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A/L English Literature Made Easy - Modern Poets

W. B. Yeats - Irish Poet - (born 1865 died 1939)

W. B. Yeats, is a great Irish poet who was in favour of 19th century "Celtic Revival". His poems were lyrical and romantic. Yeats was interested in the political movement led by Parnell to win independence for Ireland though he was interested in MandGonne the famous beauty, of his time, his love was not returned. However, she gave him inspiration to write Love Poetry, Byzantium and Prayer for my daughter are two of his finest poems.

A prayer for my daughter

A prayer for my daughter is one of Yeats, finest poems, quite long but extremely appealing. The poem carries the poet's hopes and wishes for his daughter.

My child is sleeping soundly in her cradle, in spite of the howling storm. She is being protected by Gregory's wood and the surrounding hills.

The storm may symbolize the bad times ahead, bad times for his country.

May my daughter be beautiful but let her not be extremely beautiful.

For strangers could be attracted or the beauty that would make her posses the extra ordinary nature of being unkind.

Regardless of sincerity; there by getting succumbed to unkind deeds, resulting in losing sincere friends.

Helen who possessed divine beauty, was carried away by Prince Paris to Troy; there by initiating the war of Trojan. Venus, the most beautiful woman, the symbol of beauty; not having her father to get advice from, selected mars a bandy legged man for her husband. These are standing examples, who missed their fortunate and happy times by being short sighted or may eve be due to craziness.

My only prayer, is that my daughter becomes mannerly and be conscious of the fact that Hearts are not as a gift but hearts are earned by those that are not entirely beautiful. Repentance comes too late, for those who go after beauty and strive to give up their earnest attempts. There are those who are not so beautiful and succeed in retaining their love reserving kindness.

I pray my daughter be like a tree flourished sans obstacles and her thoughts "may like the linnet be" that lets off sweet music and may the birds not chase or quarrel with others even for fun.

"Nor but in merriment begin a chase,

Nor but in merriment a quarrel,

O may she live like some green laurel

Rooted in one dear perpetual place".

The colour green is suggestive of abundance and prosperity. Let there be no hatred caused by evil thoughts. Therefore, let my daughter be free from such vices.

The poet wishes his daughter be like "a flourishing unobtrusive tree and her thoughts become like a linnet" singing freely.

Getting succumbed to hatred results in misfortune. If a person's mind is free from hatred happiness dawns upon that person and cannot be destroyed; like the linnet from the leaf The poet feels that an intellectual hatred is the worst. The poet wants his daughter to be aware of this truth. Beautiful women born to rich families have ended up in nothing.

"Because of her opinionated mind

Barter that horn and every good"

"by quiet natures understood

for an old bellows full of angry wind?"

When hatred is blown away soul recovers radical innocence releasing that delight arise within self appeasing, self affrighting

The poet hopes that his daughter be taken by her bride groom to a house where there's calmness peace and harmony, free from hatred and anger and with good fortune in abundance. The spreading Laurel Tree is the symbol of victory peace and success.

W. B. Yeats - the Irish poet is very much concerned about his mother land and he fears the disastrous future that might bring hardship and turmoil to his country.

The poet's use of metaphorical language excels in the structure of verbal and auditory images. "some green laurel" "Rooted in one dear perpetual place" "And every windy quarter howl" "spreading laurel tree" "can never tear the linnet from the leaf"

Yeats' language style and his wording enabled the reader to grasp what the poet intends to convey to his reader, taking the reader to the past, present and future revealing his philosophical views, cultural patterns that suit even modern society. Driving away evil and hatred would definitely result in peace and harmony.

"an intellectual hatred is the worst" "Barter that horn and every good" "By quiet nature's understood".

The poet carries the reader to a calm and peaceful surrounding. His reference to events and characters stand exclusively and poignantly.

"chose a bandy legged suitor for a man"

"Helen of Troy" "mand Goune"

"The tone of this poem carries "seriousness, tenderness and lightness" as well as "anger, hope and despair". His wishes for his daughter to be like a "linnet" shows his extreme desire for peace and kindness. His sincere wish for his daughter is that she gets a bridegroom respecting order, tradition, free from hatred and possessed with riches and happiness. The whole poem evokes in the reader the desire to possess good qualities. The words flow in a casual manner highlighting the outstanding features of Yeat's poetry.

Mrs. C. Ekanayake, Retd. Specialist Teacher Eng.Lit., St. Anne's College, Kurunegala.

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