The Wild Swans At Coole - William Butler Yeats

Question 1

Symbols of change, death & renewal

Answer 1

“The trees are in their Autumn beauty” - symbolises change, death & renewal.
“Under the October twilight the water mirrors a still sky.” - (sibilance - s) - symbol of change - end of day & Yeats feels he is coming towards death.
“Delight men’s eyes, when I awake some day, to find they have flown away?” - Yeats fears that the swans will leave, as other lovers have done - fears change/loneliness.

Question 2

Theme - loneliness

Answer 2

“Nine and fifty swans.” - odd number - 1 swan alone- narrator is the swan - alone/loneliness.
“And scatter wheeling in great broken rings.” - “broken rings” - symbol of union (wedding ring) - broken.
“And my heart is sore” - lonely
“But now they drift on the still water.” - “still water” symbolises his lonely life.
“Delight men’s eyes, when I awake some day, to find they have flown away?” - Yeats fears that the swans will leave, as other lovers have done - fears loneliness.

Question 3

Symbol - love

Answer 3

“Nine and fifty swans” - “swans”- uses swans because they symbolise internal life, innocence & love.
“Unwearied still, lover by lover,” - repetition reinforces the swans as symbols of love.
“I have looked upon those brilliant creatures, and now my heart is sore.” - jealous of swans.
“Upon their clamorous wings.” - uses great sound to describe beauty of the swans.

Question 4

Rhythm

Answer 4

“Mirrors a still sky,” - (s) sibilance.
“Passion or conquest wander where they will,” - alliteration.
“The bell-beat of their wings above my head,” - alliteration.
“Upon their clamorous wings.” - uses great sound to describe beauty of the swans.