an data-preserver-spaces="true">Or, Critically comment on Yeats' handling of history and myth with reference to the poems you have read.
Discuss elaborately the use of myth and history in the poems of W. B. Yeats that you have read.
W. B. Yeats (1865–1939) was a great Irish poet. He masterfully blends myth (old stories, legends, and symbols) and history in his poetry. By doing this, he makes his poems deeper and more meaningful. Yeats used myths and history to explain the world around him and to talk about the problems people were facing in his time.
Here we will look at his famous poems to see how he combines myth and history.
Sailing to Byzantium: In this poem, Yeats writes about the historical city of Byzantium, which is present-day Istanbul. Byzantium was known for its great art and religion. Here, Yeats mixes real history with imagination to deal with the themes of aging, art, and spirituality. He wants to leave his old, tired body behind and go to this special place where he can live forever through art and wisdom. He says,
“And therefore I have sailed the seas and come
To the holy city of Byzantium.”
Yeats uses the real history of Byzantium and turns it into a dream world, where his soul can be eternal like the artworks. He wants to be free from pain and death and become part of something beautiful and everlasting.
The Second Coming: This is a very famous poem where Yeats mixes a Christian myth with the real problems of the world. He wrote this poem after World War I. It was a time when people were feeling lost, scared, and confused. In the Christian religion, the “Second Coming” means the return of Jesus Christ to save the world. But Yeats changes this idea to present a world which is full of chaos. Instead of Jesus, he shows the wake of a terrible beast.
"And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?"
This "rough beast" is not a savior. It is a sign of something terrible coming. Yeats thinks the world is entering a new, dark time. By altering the myth of the “Second Coming,” Yeats portrays the real-world troubles of his time.
Easter, 1916: This poem is about the Easter Rising, a real event in Irish history. In 1916, some Irish leaders fought against British rule for freedom. Many of them were killed. Yeats writes about these people with great respect and sadness. The title of the poem includes “Easter,” which is a Christian holiday. In Easter, people remember Jesus rising from the dead. Likewise, Yeats is remembering these great leaders, whose sacrifice helped Ireland to become independent. As Yeats writes:
“A terrible beauty is born.”
Yeats shows that these rebels have become part of something greater. Their death was not in vain—they became heroes in Ireland’s history. By using the idea of Easter and connecting it with the real uprising, Yeats mixes myth and history to give the event deep meaning.
The Lake Isle of Innisfree: In this poem, Yeats talks about a real island in Ireland called Innisfree. But this beautiful island seems like a mythic utopia where the speaker wants to find peace. The speaker wants to escape the busy city life and live among natural surroundings. He wants to build a small cabin there with clay and wattles. He wants to plant nine bean-rows and keep a hive for the honeybees. He says,
“I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,”
Even though Innisfree is a real place, Yeats turns it into a kind of mythical paradise—a place of calm, beauty, and peace.
A Prayer for My Daughter: Yeats wrote this poem for his newborn daughter. He was worried about the world, which was full of war and trouble. He prays that his daughter will grow up safe and good. He talks about Helen of Troy, a woman from Greek myth who was very beautiful. Her beauty started a great war. Yeats does not want her daughter to be like Helen. He wants his daughter to be kind and wise, not too beautiful.
In conclusion, Yeats’s ability to combine myth and history is one of the defining features of his poetry. It makes his poems deep, emotional, and meaningful. It makes his poetry so special and unforgettable.
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