Leda and the Swan
Poetry
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William Butler Yeats
Leda and the Swan Full Poem
A sudden blow: the great wings beating still
Above the staggering girl, her thighs caressed
By the dark webs, her nape caught in his bill,
He holds her helpless breast upon his breast.
How can those terrified vague fingers push
The feathered glory from her loosening thighs?
And how can body, laid in that white rush,
But feel the strange heart beating where it lies?
A shudder in the loins eng...
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Leda and the Swan Theme
Themes:
Power and Helplessness: The poem shows the power of Zeus over Leda. Leda is weak and cannot fight back. This shows the unfairness of powerful forces over the weak.
Violence: The poem talks about how violence can lead to big changes. The attack on Leda starts a chain of events, like the Trojan War.
Divine Influence: The poem shows how Gods can control human lives. Zeus uses his power...
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Leda and the Swan Character
Characters:
Leda: A mortal woman who is attacked by Zeus in the form of a swan. She is portrayed as helpless and vulnerable in the face of divine power. Her encounter with Zeus leads to the birth of Helen of Troy, which ultimately causes the Trojan War.
Zeus (The Swan): The king of the gods in Greek mythology, who takes the form of a swan to seduce or assault Leda. He represents immense power...
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Leda and the Swan Quotations
Quotes:
"A sudden blow: the great wings beating still." (Octave)
Explanation: This shows the sudden, violent attack by the swan.
"He holds her helpless breast upon his breast." (Octave)
Explanation: Leda is helpless and trapped by the swan.
"How can those terrified vague fingers push
The feathered glory from her loosening thighs?" (Octave)
Explanation: Leda is too scared to fight the sw...
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Leda and the Swan Key Facts
Key Facts
Writer: William Butler Yeats (1865 – 1939)
Original Title: Leda and the Swan
Source: Greek Mythology (myth of Leda and Zeus)
Written Time: 1923
Published Date: 1924, in The Dial magazine
Form: Sonnet (Petrarchan/Italian sonnet)
Genre: Mythological Poetry
Tone: Violent, Powerful, Reflective
Point of View: Third-person
Total Lines: 14 lines
Total Part: 2 parts (Octav...
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Leda and the Swan Summary
Summary
Leda’s Powerlessness Against Zeus: The poem shows the sudden and violent moment when Zeus, in the form of a swan, attacks the helpless Leda. Yeats uses strong and clear images to show how powerless Leda is, both physically and emotionally, against the great force of Zeus. In the first few lines, Zeus’s powerful body is described as holding Leda down while her "terrified vague fingers" are...
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Leda and the Swan Literary Device
Figures of Speech:
Allusion: The poem refers to the Greek myth of Leda and Zeus.
Imagery/Image: Strong pictures are created through words, like the swan’s wings and Leda’s helplessness.
Symbolism: The swan symbolizes Zeus and divine power; Leda represents human weakness.
Metaphor: The violent act stands for larger events like the fall of Troy.
Personification: The swan is given human-li...
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Notes
Explore 1 detailed note related to Leda and the Swan. Each note provides in-depth analysis, explanations, and critical insights.