Discuss ways in which violence is presented in Leda and the Swan
Discuss ways in which violence is presented in Leda and the Swan. Consider how this poem relates to others. ‘Leda and the Swan’ presents the stark, brutal and raw violence that emanates from within feelings of superiority, the motivations for violence as well as the ironic passion that violence could bring. Yeats opens the poem on an abrupt and somewhat shocking note, describing ‘a sudden blow’ to Leda, with the swan and ‘its great wings beating still’, the raw nature of physical violence as a result of male dominance over females. Leda is described as ‘staggering’ in response, and clearly the emotional effects of this violence results to her being reduced into having ‘terrified vague fingers’. The shortness of the lines in the poem also contribute to the brutal nature of the act of rape; Zeus’ actions in the poem are short, abrupt, uncaring and often rushed, and Leda is often seen being treated by him with little respect or regard, instead ‘[holding] her helpless’. The violence is also linked to animalistic nature, with Zeus in his form of a swan being described with ‘dark webs’ and this results to Leda being completely overwhelmed by the violence towards her, ‘her nape caught in his bill’. The stark contrast between human and animal serves to increase the effect of the violence towards Leda as something brutal, raw and physically damaging;
How does Yeats present freedom and escapism in "The Stolen Child"?
How does Yeats present Freedom and Escapism in “the Stolen Child”? “The Stolen Child” is a poem written based on the traditional Irish folklore of faeries known as changelings who would steal children away in their sleep so that the faeries can take their place. Yeats wrote this poem in 1886 where the hysteria was at its peak in Ireland. This poem contains many elements of freedom and escapism throughout however, there is an element of confinement and death underpinning the whole poem as there is something very sinister about the fact that kids are being taken away. These themes are seen in other of Yeats’s poems where he explores the idea of freedom but still sustains the idea of entrapment and despair. Firstly, Yeats portrays the idea escapism through the ever present meaning of the children being enticed by the faeries. The faeries are seen to be convincing the child to leave the real world to join the fantasy world. This conveys the idea of the child wanting to escape the pain and suffering in the real world to join the more natural and perfect faery world. This is emphasised by the repetition of the line “Come away, O human child” portraying the idea of the child escaping reality to a better life. Additionally, the repetition throughout the whole poem is followed by the alteration in the last stanza to “Away with us he’s going” shows that escaping
Discuss how Yeats uses the theme of the supernatural in "The Cat and the Moon".
Discuss how Yeats explores the concept of the supernatural and human nature in The Cat and The Moon “The Cat and The Moon” is a poem centred on the forces at work in life and the mystical views which exist way beyond the simple rational views. The poem is very much similar as it works on one level, which is the celebration of the cat and the moon but, it also is semi- magical as it describes an unconscious relationship between the cat and the moon. The simplicity and the complexity of the poem can only be explained as a supernatural relationship and are very much reflective of humans; and how they perceive the world around themselves. The cat, Minnaloushe, perhaps is Yeats’s expression for his love Maud Gonne and that he still has feelings for her. Yeats expresses his undying love for Maud Gonne in “The Cat and The Moon” by using her cat in the poem. This can be seen by the use of the definitive article “The” in the title of the poem showing that the cat is someone specific in Yeats’s mind. Also, the theme of romance is present through the pure, untainted image of the moon in the sky; “pure cold light in the sky” which can perhaps be seen a as a metaphor for Yeats’s pure and ever-present love for her. Additionally, as the moon is always present in the sky, yet not seen for half the day can possibly show that Maud Gonne doesn’t recognise Yeats’s
