Introduction
“In Memory of W.B. Yeats” by W.H. Auden is a poignant elegy commemorating the life and legacy of the Irish poet William Butler Yeats, who passed away in January 1939. Auden, an English-American poet renowned for his versatility and ingenious use of language, crafts this poem as a reflection on the role of a poet in society and the immortality of artistic expression. 📜✨
Written in three distinct sections, each part of the poem uses different verse forms and tones to convey its messages, from the personal impact of Yeats’s death to broader reflections on the function of poetry in a troubled world. This poem is a staple in modernist literature, demonstrating Auden’s skillful use of language and his deep philosophical inquiries.
Meaning of In Memory of W.B. Yeats
Bold Opening Section
In the opening section of the poem, Auden sets the scene of Yeats’s death, describing the cold, dispassionate landscape of “the day of his death” as “a dark cold day.” This part focuses on the physical reality of death and its starkness, suggesting that even as a great poet dies, the world indifferently continues on its axis. The section combines a serene acceptance with a chilling portrayal of nature’s detachment.
Bold Mid Section
The middle section transitions to a meditation on the function and impotence of poetry in a world rife with political turmoil and societal indifference. Here, Auden famously declares, “For poetry makes nothing happen,” a statement that wrestles with the poet’s role in society. This section reflects on the impact of Yeats’s work and the existential role of art.
Bold Concluding Section
The final part offers a more hopeful view on the eternal nature of poetic expression. Auden speaks directly to Yeats, urging him to “follow poet” and “scorn the sort now growing up all over,” emphasizing the transcendent and inspiring power of poetry that outlives its creator. The concluding lines depict poetry as a timeless vehicle for human experience and spiritual resilience.
In-depth Analysis
— Stanza 1:
- Technique: Metaphor
- Analysis: Describes the coldness of the day Yeats died, symbolizing the emotional and physical bleakness of death.
— Stanza 2:
- Technique: Alliteration
- Analysis: “Disappeared in the dead of winter” emphasizes the finality and invisibility of death.
— Stanza 3:
- Technique: Imagery
- Analysis: Vividly captures the landscapes, “The brooks were frozen,” enhancing the sense of life halted by death.
— Stanza 4:
- Technique: Personification
- Analysis: Attributes human qualities to abstract concepts like “suffering,” highlighting the universal reach of Yeats’s poetic voice.
— Stanza 5:
- Technique: Symbolism
- Analysis: “The current of his feeling failed” symbolizes the cessation of Yeats’s poetic and emotional output, reflecting the loss of his voice to the world.
— Stanza 6:
- Technique: Juxtaposition
- Analysis: “The day of his death was a dark cold day” against the poet’s warm, vibrant legacy, emphasizing the contrast between Yeats’s death and his enduring poetic influence.
— Stanza 7:
- Technique: Irony
- Analysis: The irony of silence and isolation following Yeats’s death juxtaposed with his voice that “persuade[s] us to rejoice,” highlighting the paradoxical nature of a poet’s death and the continued life of his words.
— Stanza 8:
- Technique: Extended Metaphor
- Analysis: The metaphor of weather (“The snows of the Tyrol, the clear beer of Vienna”) as elements that continue unaffected by human grief or history, reflecting on the indifference of the natural world to human affairs.
— Stanza 9:
- Technique: Allegory
- Analysis: References to “the wolves of Europe” as an allegory for the destructive powers of totalitarian regimes, critiquing the political climate of the time.
— Stanza 10:
- Technique: Apostrophe
- Analysis: The poem ends with an apostrophe, addressing Yeats directly, which serves to personalize the poem and invoke a feeling of intimacy and continuation beyond death.
Poetic Devices used in In Memory of W.B. Yeats
| Device | Example from Poem |
|---|---|
| Metaphor | “The mercury sank in the mouth of the dying day.” |
| Alliteration | “Snow disfigured the public statues;” |
| Personification | “Mad Ireland hurt you into poetry.” |
| Symbolism | “The rivers of the dead” symbolizing the boundary between life and death. |
| Imagery | “The brooks were frozen, the airports almost deserted,” providing visual bleakness. |
| Paradox | “In the nightmare of the dark / All the dogs of Europe bark.” |
| Synecdoche | “The provinces of his body revolted,” referring to Yeats’s failing health as a rebellion. |
| Irony | “For poetry makes nothing happen,” a ironic statement considering the poem’s own evocative power. |
| Anaphora | “The death of the poet was kept from his poems.” Repeated structure emphasizes separation of life and work. |
| Assonance | “He became his admirers” – the repetition of vowel sounds creates a melodic quality. |
In Memory of W.B. Yeats – FAQs
What is the significance of the setting in the first part of “In Memory of W.B. Yeats”?
The setting of the poem’s first part underlines the bleakness and indifference of the world to the death of even a great poet like Yeats. It reflects the coldness not just of the physical environment but also of the human response to death and loss.
How does Auden portray the role of poetry in society in this elegy?
Auden explores the role of poetry as both impotent in enacting political change and as a timeless vessel for human emotion and truth. He juxtaposes its seeming futility in immediate social impact with its enduring influence on cultural and personal levels.
What is meant by Auden’s claim that “poetry makes nothing happen”?
This statement is a reflection on the limited power of poetry to effect change in a direct, tangible way in the political and social realms. However, it also underscores the deeper, intangible ways poetry influences and nourishes the human spirit.
In Memory of W.B. Yeats Study Guide
Verse for Analysis: “Follow, poet, follow right To the bottom of the night, With your unconstraining voice Still persuade us to rejoice.”
Exercise: List all the poetic devices used in this verse.
Answers:
- Imperative Mood: “Follow, poet, follow right” – Commands that guide the deceased poet.
- Symbolism: “To the bottom of the night” – Symbolizes the unknown or death.
- Alliteration: “unconstraining voice”
- Assonance: “Still persuade us to rejoice” – The repetition of vowel sounds creates a lyrical quality that enhances the musicality of the verse.