Literature
The Poetry of W. B. Yeats: early to middle poems, 1899-1914
An all-levels literature course examining Yeats’s early and middle poetry through historical, cultural and formal analysis.
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Upcoming classes
1 class
About this course
The course traces Yeats’s development across his early and middle collections, from his engagement with Celtic mythology, mysticism, Romanticism and Aestheticism to his later involvement with Irish nationalism, public life, theatre, censorship and warfare. Discussion also considers his relationships, social milieu and the influence of Lady Augusta Gregory. Teaching combines tutor presentations with small-group and whole-class discussion of selected poems. Close study introduces concepts including intertextuality, intratextuality, literary tradition, palimpsest, self-reflexivity, scansion and versification, while examining how Yeats’s poetic forms respond to individual and collective experience.
What you'll learn
- Examine how Yeats uses varied poetic forms to represent individual and collective experience.
- Identify changes and experimentation across Yeats’s early and middle collections.
- Discuss the influence of folklore, politics, national identity, Romanticism and Aestheticism on his poetry.
- Apply concepts including intertextuality, literary tradition, scansion and versification to selected poems.
Is this course right for you?
The course is open to learners at all levels, with some experience of studying poetry described as useful rather than required. Participants should be willing to consider different approaches to interpretation, listen to other views and contribute to small-group and whole-class discussion.
Before you go
- Key poems will be provided before the class.
- Further extracts from literary, biographical, social and historical sources will also be provided.