Leda And The Swan

Question 1

Angamemnon dead

Answer 1

Historical allusion - Trojan war
Helen’s sister Clytemnestra murders her husband Agamemnon.
The war tore down that civilisation
Yeats displays the cycle of destruction and renewal
Continues idea of a nation in need of redemption and renewal of spirit and soul

Question 2

The broken wall, the burning roof and tower

Answer 2

Metaphor 
Rape is complete
Has broken defences
Destroyed the metaphorical structure Le of the resistance 
Ireland is defeated

Question 3

Staggering girl

Answer 3

Metaphor
Ireland has not fallen
She is still standing despite the beating of the wings

Question 4

Great wings beating still

Answer 4

Oxymoron
Image of power
Indirect reference to the dean
Wings are continuing to beat yet remain still in the air 
The physical abuse of ‘beating’

Question 5

Romanticism

Strong senses, emotion and feelings

Answer 5

Awe of nature - need of spiritual cycle - cycle of war
Knowledge gained - ‘did she put on his knowledge with his power’
Strong emotion - Metaphor of rape - references the abuse Ireland had faced

Question 6

Mythology

Answer 6

Leda 
Wife of king Tyndareus of Sparta 
Zeus fell in love with Leda
Transformed into a swan and seduced her 
Helen and polydeuces were born from this and are key players in the Trojan war

Question 7

Modernist

Answer 7

Use if symbols and allusions
Imagery that captures the experience
Use of metaphor
Infusion of mythology with significant meanings - sort of code or riddle to be cracked