Introduction ‘No Second Troy,’ a 12-line poem, is written to Maud Gonne, who got married to John MacBride in 1903 to Yeats’ great distress. Yeats was devastated by Maud’s unexpected marriage with John MacBride in February 1903. Yeats loved the Irish revolutionary Maud Gonne, but she declined his marriage offer. ‘No Second Troy’ was written … Read more
Introduction: “A Coat” is a poem written by W. B. Yeats. It is a self-referential poem that brings out the poet’s thoughts on his poetry. About the Poet: William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) was an eminent Irish poet and writer. He was a former Senator of the Irish Free State. Famous works of his include ‘The … Read more
Introduction: “Leda and the Swan” is a poem written by W.B. Yeats. It is a recreation of the Greek myth of the tale of the God Zeus and Leda. About the Poet: William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) was an eminent Irish poet and writer. He was a former Senator of the Irish Free State. Famous works … Read more
Introduction The well-known Irish poet Seamus Heaney’s poem “Casting and Gathering” is about tradition, nature, and time passing. The cyclical aspect of life and the interdependence of human experiences with the natural world are reflected in the title, which refers to a process of letting go and bringing together. Heaney explores the customs of rural … Read more
Introduction Famous Northern Irish poet Seamus Heaney wrote his powerful and thought-provoking poem “A Constable Calls” in the 20th century. In a rural environment during the Troubles, the poem tackles issues of power, authority, and societal divisions. The poem depicts the anxiety and vulnerability felt by people under the authority figure’s watchful eye as a … Read more
Introduction Irish poet Seamus Heaney’s poem “Blackberry-Picking” was first published in the collection Death of a Naturalist in 1966. A seemingly simple childhood recollection of picking blackberries in August is depicted in the poem. The poem, which is written from an adult’s perspective, utilizes the experience of harvesting blackberries and seeing them decay as an … Read more
Introduction William Butler Yeats’ poem “Sailing to Byzantium” was first published in 1928 as part of his collection titled “The Tower.” The poem talks about the quest for immortality using rich imagery and symbolism. The title sets the stage for a journey, both physical and metaphorical, to a distant and mythical place- Byzantium. Yeats was … Read more
Introduction “Personal Helicon” is a poem by Seamus Heaney that expresses the influence of nature and childhood inquisitiveness and mischief that inspired Heaney to turn towards poetry as a medium to revisit his childhood and recall the perversity of it. The poem is dedicated to Michael Longley, co-member of a poetry group in the 1960s. … Read more
Introduction William Butler Yeats’ collection of poems “Byzantium” explores the theme of spiritual transcendence and disintegrates the ongoing battle between the material world and the realm of the spirit. The term “Byzantium” refers to the ancient city of Byzantium, now known as Constantinople. Yeats penned down the poems during his later years, specifically between 1926 … Read more
Introduction Seamus Heaney’s “When All the Others Were Away at Mass” is a moving and thoughtful poem. It’s from his poetry collection “Clearances,” which focuses on the poet’s connection with his mother. In this specific poem, Heaney reflects on an incredibly personal and closely related experience he had with his mother when they were both … Read more
