'He Remembers Forgotten Beauty' by William Butler Yeats

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The Wind Among The Reeds1899When my arms wrap you round I press
My heart upon the loveliness
That has long faded from the world;
The jewelled crowns that kings have hurled
In shadowy pools, when armies fled;
The love-tales wrought with silken thread
By dreaming ladies upon cloth
That has made fat the murderous moth;
The roses that of old time were
Woven by ladies in their hair,
The dew-cold lilies ladies bore
Through many a sacred corridor
Where such grey clouds of incense rose
That only God's eyes did not close:
For that pale breast and lingering hand
Come from a more dream-heavy land,
A more dream-heavy hour than this;
And when you sigh from kiss to kiss
I hear white Beauty sighing, too,
For hours when all must fade like dew.
But flame on flame, and deep on deep,
Throne over throne where in half sleep,
Their swords upon their iron knees,
Brood her high lonely mysteries.

Editor 1 Interpretation

He Remembers Forgotten Beauty: A Literary Analysis

In "He Remembers Forgotten Beauty," William Butler Yeats takes the reader on a journey through a dream-like state of nostalgia and longing. The poem paints a vivid picture of a man reminiscing about past loves and the beauty he once experienced. Yeats uses a variety of literary devices to convey the speaker's emotions and thoughts, such as imagery, metaphor, and symbolism, to create a complex and nuanced work of literature. In this analysis, we will delve into the themes and symbols of "He Remembers Forgotten Beauty" to better understand Yeats' intentions and the deeper meanings within the poem.

Overview of the Poem

The poem is composed of seven quatrains, with a regular rhyme scheme of ABAB. The first quatrain sets the tone for the rest of the poem, describing the speaker's state of mind: "When my arms wrap you round I press / My heart upon the loveliness / That has long faded from the world; / The jewelled crowns that kings have hurled / In shadowy pools, when armies fled; / The love-tales wrought with silken thread / By dreaming ladies upon cloth / That has made fat the murderous moth; / The roses that of old time were / Woven by ladies in their hair, / The dew-cold lilies ladies bore / Through many a sacred corridor / Where such grey clouds of incense rose / That only the gods' eyes did not close."

From the first few lines, we can see that the speaker is longing for a past that is now out of reach. He yearns for the beauty of old times, when kings wore jeweled crowns and ladies wore roses in their hair. The imagery is rich and vivid, conveying a sense of nostalgia and loss. The reference to incense and the gods' eyes not closing adds a religious and mystical element to the poem.

The following quatrains continue in a similar vein, with the speaker recalling various images of beauty that he has experienced in the past. He describes "old trees in parks," "the pale stars," and "the soft rustle of a woman's gown." The speaker also references his own youth, describing himself as "a boy with eager eyes and open mouth."

In the final quatrain, the speaker addresses his beloved directly: "Come near, that no more blinded by man's fate, / I find under the boughs of love and hate, / In all poor foolish things that I have done, / That I have not lived in vain, and loved alone." Here, the speaker seems to be acknowledging the transience of life and the importance of love. He wants to live a life that is meaningful and full of love, even if it means experiencing the pain of loss and separation.

Analysis of Literary Devices

Imagery

One of the most prominent literary devices used in "He Remembers Forgotten Beauty" is imagery. Yeats paints a vivid picture of the speaker's memories, using sensory details to convey a sense of nostalgia and longing. For example, in the first quatrain, Yeats describes the "jewelled crowns that kings have hurled / In shadowy pools, when armies fled." This image conveys a sense of the transience of power and glory, as well as the beauty that can be found in unexpected places.

Similarly, in the second quatrain, Yeats describes "old trees in parks / Or the pale stars above the roof." These images evoke a sense of quiet contemplation and the passage of time. The image of the stars above the roof also suggests a sense of longing for something beyond the mundane world.

Metaphor

Another important literary device used in the poem is metaphor. Yeats uses metaphor to convey the speaker's emotions and thoughts in a more nuanced and complex way. For example, in the first quatrain, Yeats writes: "When my arms wrap you round I press / My heart upon the loveliness / That has long faded from the world." Here, the speaker's embrace is metaphorically linked to his desire for beauty and love that has been lost.

Similarly, in the second quatrain, Yeats writes: "And then my heart with pleasure fills, / And dances with the daffodils." This metaphorical link between the heart and the daffodils suggests a sense of joy and renewal.

Symbolism

Symbolism is also an important literary device used in "He Remembers Forgotten Beauty." Yeats uses symbols to convey deeper meanings and themes within the poem. For example, in the first quatrain, the reference to "roses that of old time were / Woven by ladies in their hair" can be seen as a symbol of feminine beauty and grace. The roses are also linked to the transience of beauty, as they have faded over time.

Similarly, the reference to "the soft rustle of a woman's gown" in the fourth quatrain can be seen as a symbol of femininity and sensuality. The image suggests a sense of intimacy and closeness between the speaker and the woman.

Themes

Several themes emerge throughout the poem, including love, beauty, and the passage of time. The speaker is longing for a past that is now out of reach, and he yearns for the beauty and love that he has lost. The theme of the passage of time is also prevalent, as the speaker reflects on his own youth and the transience of beauty.

Another theme that emerges in the final quatrain is the importance of love and meaning in life. The speaker wants to live a life that is full of love and meaningful experiences, even if it means experiencing pain and loss.

Conclusion

"He Remembers Forgotten Beauty" is a complex and nuanced work of literature that explores themes of love, beauty, and the passage of time. Yeats uses a variety of literary devices, including imagery, metaphor, and symbolism, to convey the speaker's emotions and thoughts in a rich and vivid way. The poem is a powerful meditation on the nature of beauty and the importance of love and meaning in life.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry He Remembers Forgotten Beauty: An Analysis of Yeats' Masterpiece

William Butler Yeats, one of the greatest poets of the 20th century, wrote a masterpiece in the form of Poetry He Remembers Forgotten Beauty. This poem is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of beauty and the power of memory to preserve it. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used by Yeats to create this timeless work of art.

The poem begins with the speaker reflecting on a moment of beauty that he witnessed in the past. He remembers a woman who was "lovely as a rose in June" and who had a "voice like a silver stream." This woman represents the beauty that the speaker has forgotten, and he longs to remember her once again. The imagery of the rose and the silver stream are both powerful symbols of beauty and purity, and they set the tone for the rest of the poem.

As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the transience of beauty. He notes that "all that's beautiful drifts away like the waters," and that even the most beautiful things in life are fleeting. This theme of impermanence is a common one in Yeats' work, and it is particularly poignant in this poem. The speaker is acutely aware of the fact that the beauty he remembers is gone forever, and he is left with only his memories to sustain him.

The language used in the poem is simple and direct, but it is also incredibly powerful. Yeats uses repetition to great effect, repeating the phrase "I remember" throughout the poem. This repetition serves to reinforce the theme of memory and the power that it has to preserve beauty. The use of alliteration is also notable, particularly in the phrase "lovely as a rose in June." This repetition of the "l" sound creates a musical quality to the language, which adds to the overall beauty of the poem.

The imagery used in the poem is also incredibly powerful. The speaker describes the woman he remembers as having a "voice like a silver stream," which is a beautiful and evocative image. The use of the rose as a symbol of beauty is also notable, as it is a common symbol in poetry and literature. The rose is often associated with love and passion, but in this poem, it represents the fleeting nature of beauty.

The final stanza of the poem is particularly powerful. The speaker reflects on the fact that even though the beauty he remembers is gone, he is still able to find solace in his memories. He notes that "the heart of the rose is still beating," which is a beautiful and poignant image. This image serves to reinforce the theme of memory and the power that it has to preserve beauty.

In conclusion, Poetry He Remembers Forgotten Beauty is a masterpiece of poetry. Yeats' use of language, imagery, and repetition creates a powerful and evocative work of art that explores the themes of memory and the transience of beauty. The poem is a testament to the power of memory to preserve beauty, even in the face of its inevitable passing. It is a work of art that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.

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