The Wild Swans at Coole (W.B. Yeats)

Linda Arellano

Srygley, Cheryl

AP Literature

The Wild Swans at Coole (W.B. Yeats)

THE TREES are in their autumn beauty,
The woodland paths are dry,
Under the October twilight the water
Mirrors a still sky;
Upon the brimming water among the stones	5
Are nine and fifty swans.
The nineteenth Autumn has come upon me
Since I first made my count;
I saw, before I had well finished,
All suddenly mount	10
And scatter wheeling in great broken rings
Upon their clamorous wings.
I have looked upon those brilliant creatures,
And now my heart is sore.
All’s changed since I, hearing at twilight,	15
The first time on this shore,
The bell-beat of their wings above my head,
Trod with a lighter tread.
Unwearied still, lover by lover,
They paddle in the cold,	20
Companionable streams or climb the air;
Their hearts have not grown old;
Passion or conquest, wander where they will,
Attend upon them still.
But now they drift on the still water	25
Mysterious, beautiful;
Among what rushes will they build,
By what lake’s edge or pool
Delight men’s eyes, when I awake some day
To find they have flown away?	30

1. First Impression: My initial reaction is that this poem was written based on the constant observation and fascination from the author to the wild swans. W. B. Yeats reflects his fascination for nature and the detailed watch on these graceful birds. I could feel as if I were part of the autumnal scene and I was watching the swans at the edge of the pond myself.

2. Paraphrase:

a. The trees show it is now autumn

b. The paths in the woods are dry

c. Under the October twilight the water

d. Mirrors a still sky

e. Across the water and stones

f. Are fifty-nine swans

g. The 19^th autumn has arrived

h. Since I first counted

i. I saw, before I had finished

j. A scatter wheeling in a great broken rings

k. With their clamorous wings

l. I have watched those brilliant creatures

m. And now my heart hurts

n. Everything has changed since I, heard at sundown

o. The first time on this shore

p. The bell beat of their wings above my head

q. Trod with a lighter tread

r. Enduring still, one by one

s. They paddle in the cold

t. Companiable streams or across the air

u. Their hearts have not grown old;

v. Passion or conquest, go wherever they go

w. Attend upon them still

x. But now they drift on still water

y. Mysterious, beautiful;

z. Among what rushes will they build,

aa. By what lake’s edge or pool

bb. Delight men’s eyes, when I awake some day

cc. To find they have flown away?

3. Syntax and Word Choice: The poem is very easily to understand, the words are clear and precise and reflect what the author is trying to convey. The poem is structured by 5 stanzas of 6 lines each; a sestet. Since the narrator is expressing his feelings, the reader can assume that this is a lyrical poem written in ballad format. The rhyme scheme for this poem is abcbdd.

4. Imagery: The central image is that of the swans at the lake. Within the opening stanza there are several images. The poem opens with autumnal scenery, the trees are changing colors and it is mid October. There is also the image of the October sunset, a beautiful reflection across the water. The imagery used in this poem is very naturalistic and peaceful. Swans are graceful, elegant creatures and therefore the image of a white swan is nearly imprinted in the reader’s mind.

5. Figurative Language: The use of figurative language in this poem is rather minimal for the concept is very elemental. The author poses a few rhetorical questions mid way, but other than that there is no usage of elements such as metaphors and simile. Nevertheless, the swans nearly personify freedom and passion. They endure the streams and air and can always fly away as they please.

6. Tone: The tone of this poem is very admirable yet depressed. He is observing everything around him as if he was a spectator who is watching everything come to an end. He dreads the day he will awake and find that the swans have flown away. Nevertheless it is clear that he admires the beauty of nature.

7. Theme: The poem has an overall theme of entrapment and immortality. Entrapment for the author observes that the seasons pass and he only grows older while the swans “the nineteenth autumn has come upon me…” “and now my heart is sore/ all’s changed since I, hearing at twilight/ The first time on this shore” To him, the swans seems majestic and immortal. Nineteen years have passed, yet the swans remain unchanged in their beauty and their mystery; “But now they drift on the still water/ Mysterious, beautiful;” The reader gets the notion that the swans are an annual reminder to the speaker of the poem that he is ageing.

8. Conclusion: The poem is very peaceful. It is a reflection on nature and the passing times. The swans reflect the changing times, the arrival of a new season and the end of another. They are majestic, mysterious and beautiful. They are constant like the water that flows through a stream and perseverant through whatever conquest they might face. The author on the other hand simply wishes he had some of those qualities for he is pessimistic of his stagnant life.