystack and roof-levelling wind,
Bred on the Atlantic, can be stayed;
And for an hour I have walked and prayed
Because of the great gloom that is in my mind.
I have walked and prayed for this young child an hour,
And heard...
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A Prayer for My Daughter Key Facts
"A Prayer for My Daughter" is a famous poem by William Butler Yeats. Look at the key facts of the poem to get a quick conception.
Title: A Prayer for My Daughter
Poet: William Butler Yeats (1865-1939)
Written Date: 28 February 1919, two days after the birth of his daughter, Anne
Publication Date: In Yeats’s 1921 collection Michael Robartes and the Dancer
Form: Lyric Poem (personal, emotional, pray...
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A Prayer for My Daughter Themes
Themes
A Father’s Love and Protection: In this poem, Yeats shows deep love and care for his newborn daughter. As the storm blows outside, he prays for her safety and peace. The storm stands for the troubles of life, and the sleeping baby stands for innocence. Yeats worries about the future world and wishes his daughter to grow up happy, kind, and safe.
True Beauty and Good Character: Yeats believ...
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A Prayer for My Daughter Literary Devices
Figures of Speech
Metaphor
Definition: A Metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other (without using “like” or “as”).
Example: “May she become a flourishing hidden tree.”
Explanation: The poet compares his daughter to a “hidden tree.” It means Yeats wants his daughter to grow strong, peaceful, and rooted in good values. He wishes he...
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A Prayer for my Daughter Quotes
1. “I have walked and prayed for this young child an hour”
Exp: Yeats says he is walking and praying for his baby daughter. The storm outside makes him worried about her future. He prays that she will grow up safe, peaceful, and happy in a world full of troubles.
2. “May she be granted beauty and yet not…
Being made beautiful overmuch,”
Exp: Yeats prays that his daughter should be beautiful, b...
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A Prayer for My Daughter Summary
The Storm and the Sleeping Baby
The poet is walking. Outside, the wind is howling loudly, and the sea is rough. But inside the house, his newborn baby daughter is peacefully sleeping in her cradle. The storm outside becomes a symbol of the troubles and confusion that will come into the world as his daughter grows up. Yeats walks up and down and prays for his daughter. He feels worried about the fu...
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A Prayer for My Daughter Characters
The Poet/Father (Speaker) – The speaker of the poem is the poet W. B. Yeats himself. He is a loving and thoughtful father. He prays for his newborn daughter’s future. As a father, he worries about the violence, pride, and foolishness of the modern world. Through his prayer, he wishes his daughter to grow up kind, wise, and peaceful, not too beautiful.
The Daughter (Anne Yeats) – The daughter in...
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Notes
Explore 13 detailed notes related to A Prayer for My Daughter. Each note provides in-depth analysis, explanations, and critical insights.