Question: Yeats when you are old?

  • “When You Are Old” is a poem by the Irish poet William Butler Yeats. In the poem, which is published in Yeats’s second collection, The Rose (1893), the speaker asks someone to think ahead to old age, strongly suggesting that the addressee will eventually regret being unwilling to return the speaker’s love. Most critics agree that the poem is about Yeats’s relationship with Maud Gonne, an Irish actress and nationalist.

When you are old Yeats meaning?

” When You Are Old ” is a poem by the Irish poet William Butler Yeats. In the poem, which is published in Yeats’s second collection, The Rose (1893), the speaker asks someone to think ahead to old age, strongly suggesting that the addressee will eventually regret being unwilling to return the speaker’s love.

How many loved your moments of glad grace?

“ How many loved your moments of glad grace, And loved your beauty with love false or true; But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you, And loved the sorrows of your changing face.”

How is the journey from youth to old age described in the poem?

Explanation: The journey from youth to old age is well described in the poem ‘ when you are old ‘ in a way that touched the readers hearts. This poem says that when one start to grow old, all the troubles and struggles that he has faced will be seen in the form of his wrinkles.

Why did WB Yeats write when your old?

It’s written about two young people imagining what life will be like when they are old. It seems to be an attempt by Yeats to warn Gonne what life could be like if she rejects his pure and genuine love for her and instead turns to what he sees as the less genuine love of others.

You might be interested:  How Do You Make Pine Sol At Home?

What is the mood of the poem when you are old?

The poem is full of gentle images, such as “Full of sleep”, “nodding by the fire”, “slowly read”, “dream,” “soft look”, and “shadows deep”. This sets the tone and mood of the first stanza which is clearly one of calmness. The first stanza is very soothing to read.

What is Maud Gonne reminded of in the poem?

What is Maud Gonne reminded of in the poem? Maud Gonne is reminded of her youthful days when she was charming and energetic. She is also reminded of her only true love who would love her for her pilgrim soul. Others love was short-lived while as the poet’s love was persistent.

What does the speaker in when you are old suggest to his beloved to reflect upon?

What does the speaker in When You Are Old ‘ suggest to his beloved to reflect upon? Answer: The poet asks his beloved to reflect upon the bygone days and the present moment because he seems to be apprehensive that she will continue to ignore him, her beauty will vanish soon and she will be alone in her old age.

What does nodding by the fire mean?

“And nodding by the fire, take down this book”. In this line, “ Nodding by the fire ” is used as a metaphor. · Denotative meaning: an old person who lower and raise her head slightly and briefly by a fire place.

What does the glowing bars indicate?

The glowing bars – the iron bars in the fire-place are glowing hot because of the fire burning in it. And bending love fled- The poet imagines that in her old age his beloved would feel that love has left the world, and lives now in the stars and the mountains.

You might be interested:  How Do You Draw A Dotted Line In Powerpoint?

What does the phrase full of sleep mean in the poem when you are old?

Answer: The expression “ full of sleep ” proposes exhaustion, peace and her vicinity to death. As she will read this book, she will remember the “soft look” and “the deep shadows” that her eyes had once had. The words “ sleep ”, “slowly”, “soft”, “shadows” recommends a feeling of daze and stupor.

What is Pilgrim Soul?

A pilgrim is a traveller. A pilgrim soul might mean a part of you that wants to travel, or it may mean that your personality changes over time. There is one man who loves that part of you. It’s from a poem, so the meaning is not really clear, and its not at all a common expression.

When you are old is addressed to?

” When You Are Old ” is a short lyric of twelve lines in three stanzas. The poem is the product of the early period in Yeats’s poetic career. It is addressed to Maud Gonne with whom he was in love. It forms a part of the group of poems published in 1893 with the title The Rose.

Whose pilgrim soul did the speaker in when you are old love?

The speaker in ‘When You are Old ‘, loved the pilgrim soul of a young lady whom he is addressing in the poem and whose beauty and elegance mesmerized many suitors.

How does the last stanza shape the overall meaning of the poem when you are old?

After an initial read, many see this poem as one that is filled with love, but the last stanza is dark; the speaker is reminding his former mistress that their love did not last, and this is something she should regret for the rest of her life.

You might be interested:  How Long Does Wheat Last For?

When you are old is a poem of contrasts what purpose do they serve?

The many suitors who wanted to court her were attracted by her superficial beauty whereas this lover/speaker was attracted by her pilgrim soul, which symbolizes her inner self. These contrasts serve to build a strong argument to persuade the young lady not to ignore him now and regret later.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *