1. Describe the structure and rhyme scheme of “The Wild Swans at Coole.”
Answer: “The Wild Swans at Coole” consists of five stanzas, each containing six lines, making a total of 30 lines. The rhyme scheme follows an ABCBDD pattern. The poem is written in iambic meter, with the first and third lines in tetrameter, the second, fourth, and sixth lines in trimeter, and the fifth line in pentameter. This structured format complements the lyrical nature of the poem.
2. When and where was “The Wild Swans at Coole” written, and what inspired it?
Answer: “The Wild Swans at Coole” was written between 1916 and early 1917 during a period when Yeats was staying with his friend Lady Gregory at her home at Coole Park, County Galway, Ireland. The serene and reflective environment of Coole Park inspired the contemplative tone of the poem, with the natural beauty and tranquility of the setting influencing its themes.
3. What role did Major Robert Gregory play in the publication of “The Wild Swans at Coole”? / Whom did Yeats dedicate his poem?
Answer: Major Robert Gregory, the son of Lady Gregory, to whom Yeats was a close friend, played an inspirational role in the collection. The entire collection of poems, including “The Wild Swans at Coole,” was dedicated to Major Robert Gregory, who was a British airman tragically killed during a friendly fire incident in World War I. This dedication adds a personal and historical layer to the work.
4. How did Yeats’s personal life influence the themes in “The Wild Swans at Coole”?
Answer: Yeats’s personal experiences deeply influenced the themes in “The Wild Swans at Coole.” His advancing age, romantic disappointments, particularly his rejections by Maud Gonne and her daughter Iseult Gonne, and the political unrest in Ireland all contributed to the melancholic and reflective tone of the poem. These personal elements underscore the themes of loss, longing, and the search for enduring beauty.
5. “Upon the brimming water among the stones / Are nine-and-fifty swans” – What does the number 59 signify in “The Wild Swans at Coole,” and how does it relate to the poet?
Answer: In “The Wild Swans at Coole,” the number 59 (fifty nine) swans is significant as it symbolizes pairs of swans with one left single, representing the poet himself. This symbolic use of numbers highlights themes of loneliness and separation, reflecting Yeats’s own feelings of solitude and his contemplation of his place in the world amid the changes and losses he experiences.
6. What is the setting described in the opening stanza of “The Wild Swans at Coole”?
Answer: The opening stanza of “The Wild Swans at Coole” sets a serene autumnal scene with trees in their autumn beauty and dry woodland paths. The water under the October twilight mirrors a still sky, creating a calm and reflective atmosphere. This setting introduces the natural beauty that surrounds the poet and the swans, establishing a mood of tranquillity and contemplation.
7. How does the poet describe the swans in the first stanza? / What does the phrase “nine-and-fifty swans” signify?
Answer: In the first stanza, the poet describes the swans as being “upon the brimming water among the stones” and notes their number as “nine-and-fifty swans.” This precise count of fifty-nine swans adds a touch of realism and attention to detail, while the image of the swans on the water evokes a sense of grace and beauty. The swans become a central symbol in the poem from this early point.
8. What is significant about the “nineteenth autumn” mentioned in the second stanza?
Answer: The “nineteenth autumn” signifies the passage of time, with the poet reflecting on the nineteen years that have passed since he first counted the swans. This mention of a specific timeframe highlights the poet’s sense of aging and change, as he contrasts his past experiences with the present. The recurring count of the swans over the years symbolizes the enduring beauty amid the inevitable passage of time.
9. How does Yeats convey the movement of the swans in the second stanza? / What do you mean by “clamorous wings”?
Answer: Yeats conveys the movement of the swans with dynamic imagery, describing how they “all suddenly mount and scatter wheeling in great broken rings upon their clamorous wings.” This vivid description captures the energetic and almost chaotic flight of the swans, emphasizing their vitality and the poet’s sense of awe and wonder at their sudden, powerful motion.
10. What emotional tone does the poet express in the third stanza, and why? / “And now my heart is sore” – Why does the poet say so?
Answer: In the third stanza, the poet expresses a tone of sorrow and melancholy, stating, “my heart is sore.” This emotional tone arises from his reflections on the changes that have occurred since he first observed the swans. The poet feels a sense of loss and nostalgia, as he contrasts his youthful past, when he “trod with a lighter tread,” with his present state of being burdened by time and experience.
11. What does the poet mean by “unwearied still, lover by lover” in the fourth stanza?
Answer: By “unwearied still, lover by lover,” the poet indicates that the swans remain full of energy and passion, pairing off and engaging in their activities with the same vigour as before. This line underscores the idea that, unlike the poet, the swans do not age or lose their vitality. They continue to experience love and companionship, highlighting a contrast between their seemingly eternal nature and the poet’s human frailty.
12. What is the significance of the line “Their hearts have not grown old” in the poem?
Answer: The line “Their hearts have not grown old” signifies the swans’ unchanging nature and their perpetual vigour. Unlike the poet, who feels the weight of time and change, the swans remain ageless and full of life. This distinction between the swans and the poet highlights the theme of the transient human condition versus the seeming immortality of nature’s creatures.
13. What themes are explored in the final stanza of the poem? / Why did the poet say that the swan are both “mysterious and beautiful”?
Answer: The final stanza explores themes of mystery, beauty, and the inevitability of change. The poet reflects on the swans drifting on the still water, pondering where they will build their nests and where they will delight future observers. The stanza ends with the poet contemplating a future where he might wake to find the swans gone, underscoring the transient nature of beauty and the passage of time.
14. What does the poet mean by “Delight men’s eyes when I awake some day to find they have flown away”?
Answer: This line suggests the poet’s fear of loss and the ephemeral nature of the beauty he observes. He imagines a future moment when he might awaken to discover that the swans, symbols of constancy and beauty, have left. This reflects his awareness that nothing remains unchanged forever, and even the most enduring symbols of beauty are subject to change and disappearance.
15. How does the poem “The Wild Swans at Coole” end, and what is its impact?
Answer: The poem ends with the poet contemplating the potential departure of the swans, which leaves a poignant and reflective impact. This ending encapsulates the themes of change, loss, and the transient nature of beauty. The poet’s musings on the swans’ eventual departure mirror his own experiences with aging and change, leaving the reader with a sense of the inevitability of transformation in life.
16. What is the main theme of “The Wild Swans at Coole,”?
Answer: Literary critic Daniel Tobin suggests that “The Wild Swans at Coole” is centred on Yeats’s search for enduring beauty in a transient world. The poem reflects his melancholy and dissatisfaction with his advancing age, romantic rejections, and the tumultuous political landscape in Ireland during the period. This sense of seeking something lasting amid change is a recurring theme in Yeats’s work.