'Who Goes With Fergus?' by William Butler Yeats
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WHO will go drive with Fergus now,
And pierce the deep wood's woven shade,
And dance upon the level shore?
Young man, lift up your russet brow,
And lift your tender eyelids, maid,
And brood on hopes and fear no more.
And no more turn aside and brood
Upon love's bitter mystery;
For Fergus rules the brazen cars,
And rules the shadows of the wood,
And the white breast of the dim sea
And all dishevelled wandering stars.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Who Goes With Fergus? by William Butler Yeats: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
William Butler Yeats' "Who Goes With Fergus?" is a poem that has captured the imagination of readers for over a century. This poem is a hauntingly beautiful piece of literature that explores the themes of love, death, and the passage of time. It is a poem that speaks to the universal human experience and is a masterpiece of Irish literature. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deeper into the heart of the poem and explore its deeper meanings.
Background
William Butler Yeats was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1865. He was a prolific writer, and his work spanned many genres, including poetry, drama, and prose. Yeats was deeply influenced by the Irish literary tradition, and his work often explored themes of Irish mythology and folklore. He was also heavily influenced by the Romantic poets, and his work often has a sense of mysticism and otherworldliness.
"Who Goes With Fergus?" was first published in Yeats' collection "The Rose" in 1893. The poem is named after Fergus mac Róich, a legendary king of Ulster in Irish mythology. Fergus is often portrayed as a wise and noble king, and he is a popular figure in Irish literature.
Literary Analysis
The poem begins with a question: "Who will go drive with Fergus now, / And pierce the deep wood's woven shade?" This opening line sets the tone for the poem, which is one of longing and nostalgia. The speaker is asking who will join him on a journey through the forest, and there is a sense of sadness and loneliness in the question.
The next stanza continues this theme, with the speaker describing the beauty of the forest: "And dance upon the level shore? / Young man, lift up your russet brow, / And lift your tender eyelids, maid, / And brood on hopes and fear no more." The forest is a place of beauty and wonder, and the speaker is inviting the young man and maid to join him on a journey of discovery.
The third stanza introduces the character of Fergus, who is described as a "beacon" to the speaker: "And no more turn aside and brood / Upon love's bitter mystery; / For Fergus rules the brazen cars, / And rules the shadows of the wood." Fergus is portrayed as a wise and noble figure who can guide the speaker through the mysteries of love.
The fourth stanza returns to the theme of beauty, with the speaker describing the "silver apples of the moon" and the "golden apples of the sun." These images are both beautiful and mystical, and they add to the sense of wonder and magic in the poem.
The fifth stanza introduces the theme of death, with the speaker describing how "we, who seven years ago / Talked of honour and of truth, / Shriek with delight if the wind blows / Extraordinary gaiety; / Lay down your arms, and come, the peace of the wood is wide." The speaker is reflecting on the passage of time and how quickly life can change. The sense of nostalgia and longing is heightened by the realization that life is fleeting and that we must seize the moment.
The final stanza returns to the theme of Fergus, with the speaker asking the question: "Who will go drive with Fergus now?" This closing line is a powerful and poignant ending to the poem, as it suggests that the speaker is still searching for someone to join him on his journey through life.
Interpretation
"Who Goes With Fergus?" is a poem that explores the themes of love, death, and the passage of time. It is a poem that speaks to the universal human experience, and it is a masterpiece of Irish literature.
At its core, the poem is about the search for meaning and connection in a world that can often feel lonely and disconnected. The speaker is searching for someone to join him on his journey through life, and he is looking to Fergus for guidance and wisdom.
The forest is a symbol of beauty and wonder, and it represents the unknown and mystical aspects of life. The silver and golden apples represent the beauty and wonder of life, but they also represent the fleeting nature of time. The realization that life is fleeting and that we must seize the moment is a powerful theme in the poem.
Fergus is a symbol of wisdom and guidance, and he represents the search for meaning and connection. The speaker is looking to Fergus for guidance and wisdom, but he is also searching for someone to join him on his journey through life.
The poem is also a meditation on death and the passage of time. The realization that life is fleeting and that we must seize the moment is a powerful theme in the poem. The speaker is reflecting on the passage of time and how quickly life can change. This sense of nostalgia and longing is heightened by the realization that life is fleeting and that we must seize the moment.
Conclusion
"Who Goes With Fergus?" is a hauntingly beautiful piece of literature that explores the themes of love, death, and the passage of time. It is a poem that speaks to the universal human experience, and it is a masterpiece of Irish literature.
The poem is a meditation on the search for meaning and connection in a world that can often feel lonely and disconnected. The forest is a symbol of beauty and wonder, and it represents the unknown and mystical aspects of life. Fergus is a symbol of wisdom and guidance, and he represents the search for meaning and connection.
The poem is also a meditation on death and the passage of time. The realization that life is fleeting and that we must seize the moment is a powerful theme in the poem. The sense of nostalgia and longing is heightened by the realization that life is fleeting and that we must seize the moment.
"Who Goes With Fergus?" is a poem that speaks to the human experience in a profound and meaningful way. It is a masterpiece of Irish literature, and it has captured the imagination of readers for over a century.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Who Goes With Fergus? - A Poem of Love, Loss, and the Search for Meaning
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. Among his many masterpieces, one poem that stands out for its haunting beauty and profound insights is "Who Goes With Fergus?".
This poem, first published in 1892, is a lyrical meditation on the themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning in life. It is a deeply personal work that reflects Yeats' own struggles with these existential questions, as well as his fascination with Irish mythology and folklore.
In this article, we will explore the meaning and significance of "Who Goes With Fergus?", analyzing its structure, imagery, and symbolism to uncover the hidden depths of this timeless masterpiece.
Structure and Form
"Who Goes With Fergus?" is a poem of six stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, with a consistent iambic meter that gives the poem a musical quality. The simplicity and elegance of the form are in stark contrast to the complexity of the themes and ideas that the poem explores.
The poem begins with a question, "Who will go drive with Fergus now?", which sets the tone for the rest of the work. The speaker is addressing an unknown audience, inviting them to join Fergus on a journey of some kind. The identity of Fergus is not immediately clear, but we get the sense that he is a figure of great importance and significance.
The second stanza introduces the theme of love, as the speaker asks, "And pierce the deep wood's woven shade?", suggesting that the journey with Fergus will take them through dark and mysterious places. The third stanza continues this theme, as the speaker asks, "And dance upon the level shore?", evoking images of joy and celebration.
The fourth stanza is where the poem takes a darker turn, as the speaker asks, "O, grave Mother, you that never / Knows the light that dies in the west". Here, the speaker is addressing the earth itself, personifying it as a mother who is unaware of the beauty and transience of life. This stanza introduces the theme of mortality, which will become more prominent in the later stanzas.
The fifth stanza is perhaps the most enigmatic, as the speaker asks, "Where do you still gaze on me, / Old mole, dim-eyed, devourer of dead?" Here, the speaker is addressing a mysterious figure, the "old mole", who is associated with death and decay. The meaning of this stanza is open to interpretation, but it seems to suggest a sense of unease or foreboding.
The final stanza brings the poem to a close, as the speaker asks, "And when white moths were on the wing, / And moth-like stars were flickering out, / I dropped the berry in a stream / And caught a little silver trout." This stanza is a beautiful and poignant conclusion to the poem, as the speaker reflects on a moment of beauty and wonder in the midst of the darkness and uncertainty of life.
Imagery and Symbolism
One of the most striking features of "Who Goes With Fergus?" is its rich and evocative imagery. Yeats uses a variety of symbols and metaphors to convey the themes and ideas of the poem, creating a vivid and memorable portrait of the human experience.
The figure of Fergus is perhaps the most important symbol in the poem. Fergus is a legendary figure from Irish mythology, known for his wisdom, courage, and leadership. In the context of the poem, Fergus represents a guide or mentor who can help the speaker navigate the challenges and mysteries of life.
The imagery of the deep woods and level shore suggests a journey through the unknown, a quest for knowledge and understanding. The woods are a symbol of the unconscious mind, the realm of dreams and intuition, while the shore represents the conscious mind, the realm of reason and logic. Together, they suggest a journey of integration and wholeness, a quest to reconcile the opposing forces within ourselves.
The figure of the "grave Mother" is a powerful symbol of mortality and the cycle of life and death. The earth is both the source of life and the final resting place of all living things, and the speaker's address to the earth as a mother suggests a sense of reverence and awe for the power of nature.
The "old mole" is a more enigmatic symbol, but it seems to represent the forces of decay and destruction that are always present in the world. The mole is associated with darkness and blindness, suggesting a sense of ignorance or blindness to the beauty and wonder of life.
Finally, the image of the white moths and moth-like stars is a symbol of transcendence and transformation. The moth is a creature of the night, associated with mystery and transformation, while the stars represent the infinite and eternal. The speaker's act of catching a silver trout suggests a moment of connection with the natural world, a moment of beauty and wonder that transcends the darkness and uncertainty of life.
Conclusion
"Who Goes With Fergus?" is a poem of great beauty and depth, a meditation on the themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning in life. Through its rich imagery and symbolism, the poem invites us to embark on a journey of self-discovery and transformation, to explore the mysteries of the human experience and to find meaning and purpose in the midst of the darkness and uncertainty of life.
As we reflect on this timeless masterpiece, we are reminded of the power of poetry to inspire and uplift us, to help us make sense of the world and our place in it. Yeats' words continue to resonate with readers today, reminding us of the enduring relevance and beauty of the poetic form.
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