Leda and the Swan – W.B Yeats.

This poem was written in 1923 and comes from both ‘The Dial 1924’ and ‘The Tower 1928’ collections. The poem is a complete contrast from ‘The Wild Swans at Coole’ where the swans were peaceful, due to here the swan is representing darkness and aggression. This poem discusses the main themes of sex, the supernatural, transformation and fate and freewill. It takes the form of a ‘Petrarchan Sonnet’ – Like all sonnets, the ‘Petrarchan Sonnet’ has fourteen lines (line eleven has somewhat been broken off into two lines). However, unlike all sonnets, it also has a major thematic shift after the eighth line. Although, at this point, the poem shifts its perspective in some way.

In terms of form, the very first eight lines of ‘Leda and the Swan‘ describe the act of rape from Leda’s perspective. The ninth line, appropriately enough, ends the description of sex. There is nowhere else for the poem to go at this point, therefore Yeats has to develop a new theme. The last six lines of the poem, then, narrate the consequences of the act, both for humanity (the Trojan War) and for Leda personally (the possibility of “putting on” Zeus’s knowledge).

However, the title ‘Leda and the Swan’ is from Greek mythology. Leda, was a girl from Ancient Greece who was raped by Zeus (head of Greek gods) disguised as a graceful swan. As a result of this tragic encounter Leda gave birth to Helen of Troy who is known as the most beautiful woman who’s ‘face that launched a thousand ships’.  This title associates with the history of art due to many sculptures, and paintings being associated with the ‘Leda and the Swan’ myth. These artists tried to come up with a new way to create the story visually, which is what Yeats has also tried to do as it has not been so commonly described in words as it has been by images.

As well as in ‘The Wild Swans at Coole’ a main symbol is that of the swan, but with an entirely different twist. As the poem progresses, we catch only glimpses of the bird’s swan-like features as he is initially Zeus in disguise. However the swan simply moves too fast and has too much of a single-minded focus for us to pin him down. Although despite the swan being a God, Yeats chooses to only describe his animal nature.

Firstly, the poem has a sudden start just as ‘The Cold Heaven’ and ‘An Irish Airman’ have. “A sudden blow”, the use of this sudden beginning is to reflect the quick attack which Leda was not expecting. The use of “blow” explains Leda’s disorientation throughout the poem. He describes the swans wings as “great wings” which reminds the reader of Zeus’ superhuman power. However, Leda is described as the “staggering girl” which highlights the fact she is knocked off balance by the swan, and this also represents her lack of ability to prevent the rape.

Yeats uses a rhetorical question to describe an important image “How can these terrified vague fingers push // The feathered glory from her loosening thighs?” The use of “feathered glory” highlights double entendre: one meaning being the swans gentiles; second representing Leda’s virginity. By the use of  “glory” it marks one of the first references to the swan’s godlike nature. It also represents how powerful the swan is and therefore highlights Leda’s lack of free will. As she is up against a force that is far greater than her own she is too “terrified” and confused to try to stop what is happening and it is made clear that if Leda was to resist it would be futile.

The second rhetorical question highlights that Zeus’ transformation is complete so much that Leda does not recognise him: “And how can body, laid in that white rush, // But feel the strange heart beating where it lies?” Yeats uses double entendre yet again to describe “white rush” the first meaning could in fact be the visual rush of the feathers seen by Leda, however it could also describe the swans sperm after ejaculation which weakens Leda’s psychological defenses. Also, she opposes the rape, but Yeats seems to imply that she notices the heartbeat of the swan on top of her.

Next, Yeats writes: “A shudder in the loins engenders there”. To “engender” means to create life or bring to life, therefore highlighting that the swan has impregnated her (remember she gives birth to Helen of Troy). Whereas the “shudder in the loins” defines the completion of the sexual act. The next line in this stanza “The broken wall, the burning roof and tower // And Agamemnon dead.” This line involves ambiguity as this line is a direct reference to both an aftermath of war and sex. Yeats therefore traces a direct historical line from that moment to the destruction of the great ancient city of Troy and also presents the idea that Leda’s pregnancy will fit into the category of world history.

However, next Yeats presents a break in the line. This could represent the ejaculation which has taken place. Also the break between lines ten and eleven is very dramatic indeed. The poem essentially says that Leda is responsible for the burning of a city and also the death of a great king.

Penultimately, Yeats concludes with another important rhetorical question: “Did she put on his knowledge with his power // Before the indifferent break could let her drop?” This is a Yeatsian technique as this is used in other poems such as ‘Among School Children’, ‘The Wild Swans at Coole’, ‘The Cold Heaven’, and ‘The Second Coming’. This question questions whether or not Leda has consumed his power. However, later Zeus adopts the animal nature of the swan and acts “indifferent” towards Leda after he has got what he wanted originally. He lacks human emotions to express to her and consequently does not care what happens to her next. This question leaves the reader thinking whether or not Leda understood that it was Zeus, or did it happen too fast? We also think because animals are meant to be inferior to humans, did she gather that this swans power was too strong for it to be an animal?

To conclude, Yeats writes this poem with a lack of love which is ironic due to his current love life with Maud Gonne. He writes that  Leda has to lie and take the rape, like Ireland has to take British Rule. However, Yeats started writing the poem with respect to politics, perhaps representing the fall and corruption of Ireland in parallel with Troy. However, the ‘bird and lady took such possession of the scene that all politics went out of it’. Finally, when it comes to body parts Yeats leaves out pro-nouns like “his” or “her” to highlight that when Leda and the swan have sex they do become one although she may not want it.

The Wild Swans at Coole – W.B Yeats.

Written in 1915-1918 when W.B Yeats was on average 52 years old. The poem highlights that he is not in fact as care-free as he used to be. This poem discusses the main themes of pain, death, sadness, and change which are all related to ageing. It is written in the form of an elegy which highlights both the death of his love life and also the fact that Yeats himself is coming closer to his death.

Firstly, the title ‘The Wild Swans at Coole’ is very literal, as the ‘swans’ were who Yeats used to observe in Coole Park in a magnificent retreat about 130 miles away from Dublin. However, describing the swans as ‘Wild’ creates a paradox between the voice and the actual swans due to the swans not being tamed or civilised. Moreover, by the use of ‘swans’, Yeats creates this huge message of the swans having an inability to age, and also feeling carefree about life – which is a huge contrast from the feelings of the voice; this is done to highlight the many themes used throughout this poem. In ‘Coole’ park the speaker tries to escape the reality of city-life, however there is no escape from times harsh reality which is why he reflects on how awful it is to get older.

Throughout Yeats uses very simple language just as he does with ‘The Fisherman’, ‘September 1913’ and ‘An Irish Airman’. This helps make the message direct and clear to the reader that his love life is at an end and that he is coming to the ‘autumn’ of his own life too. He uses cold pastoral language which has a feeling of tranquility just like in ‘An Irish Airman’ and ‘The Fisherman’. The line length has a mixture of both short and long lines to add to the sense of tranquility and its slow pace. Also, the poem has alternate rhyme which stresses the fact that the speaker is experiencing loss of direction and also questioning who he is, and how he got there.

However, throughout Yeats’ poetry he uses a lot of symbols. The main symbol in this poem is that of the ‘swan’. A ‘swan’ is a symbol of beauty, and also energy and permanence. In the poem they do not age like the speaker does, nor do they have any negative feelings towards change. He clarifies that there are “nine-and-fifty Swans” which highlights that there is one swan left out – just like himself with nobody to love. Also, he is either too familiar with the Swans or that he is that intrigued by their differences and  has counted them, but unfortunately had the result of an odd number.

Yeats often repeats the word “still” throughout this poem. When he states “Mirrors a still sky;” he is making a direct reference to ‘The Cold Heaven’ and is also highlighting the permanence of “still” water/sky. The use of the last still in the last stanza “But now they drift on the still water” highlights the unrealistic behaviour of the swans, as they have just been “scatter[ing]” and “paddle[ing]” upon the water. This gives the reader the message that these creatures are not exactly observed creatures, but rather acting in a way of which suits the speaker and his mood whether it is energetic when he admires them or “still” when he discusses them moving on and leaving him for good.

At the start of the poem Yeats writes “autumn beauty” which is an oxymoron, as not many people state that autumn is beautiful. Autumn is also the season of change, and also represents death which could link to both Yeats’ love life and himself. He then moves on to state “Under the October twilight the water // Mirrors a still sky;”. The direct emphasis on “October” and “twilight” suggest both change and an ending. The speaker refers to the end of day and end of year as he is also entering the end of his life. Finally “October”, “autumn” and “twilight” all describe literal things describing darkness, it is not until later he describes a more emotional darkness.

In the second stanza the swans “All suddenly mount”. This foreshadows his message/vision at the end of the poem; the fact that he is doomed by the swans leaving him and moving on to impress other people makes his heart “sore”. By his use of “sore” it adds to the fact that pain/heartache comes along with old age. Although, stated previously he classes these swans as “brilliant creatures” he still feels sad due to the idea that although these swans are still brilliant, life is not.

Importantly, he describes the swans as “Unwearied still” which means that despite everything that has happened in the world whether it be good or bad, they still remain unaffected as they continue to “paddle in the cold” just as if nothing around them seems strange and consequently they are continuing with life – just like everyone around the speaker. He then states that “Their hearts have not grown old”, which is indeed very sad as this states that the speakers heart has grown old and therefore has changed.

By Yeats describing nature as “Mysterious, beautiful” it highlights that he is describing it as something we still do not understand. We understand that it is beautiful, but nothing more. By using the adjective  “Mysterious” he highlights a sense of the unknown which could be a reference to his future without love, or even his afterlife.

Penultimately, Yeats concludes with another rhetorical question “By what lake’s edge or pool // Delight men’s eyes when I awake some day // To find they have flown away?” this is a common Yeatsian technique. He uses this in other poems such as ‘Among School Children’, ‘Leda and the Swan’, ‘The Cold Heaven’, and ‘The Second Coming’. This final question is indeed very melancholic due to the swans as well as nature outlasting him in the end. The question also identifies the idea of it being easier to picture the swans leaving him rather than to think of him leaving the world. It could also be metaphorically describing his love that has flown away. However, “awake” suggests that it is a new awareness of things. Also, the swans’ disappearance is like death.

Lastly, “The Wild Swans at Coole” is an evocative poem in which Yeats uses a familiar setting and the memory of an experience, now being re-lived, to express his very own awareness of the ageing process. He uses the season of “autumn” and the month “October” to symbolise this difficult process. Also, the use of the beauty and power of the swans create a huge contrast with what Yeats is experiencing. They have not changed at all and therefore have not lost their desire for love and life. However, unfortunately, Yeats is quite aware that youth doesn’t remain forever, and his heart becomes “sore” with him knowing that growing older is necessary and change has to happen.