The Wild Swans at Coole Before you read

The Wild Swans at Coole Before you read: Swans are a common subject in poetry, as well as mythology and fairy tales. With the person beside you think of as many examples of swans in stories or popular culture. Discuss what you think swans might represent or stand for.

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 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 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, 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 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, 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?

The Wild Swans at Coole � � This poem is set in Coole Park, Co. Galway. Yeats is wandering through the grounds of the park when he sees a flock of swans floating on a lake. The sight of the swans reminds Yeats of his first visit to the park 19 years earlier. He thinks about how much his life has changed since.

The Wild Swans at Coole Stanza 1 The poem begins by setting an autumn scene: “The trees are in their autumn beauty”. Yeats suggests this place is beautiful, calm & peaceful.

The Wild Swans at Coole Stanza 2 � � � It is 19 years since Yeats first visited the park & saw the swans upon the lake. On the first visit he attempted to count the number of the swans, however the swans flew into the air before he could finish counting them. The strength (“clamourous”) & power of the swans is suggested by the poet’s description of them flying away.

The Wild Swans at Coole Stanza 3 � The poet admires the swans, calling them “brilliant creatures”. � But the sight of their beauty makes him feel sad because his life has changed so much since he first saw the swans 19 years ago, when he was a much younger man. � Back then he “trod with a lighter tread” – his body was youthful.

The Wild Swans at Coole Stanza 4 The swans ‘hearts’ have not grown old. Their lives are still full of passion & adventure(“passion & conquest”). The swans are not alone, they travel in pairs: “lover by lover”. The swans are free to fly anywhere they please: “wander where they will”.

Wild Swans at Coole Stanza 5 Yeats knows he will wake up one day & they will be gone. He wonders where the swans will build their nests once they leave Coole: “Among what rushes will they build”. Wherever they go they will bring “delight to men’s eyes”.

THEMES � � Growing Older Yeats is preoccupied with getting older. He feels as a middle aged man, that passion & adventure are no longer a big part of his life. Beauty of Nature The poet describes the peacefulness of Coole Park. He praises the beauty of the swans.

POETIC TECHNIQUES Repetition: The repetition of ‘s’ in stanza one gives a sense of peace and tranquillity. The repetition of ‘I’ in stanza two shows the highly personal nature of the poem.

POETIC TECHNIQUES Repetition: The repetition of ‘s’ in stanza one gives a sense of peace and tranquillity. The repetition of ‘I’ in stanza two shows the highly personal nature of the poem.

POETIC TECHNIQUES Imagery: The autumn imagery is important because it reveals the beautiful natural scene he loves so much but also because autumn represents the final cycle of life. It is this ageing process that frightens the poet.

POETIC TECHNIQUES Language: Yeats uses language to try to highlight the vivacity and energy of the swans: ‘clamorous’, ‘paddle’, ‘beat’ ‘scatter’ What other language highlights something to you about theme? Or helps create a particular image?