Leda and the Swan – W. B.

Yeats

A sudden blow: the great wings beating still

Above the staggering girl, her thighs caressed
By the dark webs, her nape caught in his bill,
He holds her helpless breast upon his breast.
How can those terrified vague fingers push
The feathered glory from her loosening thighs?
And how can body, laid in that white rush,
But feel the strange heart beating where it lies?
A shudder in the loins engenders there
The broken wall, the burning roof and tower
And Agamemnon dead.
Being so caught up,
So mastered by the brute blood of the air,
Did she put on his knowledge with his power
Before the indifferent beak could let her drop?

Detailed Explanation of "Leda and the Swan"

Overview

W. B. Yeats’ poem Leda and the Swan is a retelling of the Greek

myth in which Zeus, in the form of a swan, forcefully impregnates
Leda, a mortal woman. The poem is a powerful blend of violence,
mythology, and history, illustrating how a single act of divine
intervention leads to monumental consequences for human
civilization. The poem’s themes revolve around power, fate, and
historical causality.

Line-by-Line Explanation

First Quatrain (Lines 1-4): The Assault

 A sudden blow: the great wings beating still
Above the staggering girl, her thighs caressed
By the dark webs, her nape caught in his bill,
He holds her helpless breast upon his breast.

The poem opens with abrupt action: "A sudden blow,"

capturing the forceful nature of Zeus' assault on Leda.
"The great wings beating still" suggests that Zeus, in the
form of a swan, hovers over her, emphasizing his
overwhelming presence.
The phrase "staggering girl" highlights Leda's vulnerability
and shock.
The imagery of "her thighs caressed / By the dark webs"
suggests an eerie, forceful intimacy, symbolizing both
seduction and violation.
"Her nape caught in his bill" evokes the image of a bird of
prey gripping its victim, reinforcing the violent dominance
of Zeus.
"He holds her helpless breast upon his breast" solidifies the
power dynamic—Leda is entirely overpowered, unable to
resist.

Second Quatrain (Lines 5-8): The Struggle and Submission

How can those terrified vague fingers push

The feathered glory from her loosening thighs?
And how can body, laid in that white rush,
But feel the strange heart beating where it lies?

The rhetorical questions emphasize Leda's helplessness. She

cannot possibly resist Zeus.
"Terrified vague fingers" suggests her weak, futile attempt to
push him away, reinforcing her powerlessness.
"The feathered glory" is an ironic phrase—though Zeus is
divine, his glory manifests in this brutal act.
"Loosening thighs" implies the moment of submission,
whether forced or inevitable.
 "Laid in that white rush" could symbolize both the swan’s
body and the inevitable moment of conception.
"The strange heart beating" creates an eerie intimacy—Leda
physically feels the heartbeat of a god as she is taken.

Third Quatrain (Lines 9-11): The Consequences

A shudder in the loins engenders there

The broken wall, the burning roof and tower
And Agamemnon dead.

"A shudder in the loins" refers to the act of conception. The

rape results in the birth of Helen of Troy, who later causes
the Trojan War.
"The broken wall" symbolizes the fall of Troy, which results
from Helen’s abduction.
"The burning roof and tower" represent the destruction of
the great city.
"And Agamemnon dead" links the event to a broader
historical cycle—Agamemnon, the Greek king who led the
war against Troy, is later murdered upon his return home.
This section suggests that Leda’s violation is not just a
personal tragedy but a catalyst for world-altering events.

Final Quatrain (Lines 12-14): The Question of Knowledge and Power

Being so caught up,

So mastered by the brute blood of the air,
Did she put on his knowledge with his power
Before the indifferent beak could let her drop?

"Being so caught up" refers to Leda’s complete domination

by Zeus.
"Brute blood of the air" implies the raw, animalistic power
of the god.
The critical question arises: Did Leda absorb any divine
knowledge or power from this union?
"Before the indifferent beak could let her drop" underscores
Zeus’ lack of concern—he uses Leda and then discards her.
 The poem leaves the question open: Did Leda, in that
moment, gain some divine insight, or was she merely a
victim?

Themes and Analysis

1. Power and Violence

The poem captures an act of divine dominance and mortal

helplessness.
Zeus’ power is both majestic and terrifying, demonstrating
the brutal force of destiny.

2. The Cycle of History and Fate

The poem suggests that Leda's assault directly leads to the

Trojan War, and by extension, centuries of historical
consequences.
Yeats’ view of history as cyclical is evident—one moment of
violence triggers an entire chain of wars and destruction.

3. The Role of Women in Myth and History

Leda is a passive figure, used as a vessel for a divine plan.

The poem critiques how women in mythology (and history)
often become symbols of suffering, with little agency over
their fates.

4. Divine Indifference

Zeus is depicted as utterly detached from the consequences

of his actions.
The "indifferent beak" suggests a god who neither regrets
nor reflects on his deeds.

Conclusion
Leda and the Swan is a powerful, unsettling poem that blends
mythology with historical consequences. Through vivid imagery
and rhetorical questioning, Yeats portrays an act of divine violence
that reshapes the world. The poem asks whether Leda, in her
forced intimacy with Zeus, gained any understanding of the future
destruction she was unwittingly part of. Ultimately, it portrays the
gods as indifferent forces, using humans to enact their will while
leaving them to deal with the fallout.

The Second Coming – W. B. Yeats

Turning and turning in the widening gyre

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

Detailed Explanation of "The Second Coming"

Overview

The Second Coming is one of W. B. Yeats’ most famous poems,

written in 1919, shortly after World War I. It reflects a world in
chaos and predicts the arrival of a new, terrifying era. The poem is
deeply influenced by Yeats' idea of historical cycles, where
civilizations rise and fall in a repeating pattern. The poem
describes a world falling into disorder, with a monstrous figure
emerging as a symbol of the dark future ahead.

Line-by-Line Explanation

First Stanza: The Collapse of Order

Turning and turning in the widening gyre

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

The "widening gyre" refers to Yeats’ belief that history

moves in 2,000-year cycles, each expanding outward like a
spiral.
The falcon and falconer symbolize the loss of control—
human civilization is breaking away from its guiding
principles.

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

Society is collapsing. The "centre" (which represents

stability, tradition, or reason) is no longer holding things
together.
"Mere anarchy" suggests lawlessness and destruction.

The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere

The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

"Blood-dimmed tide" suggests widespread violence, possibly

referring to World War I or the Russian Revolution.
The destruction is so intense that innocence itself is erased.

The best lack all conviction, while the worst

Are full of passionate intensity.
 In times of crisis, good people lose faith, while corrupt,
power-hungry people take control.
This reflects Yeats' fear that extremists would dominate the
new era.

Second Stanza: The Vision of the Monster

Surely some revelation is at hand;

Surely the Second Coming is at hand.

The poet expects a great transformation, referencing the

"Second Coming" of Christ.
However, the vision that follows is not one of salvation but
of horror.

The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out

When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the
desert

Spiritus Mundi ("World Spirit") is Yeats' idea that all human

experiences are stored in a collective consciousness.
From this mysterious source, an apocalyptic vision appears.

A shape with lion body and the head of a man,

A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,

The creature resembles the Sphinx of Egyptian mythology,

but it is not a benevolent guardian.
Its "blank and pitiless" gaze suggests an emotionless,
remorseless force of destruction.

Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it

Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.

The slow movement of the beast suggests inevitability—it is

coming whether humanity is ready or not.
The desert birds, which typically symbolize death or decay,
circle it like vultures over a battlefield.
Final Lines: The Nightmare Birth

The darkness drops again; but now I know

That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,

"Darkness drops" suggests that the vision ends, but its

meaning remains.
"Twenty centuries" refers to the 2,000 years since Christ’s
birth.
The "rocking cradle" suggests that something is awakening
after a long sleep—a new force is being born.

And what rough beast, its hour come round at

last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

Instead of Christ’s Second Coming bringing redemption, a

monstrous "rough beast" is being born.
"Slouches" suggests something ominous and uncontrollable.
Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, is ironically chosen as
the place where this new, terrifying entity will emerge.

Themes and Analysis

1. The Collapse of Civilization

The first stanza reflects a world losing control, where

traditional structures fail.
Yeats was inspired by the post-WWI political instability and
the rise of extremism.

2. Cycles of History

Yeats believed history moved in spirals (gyres), with each

2,000-year cycle ending in chaos before a new era begins.
The birth of Christ marked one cycle, and now another great
transformation is beginning.
3. The Birth of a New, Terrifying Era

The Second Coming is not of Christ but of an unknown,

monstrous force.
The "rough beast" represents a brutal, destructive power
that will replace the old world.

4. Loss of Innocence and Morality

"The ceremony of innocence is drowned" suggests that

purity and goodness are overwhelmed by chaos.
Good people are passive, while dangerous people dominate.

5. Biblical and Mythological References

The poem contrasts the Christian idea of the Second Coming

with a more sinister vision.
The Sphinx-like beast echoes ancient mythology, hinting at
an older, darker force.

Conclusion

The Second Coming is a deeply prophetic and unsettling poem. It

portrays a world where order collapses, leading to the rise of
something new and terrifying. Yeats suggests that the old world
cannot survive, but what replaces it may be even worse. The
"rough beast" symbolizes a shift in power—perhaps political,
cultural, or spiritual—that is inevitable and unstoppable.
The poem remains highly relevant, often quoted in times of crisis
when society seems on the verge of breaking apart.

No Second Troy – W. B. Yeats

Why should I blame her that she filled my days
With misery, or that she would of late
Have taught to ignorant men most violent ways,
Or hurled the little streets upon the great,
Had they but courage equal to desire?
What could have made her peaceful with a mind
That nobleness made simple as a fire,
With beauty like a tightened bow, a kind
That is not natural in an age like this,
Being high and solitary and most stern?
Why, what could she have done, being what she is?
Was there another Troy for her to burn?

Detailed Explanation of "No Second Troy"

Overview

No Second Troy is a poem written by W. B. Yeats about his

unrequited love for Maud Gonne, an Irish revolutionary, feminist,
and actress. Yeats was deeply in love with her, but she rejected his
marriage proposals multiple times. The poem reflects Yeats’
admiration for her beauty and strength, but also his frustration
with her political activism, which he believed incited violence. The
title compares her to Helen of Troy, whose beauty led to the
destruction of an entire city, suggesting that Maud Gonne, too, was
a powerful, almost mythical figure capable of shaping history.

Line-by-Line Explanation

First Four Lines: The Accusation

Why should I blame her that she filled my days

With misery, or that she would of late
Have taught to ignorant men most violent ways,
Or hurled the little streets upon the great,

The speaker (Yeats) questions whether he should blame

Maud Gonne for the pain she caused him.
He accuses her of encouraging "ignorant men" to resort to
violence, likely referring to her involvement in Irish
nationalist movements.
 "Hurled the little streets upon the great" suggests that she
inspired the common people to rebel against powerful
authorities (perhaps the British Empire).
Yeats suggests that her followers lacked the necessary
courage to turn their desires into effective action.

Lines 5-7: Her Uncompromising Nature

Had they but courage equal to desire?

What could have made her peaceful with a mind
That nobleness made simple as a fire,

Yeats acknowledges that those she inspired lacked the

strength to carry out her revolutionary ideals.
He wonders if anything could have made her peaceful,
implying that her nature was inherently defiant.
He describes her mind as "simple as a fire"—passionate,
uncontrollable, and destructive.

Lines 8-10: Her Mythical Beauty

With beauty like a tightened bow, a kind

That is not natural in an age like this,
Being high and solitary and most stern?

He compares her beauty to a "tightened bow," suggesting

tension, strength, and potential danger.
Her beauty is unnatural in the modern world—she belongs
to an older, more heroic time.
She is "high and solitary and most stern," emphasizing her
aloofness and unapproachable nature.

Final Two Lines: The Helen of Troy Comparison

Why, what could she have done, being what she is?
Was there another Troy for her to burn?

Yeats ultimately absolves Maud Gonne of blame,

acknowledging that she could not have been any different.
 He compares her to Helen of Troy, who caused the Trojan
War with her beauty.
The rhetorical question suggests that there is no "second
Troy" for her to destroy, implying that her impact, while
significant, may not be as grand as Helen’s.

Themes and Analysis

1. Unrequited Love and Frustration

The poem reflects Yeats’ deep but painful love for Maud
Gonne.
He admires her strength and beauty but resents the
suffering she has caused him.

2. The Role of Women in Myth and History

Maud Gonne is likened to Helen of Troy, implying that her

beauty and charisma have the power to influence history.
Yeats views her as a larger-than-life figure, not just an
ordinary woman.

3. Nationalism and Political Violence

The poem critiques Maud Gonne’s involvement in

revolutionary movements.
Yeats believed that her political activism encouraged chaos
rather than meaningful change.

4. The Contrast Between the Ancient and the Modern

Yeats suggests that Maud Gonne belongs to a heroic past, not

the modern world.
He sees her as an uncompromising figure from another era,
like a warrior queen or goddess.

Conclusion
No Second Troy is both a love poem and a political reflection. Yeats
admires Maud Gonne’s beauty and strength but also criticizes her
revolutionary ideals. The poem’s comparison of Gonne to Helen of
Troy elevates her to a mythical status, suggesting that she is both
powerful and destructive. Ultimately, Yeats acknowledges that she
could not have been any different—she was destined to be this way.

Sailing to Byzantium – W. B. Yeats

Poem Text

I
That is no country for old men. The young
In one another’s arms, birds in the trees,
— Those dying generations — at their song,
The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas,
Fish, flesh, or fowl, commend all summer long
Whatever is begotten, born, and dies.
Caught in that sensual music all neglect
Monuments of unaging intellect.
II
An aged man is but a paltry thing,
A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing
For every tatter in its mortal dress,
Nor is there singing school but studying
Monuments of its own magnificence;
And therefore I have sailed the seas and come
To the holy city of Byzantium.
III
O sages standing in God’s holy fire
As in the gold mosaic of a wall,
Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre,
And be the singing-masters of my soul.
Consume my heart away; sick with desire
And fastened to a dying animal
It knows not what it is; and gather me
Into the artifice of eternity.
IV
Once out of nature I shall never take
My bodily form from any natural thing,
But such a form as Grecian goldsmiths make
Of hammered gold and gold enameling
To keep a drowsy Emperor awake;
Or set upon a golden bough to sing
To lords and ladies of Byzantium
Of what is past, or passing, or to come.

Detailed Explanation of "Sailing to Byzantium"

Overview

“Sailing to Byzantium” is one of W. B. Yeats' most famous poems,

written in 1927. The poem reflects on aging, the nature of the soul,
and the desire for immortality through art. Yeats contrasts the
physical decay of old age with the eternal nature of artistic and
spiritual achievement. Byzantium (modern-day Istanbul) serves as
a metaphor for a timeless, intellectual, and spiritual world, where
the poet’s soul can escape the limitations of the body.

Line-by-Line Explanation

Stanza I: The World of the Young and the Fleeting Nature of

Life

That is no country for old men. The young

In one another’s arms, birds in the trees,
— Those dying generations — at their song,
The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas,
Fish, flesh, or fowl, commend all summer long
Whatever is begotten, born, and dies.
Caught in that sensual music all neglect
Monuments of unaging intellect.

The speaker states that the world he lives in is not meant for
old men. This phrase later inspired the title of Cormac
McCarthy’s novel No Country for Old Men.
The imagery of youth, nature, and procreation ("In one
another’s arms, birds in the trees") emphasizes the cycle of
 life.
The phrase "dying generations" highlights the fleeting
nature of life.
"Sensual music" refers to the distractions of the physical
world, which prevent people from appreciating
"monuments of unaging intellect" (great works of art and
wisdom that transcend time).
The poet implies that youth is focused on physical pleasures,
while he seeks something deeper and eternal.

Stanza II: The Speaker’s Desire to Escape Aging and

Mortality

An aged man is but a paltry thing,

A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing
For every tatter in its mortal dress,
Nor is there singing school but studying
Monuments of its own magnificence;
And therefore I have sailed the seas and come
To the holy city of Byzantium.

The speaker describes an old man as "a paltry thing"—weak

and insignificant.
"A tattered coat upon a stick" is a metaphor for a scarecrow,
symbolizing a frail, aging body.
The only way to overcome this decay is for the soul to "clap
its hands and sing"—embracing wisdom and art.
The poet sees no "singing school" (a place of learning for the
soul) except in the study of "monuments of its own
magnificence" (art and philosophy).
To achieve this, he metaphorically "sails the seas" to
Byzantium, a place of artistic and spiritual transcendence.

Stanza III: The Transformation of the Soul

O sages standing in God’s holy fire

As in the gold mosaic of a wall,
 Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre,
And be the singing-masters of my soul.
Consume my heart away; sick with desire
And fastened to a dying animal
It knows not what it is; and gather me
Into the artifice of eternity.

The poet calls upon "sages" (wise men or spiritual guides),

who are immortalized in Byzantine mosaics.
"God’s holy fire" represents divine wisdom and artistic
inspiration.
"Perne in a gyre" refers to Yeats’ theory of historical cycles
and spiritual evolution.
The speaker asks these sages to teach his soul to sing (find
enlightenment).
He wants them to "consume" his heart, removing earthly
desires that tie him to his "dying animal" (his physical body).
He wishes to be gathered into the "artifice of eternity"—a
world beyond time, where art and intellect are immortal.

Stanza IV: Achieving Immortality in Art

Once out of nature I shall never take

My bodily form from any natural thing,
But such a form as Grecian goldsmiths make
Of hammered gold and gold enameling
To keep a drowsy Emperor awake;
Or set upon a golden bough to sing
To lords and ladies of Byzantium
Of what is past, or passing, or to come.

The speaker imagines that once he has left his physical body
("once out of nature"), he will not return to the cycle of birth
and death.
Instead, he wishes to be transformed into a golden, man-
made object—like the mechanical golden birds crafted by
Byzantine artisans.
 These artificial birds would sing forever, entertaining
emperors and nobles, symbolizing the eternal nature of
artistic creation.
The poem ends with the idea that great art speaks of "what
is past, or passing, or to come"—meaning that it transcends
time and offers wisdom to all generations.

Themes and Analysis

1. The Contrast Between Youth and Age

The first stanza contrasts the vitality of youth with the decay
of old age.
The speaker feels alienated from the sensual, material world
and seeks something eternal.

2. Art as a Path to Immortality

The poet believes that physical bodies decay, but art and
intellect can achieve eternity.
Byzantium represents a place where art and spirit are
preserved beyond time.

3. The Desire for Transcendence

The speaker wants to escape the limitations of the body and

merge with something eternal.
He envisions himself becoming a golden, mechanical bird—
symbolizing perfected art and wisdom.

4. Byzantine Symbolism

Byzantium (the Eastern Roman Empire) was known for its

art, mosaics, and deep spirituality.
For Yeats, it represents a place where the soul can achieve
permanence and transcend physical decay.
Conclusion

Sailing to Byzantium is a powerful meditation on aging, mortality,

and the desire for spiritual and artistic immortality. Yeats contrasts
the transient pleasures of youth with the enduring nature of art
and wisdom. Byzantium becomes a symbol of a world where the
soul can escape the decay of the body and exist eternally in the
form of art.