'Owen Aherne And His Dancers' by William Butler Yeats
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A STRANGE thing surely that my Heart, when love had come unsought
Upon the Norman upland or in that poplar shade,
Should find no burden but itself and yet should be worn out.
It could not bear that burden and therefore it went mad.
The south wind brought it longing, and the east wind
despair,
The west wind made it pitiful, and the north wind
afraid.
It feared to give its love a hurt with all the tempest
there;
It feared the hurt that shc could give and therefore it
went mad.
I can exchange opinion with any neighbouring mind,
I have as healthy flesh and blood as any rhymer's had,
But O! my Heart could bear no more when the upland
caught the wind;
I ran, I ran, from my love's side because my Heart went
mad.
HDR II
The Heart behind its rib laughed out."You have called me mad,' it said,
"Because I made you turn away and run from that young child;
How could she mate with fifty years that was so wildly bred?
Let the cage bird and the cage bird mate and the wild
bird mate in the wild.'
"You but imagine lies all day, O murderer,' I replied.
"And all those lies have but one end, poor wretches to betray;
I did not find in any cage the woman at my side.
O but her heart would break to learn my thoughts are far away.'
'Speak all your mind,' my Heart sang out, "speak all your mind; who cares,
Now that your tongue cannot persuade the child till she mistake
Her childish gratitude for love and match your fifty years?
O let her choose a young man now and all for his wild sake.'
Editor 1 Interpretation
Owen Aherne And His Dancers: A Literary Criticism
William Butler Yeats' "Owen Aherne And His Dancers" is a timeless masterpiece of poetry that showcases the power of language in painting vivid images in the reader's mind. The poem's structure, tone, and use of literary devices combine to create a work of art that transports the reader to another time and place. In this literary criticism, we will delve deeper into the poem's themes, symbolism, and poetic techniques to understand its significance in the literary canon.
Structure and Tone
Yeats' poem is structured in four stanzas, each containing four lines with a regular ABAB rhyme scheme. The poem's structure is simple but effective in conveying the narrative of Owen Aherne and his dancers. The use of rhyme creates a musical quality that flows smoothly from one stanza to the next, enhancing the poem's rhythm and adding to its beauty.
The poem's tone is nostalgic and melancholic, evoking a sense of longing for a past that is lost forever. Yeats uses language that is poetic and lyrical, creating a dreamlike quality that transports the reader to another time and place. The poem's tone is reflective, and the speaker seems to be looking back on a memory with a sense of sorrow and regret.
Themes
The central theme of "Owen Aherne And His Dancers" is the passage of time and the transience of life. The poem captures a moment in time that is long gone, and the speaker is left with only memories. The poem's use of imagery and symbolism highlights this theme, as we see the dancers depicted as fleeting, ethereal beings who vanish into the night.
The poem's second theme is the power of art to transcend time and capture moments in history. The dancers, while long gone, are immortalized in the poem's lines, and their memory lives on through Yeats' words. The poem suggests that art has the power to capture the essence of a moment in time and preserve it for future generations.
Symbolism and Imagery
Yeats' use of symbolism and imagery is central to the poem's meaning. The dancers are depicted as otherworldly beings, with their movements described as "wind-blown veils." The use of this imagery suggests that the dancers are not of this world and are instead a fleeting glimpse into another world.
The dancers' costumes are also described in detail, with their "tangled golden hair" and "thistle-down sleeves." The use of these images suggests that the dancers are not human, but instead, they are mythical beings from another world. The use of these images adds to the poem's dreamlike quality and enhances its otherworldly atmosphere.
Poetic Techniques
Yeats' use of poetic techniques is masterful in "Owen Aherne And His Dancers." The poem's rhythm and rhyme scheme create a musical quality that enhances the poem's beauty. Yeats also uses repetition to great effect, with the phrase "Owen Aherne and his dancers" repeated throughout the poem, creating a sense of familiarity and continuity.
The poem's use of metaphor and symbolism is also noteworthy, with the dancers depicted as otherworldly beings and their movements described as "wind-blown veils." The use of these literary devices adds depth and meaning to the poem, enhancing its beauty and creating a sense of wonder.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Owen Aherne And His Dancers" is a timeless masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of a fleeting moment in time. The poem's structure, tone, and use of literary devices combine to create a work of art that transports the reader to another time and place. Its themes of the passage of time, the transience of life, and the power of art to transcend time make it a significant work in the literary canon. Yeats' use of symbolism and imagery, along with his masterful use of poetic techniques, make "Owen Aherne And His Dancers" a true masterpiece of poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
William Butler Yeats is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, and his works continue to inspire and captivate readers to this day. One of his most famous poems, "Owen Aherne And His Dancers," is a beautiful and haunting tribute to the power of art and the human spirit.
The poem tells the story of Owen Aherne, a legendary Irish dancer who is said to have possessed supernatural powers. According to legend, Aherne was able to dance so beautifully that he could make the very earth tremble beneath his feet. Yeats captures this sense of awe and wonder in his poem, describing Aherne as a "mighty dancer" who "shook the floorboards with his feet."
But "Owen Aherne And His Dancers" is more than just a tribute to a great dancer. It is also a meditation on the power of art to transcend the limitations of the human body and connect us to something greater than ourselves. Yeats writes:
"Owen Aherne and his dancers,
Did all that mortal could,
And I must cast my heart away
And find a lesser good."
In these lines, Yeats acknowledges the limitations of the human body and the fact that even the greatest dancers must eventually grow old and die. But he also suggests that there is something eternal and transcendent about art, something that allows us to connect with the divine and experience a sense of transcendence even in the face of our own mortality.
This theme of transcendence is further developed in the poem's final stanza, where Yeats writes:
"Owen Aherne and his dancers,
Still dance before my eyes;
And when the heart is full of song,
It never, never dies."
Here, Yeats suggests that the power of art is not limited to the physical realm, but extends into the spiritual realm as well. Even after Aherne and his dancers have passed away, their art lives on, inspiring and uplifting those who come after them. And even when we ourselves are gone, the beauty and power of art will continue to resonate, connecting us to something greater than ourselves and reminding us of the eternal nature of the human spirit.
But "Owen Aherne And His Dancers" is not just a meditation on the power of art. It is also a celebration of Irish culture and tradition. Yeats was deeply committed to preserving and promoting Irish culture, and his poetry often reflects this commitment. In "Owen Aherne And His Dancers," he celebrates the rich tradition of Irish dance and the way in which it has been passed down from generation to generation.
The poem also reflects Yeats' interest in the supernatural and the mystical. Aherne is described as possessing supernatural powers, and the poem suggests that his dancing is somehow connected to the divine. This theme of the supernatural is a recurring one in Yeats' poetry, and reflects his fascination with the occult and the mystical.
In conclusion, "Owen Aherne And His Dancers" is a beautiful and haunting tribute to the power of art and the human spirit. Through his portrayal of the legendary Irish dancer, Yeats captures the sense of awe and wonder that great art can inspire, and suggests that even in the face of our own mortality, the beauty and power of art can connect us to something greater than ourselves. The poem is also a celebration of Irish culture and tradition, and reflects Yeats' interest in the supernatural and the mystical. Overall, "Owen Aherne And His Dancers" is a masterpiece of modern poetry, and a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit.
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