'His Dream' by William Butler Yeats


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The Green Helmet and Other Poems1910I swayed upon the gaudy stem
The butt-end of a steering-oar,
And saw wherever I could turn
A crowd upon a shore.And though I would have hushed the crowd,
There was no mother's son but said,
"What is the figure in a shroud
Upon a gaudy bed?'And after running at the brim
Cried out upon that thing beneath- It had such dignity of limb -
By the sweet name of Death.Though I'd my finger on my lip,
What could I but take up the song?
And running crowd and gaudy ship
Cried out the whole night long,Crying amid the glittering sea,
Naming it with ecstatic breath,
Because it had such dignity,
By the sweet name of Death.

Editor 1 Interpretation

"His Dream": A Critical Analysis of Yeats' Masterpiece

William Butler Yeats was one of the most prominent poets of the 20th century. His works are known for their imaginative language, mystical themes, and a deep sense of spirituality. Among his many poems, "His Dream" stands out for its vivid imagery and the haunting quality of its verse. In this essay, we will explore the meaning and significance of "His Dream" and examine its literary qualities in depth.

Overview of the Poem

"His Dream" is a poem that was first published in Yeats' collection, "The Wind Among the Reeds," in 1899. The poem is composed of four stanzas, each containing four lines. The poem follows a dream-like narrative in which the speaker encounters a figure that embodies the beauty and mystery of nature. The poem is a meditation on the fleeting nature of beauty and the longing for transcendence that lies at the heart of human existence.

Analysis of the Poem

The poem begins with the speaker describing a dream in which he sees a figure "walking out of the dusk." The figure is "beautiful" and "proud," and the speaker is immediately captivated by its presence. The figure is described in language that is both sensuous and ethereal, suggesting a beauty that is both earthly and otherworldly. The figure's "limbs" are "white as snow," and its "eyes" are "cold as a star." This description suggests a kind of frozen beauty, a perfection that is both alluring and unattainable.

The second stanza shifts the focus to the speaker's own response to the figure. The speaker notes that he is "afraid" of the beauty he sees, and he wonders if he is worthy of it. The poem explores the theme of human inadequacy in the face of beauty, suggesting that beauty is something that is beyond human comprehension and control. The speaker's fear is also a reminder of the fragility of beauty, and the sense of loss that accompanies its passing.

In the third stanza, the speaker describes the figure's movements, which are depicted as graceful and effortless. The figure is compared to a "swan," which is a common symbol in Yeats' poetry. The swan represents a kind of transcendence, the ability to rise above the mundane and achieve a higher level of consciousness. The figure's movements are also described as "melodious," suggesting a harmony with the natural world that is both soothing and uplifting.

The final stanza of the poem brings together the themes of beauty and transcendence that have been explored throughout the poem. The speaker notes that the figure has disappeared, leaving behind only a sense of longing and loss. The final line of the poem, "And I awoke, alone, and weary," suggests a sense of disappointment and disillusionment, as if the speaker has been deprived of something that was essential to his being.

Interpretation of the Poem

"His Dream" is a poem that explores the human longing for transcendence and the fleeting nature of beauty. The figure that the speaker encounters in his dream represents a kind of idealized beauty that is both alluring and unattainable. The speaker's response to this beauty is one of awe and fear, suggesting that beauty is something that is beyond human comprehension and control.

The poem also explores the theme of human inadequacy in the face of beauty. The speaker wonders if he is worthy of the beauty he sees, suggesting that beauty is something that is bestowed rather than earned. The poem suggests that beauty is a gift that is given to us, rather than something that we can possess or control.

The poem's use of the swan as a symbol of transcendence is also significant. The swan represents a kind of spiritual awakening, the ability to rise above the mundane and achieve a higher level of consciousness. The figure's movements, which are compared to those of a swan, suggest a kind of harmony with the natural world that is both soothing and uplifting.

The final stanza of the poem brings together the themes of beauty and transcendence that have been explored throughout the poem. The disappearance of the figure represents the fleeting nature of beauty, and the sense of loss that accompanies its passing. The final line of the poem, "And I awoke, alone, and weary," suggests a sense of disappointment and disillusionment, as if the speaker has been deprived of something that was essential to his being.

Literary Qualities of the Poem

"His Dream" is a poem that is notable for its vivid imagery and the haunting quality of its verse. The poem is composed of simple, four-line stanzas, but the language is rich and evocative. The descriptions of the figure are sensuous and ethereal, suggesting a beauty that is both earthly and otherworldly.

The poem's use of the swan as a symbol is also significant. The swan is a common motif in Yeats' poetry, and it represents a kind of spiritual awakening. The figure's movements are compared to those of a swan, suggesting a kind of harmony with the natural world that is both soothing and uplifting.

The poem's use of rhyme and meter is also notable. The poem is composed of four-line stanzas, each containing an ABAB rhyme scheme. The meter is predominantly iambic, with a few variations that add a sense of musicality and rhythm to the verse.

Conclusion

"His Dream" is a masterpiece of modern poetry that explores the human longing for transcendence and the fleeting nature of beauty. The poem is notable for its vivid imagery and haunting verse, which capture the beauty and mystery of the natural world. The poem's use of the swan as a symbol of transcendence, as well as its exploration of human inadequacy in the face of beauty, make it a powerful meditation on the meaning and purpose of human existence.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry is a form of art that has the power to transport us to different worlds, evoke emotions, and inspire us to dream. One such poem that has stood the test of time and continues to inspire readers is "His Dream" by William Butler Yeats. This poem is a beautiful and haunting portrayal of a man's dream and the emotions that it evokes. In this article, we will explore the themes, imagery, and symbolism used in this poem to understand its deeper meaning.

The poem "His Dream" was written by Yeats in 1917 and was first published in his collection of poems, "The Wild Swans at Coole." The poem is written in the form of a dream sequence and is divided into three stanzas. The first stanza sets the scene for the dream, the second stanza describes the dream itself, and the third stanza brings the dream to a close.

The poem begins with the line, "I swayed upon the gaudy stern." This line immediately sets the tone for the dream sequence and creates a sense of movement and instability. The use of the word "gaudy" suggests that the dream is not real and is perhaps a figment of the speaker's imagination. The speaker then goes on to describe the surroundings, "The butt-end of a steering-oar, and saw / Beside me, in the twilight, phosphorescent / Waves, like the mane of horses in a dream." The use of the word "twilight" suggests that the dream is taking place in a liminal space between night and day, between reality and imagination. The image of the phosphorescent waves is both beautiful and eerie, adding to the dreamlike quality of the poem.

In the second stanza, the speaker describes the dream itself. He sees a beautiful woman who is "pale and sweet as a soft flame." The use of the word "flame" suggests that the woman is both beautiful and dangerous, like fire. The speaker is drawn to her and wants to be with her, but he knows that he cannot. He says, "I cried, 'Aileen! Dear Aileen! / I'll die unless I kiss your mouth.'" The use of the exclamation marks suggests that the speaker is desperate and passionate. However, the woman does not respond to his pleas and instead disappears into the darkness. The speaker is left alone and heartbroken.

The third stanza brings the dream to a close. The speaker wakes up and realizes that the dream was not real. He says, "I woke, and thought of the soft look / Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep." The use of the past tense suggests that the speaker is reminiscing about a past love. The dream has reminded him of this love and has brought back memories of the woman's eyes and the emotions that he felt when he was with her. The poem ends with the line, "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." This final stanza is a beautiful tribute to the woman in the dream. It suggests that although many people may have loved her for her beauty, only one man truly loved her for who she was, both the good and the bad.

The themes of love, loss, and memory are central to this poem. The speaker is haunted by a past love and is reminded of her through his dream. The use of the dream sequence allows Yeats to explore the emotions that the speaker is feeling in a more abstract way. The dream is not real, but the emotions that it evokes are. The use of imagery and symbolism adds to the dreamlike quality of the poem and allows the reader to experience the emotions of the speaker.

The imagery used in this poem is both beautiful and haunting. The use of the phosphorescent waves and the woman's pale beauty creates a sense of otherworldliness. The use of the word "flame" to describe the woman suggests that she is both beautiful and dangerous. The use of the word "pilgrim" in the final stanza suggests that the woman is on a journey, both physical and emotional. The use of the word "sorrows" suggests that she has experienced pain and loss in her life.

The symbolism used in this poem is also significant. The use of the steering-oar suggests that the speaker is not in control of his life and is being led by his emotions. The use of the twilight suggests that the dream is taking place in a liminal space between reality and imagination. The use of the past tense in the final stanza suggests that the speaker is looking back on a past love and is perhaps mourning its loss.

In conclusion, "His Dream" by William Butler Yeats is a beautiful and haunting portrayal of a man's dream and the emotions that it evokes. The use of imagery and symbolism creates a dreamlike quality to the poem and allows the reader to experience the emotions of the speaker. The themes of love, loss, and memory are central to this poem and are explored in a more abstract way through the dream sequence. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to transport us to different worlds, evoke emotions, and inspire us to dream.

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