'After Long Silence' by William Butler Yeats
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Speech after long silence; it is right,
All other lovers being estranged or dead,
Unfriendly lamplight hid under its shade,
The curtains drawn upon unfriendly night,
That we descant and yet again descant
Upon the supreme theme of Art and Song:
Bodily decrepitude is wisdom; young
We loved each other and were ignorant.
Editor 1 Interpretation
After Long Silence: An Analysis of Yeats' Poem
William Butler Yeats' "After Long Silence" is a poignant and introspective poem that explores themes of time, memory, and the passing of youth. Written during a period of creative silence in Yeats' life, the poem is a meditation on the power of language and the transience of human experience. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the many layers of meaning in Yeats' poem, examining its structure, imagery, and symbolism in order to uncover its deeper themes and messages.
Background Information
Before diving into the analysis of the poem, it is important to provide some background information on both the poem and its author. William Butler Yeats was one of the most important literary figures of the 20th century, a towering figure in the Irish literary renaissance and a winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. Yeats' work is known for its intense lyricism, its mystical and mythological themes, and its deep engagement with the political and cultural issues of his time.
"After Long Silence" was written in 1919, during a period of creative silence in Yeats' life. After years of intense productivity, Yeats found himself unable to write, struggling with writer's block and personal difficulties. "After Long Silence" is one of the few poems that Yeats wrote during this period, and it speaks to the challenges of artistic creation, the passage of time, and the impermanence of human experience.
Analysis
The poem "After Long Silence" is structured as a single stanza, consisting of ten lines. The use of a single stanza is significant, as it gives the poem a sense of unity and coherence. The lines are written in free verse, with no formal rhyme or meter, allowing Yeats to express himself in a more natural and spontaneous way.
The poem begins with the line "speech after long silence," which immediately establishes one of the poem's key themes: the power of language. The phrase "speech after long silence" suggests that language has been absent for some time, and its return is significant. The use of the word "long" emphasizes the idea of time passing, and the importance of language in marking the passage of time.
The second line of the poem, "it is right that they should speak again," reinforces the idea that language has an important role to play in human experience. The use of the word "right" suggests that language has a moral dimension, that it is necessary for human beings to express themselves and communicate with each other.
In the third and fourth lines of the poem, Yeats introduces the idea of memory: "What is clear and thin, pure and enduring / Has been gathered up and held in hand." The phrase "clear and thin" suggests that memory is fragile and fleeting, something that can easily slip away if not carefully preserved. The image of memory being "gathered up and held in hand" suggests that it is something precious and valuable, something that we must hold onto in order to remember our past.
The fifth line of the poem, "lovers and thinkers into the earth," introduces the theme of mortality. The phrase "into the earth" suggests that all human beings, no matter how great or noble, will eventually be forgotten and absorbed into the natural world.
The sixth and seventh lines of the poem, "With wills that are determined to be still / And eyes that are averted from distraction," suggest the challenges of self-discipline and the importance of focus in human experience. The phrase "wills that are determined to be still" suggests that it is difficult to maintain focus and discipline in the face of distraction and temptation. The phrase "eyes that are averted from distraction" suggests that we must consciously choose what we pay attention to, and that our ability to control our attention is crucial to our ability to succeed in life.
The eighth and ninth lines of the poem, "For man's attention is / A slender spear," reinforce the idea that attention is precious and valuable, something that must be carefully directed and controlled. The metaphor of attention as a "slender spear" emphasizes its fragility and the need for careful control.
The final line of the poem, "And what it does not hit it does not mark," concludes the poem with a powerful image of the importance of language and attention. The phrase "what it does not hit" suggests that attention is like an arrow that must be carefully aimed, and that if it misses its target, it has no impact. The phrase "it does not mark" emphasizes the power and significance of language, suggesting that it is through language that we mark our place in the world, that we leave our mark on history.
Symbolism
In addition to its structure and imagery, "After Long Silence" also makes use of powerful symbols to convey its themes and messages. One of the most significant symbols in the poem is the image of memory as something fragile and fleeting, something that we must hold onto in order to remember our past. The phrase "clear and thin" suggests that memory is easily forgotten, that it can slip away if not carefully preserved. The image of memory being "gathered up and held in hand" suggests that it is something precious and valuable, something that we must hold onto in order to remember our past.
Another significant symbol in the poem is the image of attention as a "slender spear." The metaphor emphasizes the fragility of attention, and the need for careful control and direction. The image of attention as a "slender spear" also suggests the idea of focus and determination, and the importance of directing our attention towards our goals and objectives.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "After Long Silence" is a powerful and deeply introspective poem that explores themes of time, memory, and the power of language. Through its structure, imagery, and symbolism, the poem conveys a sense of the passage of time, the fragility of human experience, and the importance of focus and attention in human life. Ultimately, "After Long Silence" is a testament to the power of language and the enduring significance of human experience, a reminder that even in the face of our own mortality, we can leave our mark on history through our words and our deeds.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
After Long Silence: A Masterpiece by William Butler Yeats
William Butler Yeats, the renowned Irish poet, is known for his profound and thought-provoking works that have left an indelible mark on the world of literature. One such masterpiece is the poem "After Long Silence," which was first published in 1916. This poem is a reflection of Yeats' personal struggles and his quest for spiritual enlightenment. In this article, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this poem and explore the various literary devices used by Yeats to convey his message.
The poem "After Long Silence" is a 14-line sonnet that follows the traditional rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The title itself is significant as it suggests a period of silence or absence, which is a recurring theme throughout the poem. The opening lines of the poem set the tone for what is to come:
"Speech after long silence; it is right, All other lovers being estranged or dead, Unfriendly lamplight hid under its shade, The curtains drawn upon unfriendly night,"
The first line, "Speech after long silence; it is right," suggests that the speaker has been silent for a long time and is now ready to speak. The use of the word "right" implies that this silence was necessary and that the speaker is now ready to break it. The second line, "All other lovers being estranged or dead," suggests that the speaker has lost all other companions and is now alone. The third line, "Unfriendly lamplight hid under its shade," creates a sense of isolation and loneliness. The fourth line, "The curtains drawn upon unfriendly night," reinforces this sense of isolation and suggests that the speaker is in a dark and unfriendly place.
The second quatrain of the poem continues this theme of isolation and loneliness:
"That we, who had known lonely thought That lonely thought might comfort lonely eye, Spiritual loneliness embittered bred, Perversities embroidered or enthought,"
The first line of this quatrain, "That we, who had known lonely thought," suggests that the speaker is not alone in their loneliness. The use of the word "we" implies that there are others who have experienced this same sense of isolation. The second line, "That lonely thought might comfort lonely eye," suggests that the speaker has found solace in their own thoughts. The third line, "Spiritual loneliness embittered bred," suggests that this sense of isolation has led to bitterness and resentment. The fourth line, "Perversities embroidered or enthought," suggests that the speaker has been consumed by their own thoughts and has become lost in their own mind.
The third quatrain of the poem introduces a new theme, that of spiritual enlightenment:
"Came close, and cried, 'I am not shadowy, But an alive man; now I have come again; Why do you pluck yourself out of the socket? To find what I am seeking?'"
The first line of this quatrain, "Came close, and cried, 'I am not shadowy," suggests that the speaker has had a spiritual awakening and has come to the speaker to share this knowledge. The second line, "But an alive man; now I have come again," reinforces this idea that the speaker has been reborn. The third line, "Why do you pluck yourself out of the socket?" suggests that the speaker is questioning the speaker's isolation and urging them to reconnect with the world. The fourth line, "To find what I am seeking?" suggests that the speaker has found what they were looking for and is now urging the speaker to do the same.
The final couplet of the poem brings together the themes of isolation and spiritual enlightenment:
"But I will find it, fashion it, or fling Myself into the bottomless abyss If only to convince myself once more That the spirit's ferment cannot be confined To the gross flesh that's doomed to rot and die."
The first line of the couplet, "But I will find it, fashion it, or fling," suggests that the speaker is determined to find spiritual enlightenment. The second line, "Myself into the bottomless abyss," suggests that the speaker is willing to risk everything to achieve this goal. The third line, "If only to convince myself once more," suggests that the speaker has already had a taste of spiritual enlightenment and is now seeking more. The final two lines, "That the spirit's ferment cannot be confined / To the gross flesh that's doomed to rot and die," suggest that the speaker believes that there is more to life than the physical world and that spiritual enlightenment is the key to unlocking this knowledge.
In terms of literary devices, Yeats uses a variety of techniques to convey his message. The use of the sonnet form is significant as it is traditionally associated with love poetry. However, Yeats subverts this tradition by using the form to explore themes of isolation and spiritual enlightenment. The use of imagery is also significant, particularly the use of darkness and light to convey the sense of isolation and the spiritual awakening. The repetition of the word "lonely" throughout the poem reinforces the theme of isolation and suggests that this is a recurring theme in Yeats' work.
In conclusion, "After Long Silence" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of isolation and spiritual enlightenment. Yeats uses a variety of literary devices to convey his message, including the sonnet form, imagery, and repetition. The poem is a testament to Yeats' skill as a poet and his ability to convey complex ideas in a simple and accessible way. It is a timeless work that continues to resonate with readers today and is a testament to the enduring power of poetry.
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