Understanding Symbolism in W.B. Yeats' Poetry
W.B. Yeats is considered a key figure in symbolic poetry, drawing inspiration from the French symbolist movement and delving into mysticism and the occult. His work is rich in symbolism drawn from various sources like magic, alchemy, and mythology, reflecting themes of spirituality, the unknown, and the eternal. Yeats' use of symbols such as the Byzantium and the Swan illustrates deep philosophical concepts and the cyclical nature of existence, making his poetry a profound exploration of the human experience through mystical lens.
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symbolism in the poetry of w. b.yeats
Presented by Susmitha Ann Varghese Dept. of English Mar Thoma College Tiruvalla
W.B.YEATS --- SYMBOLISM . *regarded as one of the most important representative symbolists of the twentieth century *mainly influenced by the French symbolist movement of the 19th century *learned that Anima Mundi ,a reservoir of all that has touched mankind may be evoked by symbols
W.B.YEATS --- SYMBOLISM *became acquainted with the doctrine of correspondences, doctrine of signatures, and the doctrine of magical in connotations and symbols which have power over spiritual and material reality *learned that all material things correspond to concepts in the world of spirit *through the use of material objects as symbols one may summon disembodied powers *Jungian philosophy great symbols well up the depth of the collective unconscious , the racial memory
W.B.YEATS --- SYMBOLISM * A symbol is indeed the possible expression of some visible presence Yeats *Dedicating the symbolist movement in literature to Yeats Arthur Symonds called his Irish friend, the chief representative of that movement in our country . *based his symbolism on the poetry of Blake, Shelley, Rossetti and above all, on the occult
W.B.YEATS --- SYMBOLISM *had a deep fascination with mysticism and the occult *poetry infused with the other worldly, the spiritual and the unknown *mysticism features prominently in the discussion of the reincarnation of the soul *symbols drawn from obscure sources magic , occultism, alchemy, astrology, myth and folklore
W.B.YEATS --- SYMBOLISM *Byzantium--symbol of artifice of eternity *his philosophical model of the conical gyre explains the journey of the soul, the passage of time and the guiding hand of fate *Swan--an important bird symbol symbolizes unaging spirit of youth or immortality *bird cry -- denotes the urge of desire, physical and spiritual
W.B.YEATS --- SYMBOLISM *sun and moon denote fundamental contraries *sword--symbol of life, war, love and sex also symbolize the soul or the vital principle unaffected by times *tattered covering over the sword emblematic of old and decayed body which could still guard the soul
W.B.YEATS --- SYMBOLISM *Tower poets vision of the dark and dismal future of humanity *The great beast horrific ,violent animal to embody difficult , abstract subjects *Symbolism a rebellion against the world of matter, the spatio-temporal world in which we live
