W.B. Yeats (1865-1939) was a prominent Irish poet and dramatist, noted for reviving Irish literature and his significant contributions to modernist poetry. A member of the Irish Senate, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923, becoming the first Irishman to be honored with the award. His poetry reflects his deep engagement with Irish culture and mythology, as well as personal themes related to his relationships and societal observations.

1. PRESENTATION
INTRODUCTION TO W.B. YEATS
INSTRUCTOR: MRS.GHAZALA YASMIN
PREPARED BY: HIRA BATOOL
ROLL NO:06
LEVEL: MA-ENG 4TH SEMESTER
GSCWU

2. 1865-1939

3.  Born in Dublin, Anglo-Irish family
 His father was John Butler Yeats, a portrait
artist and his mother was susan Mary Pollexfen.
 Fascinated by Irish mythology and the occult
 Spiritual by nature, but couldn’t accept Christian
dogma
 Caught up in the rise of the ‘Fenians’ , 1890’s
nationalism and the demand for Irish home rule
 1899 met Maud Gonne
 Became infatuated with her
 Proposed several times, but was refused
 she married another revolutionary
 1908 began an affair with her

4.  1916 finally marries at the age of 51
 Met wife in his occult clubs
 She was a ‘’spirit’’ or ‘’automatic’’ writer
 Marriage was successful
 1922-1928 a senator in the Irish Free State

5. W.B. Yeats was a famous Irish poet, dramatist and
one of the pioneers of the literary world in 20th
century.
 He was also a member of the Irish Senate and
served it for two terms. His contribution to the
English Literature is as high as that to his native
the Irish literature, where he is remembered for
his role in reviving the literature.
 In 1923, Yeats was awarded the honorary Nobel
Prize in literature making him the first Irishman
to be in honored with the award.

6.  The leader of Irish Literary Movement
 A good friend of Rabinrdanath Tagore
 An Irish Poet
 Poet Laureate (Noble Prize in 1923)
 Modernist Poet

9.  Learning from his mother
 Godolphin primary school
 Erasmus Smith High school, Dublin
 Metropolitan School of Art (the National College
of Art and Design)
 Influenced by PB Shelley and William Blake
 Pre-Raphaelite verse and Irish myth and
traditions
 Tradition of Myth and Culture of Irish people

10.  In 1899, Yeats met Maud Gonne, a poet, feminist
and a fervent nationalist.
 He proposed marriage to her at least three times;
in 1899, 1900 and 1901 and was rejected each
time which was probably a result of his lack
enthusiasm to contribute in the revolutionary
movement.
 In 1903, Maud Gonne married a nationalists
revolutionary Major MacBride
 Lady Gragory helped in founding Abbey Theatre in
Dublin
 On 20th October 1917, Yeats married a friend
George Hyde Lees
 Two children: daughter, born in 1919 and son
Michael, born in 1921. Yeats wrote two poems ‘’ A
Prayer for My Daughter’’ and “A Prayer for My Son”
for them.

11.  “Mosada” (A Dramatic Poem) in 1880
 “The Wanderings of Oisin” in 1899
 “Responsibilities” in 1916
 “The Tower” in 1928
 “Later Poems” in 1922
 “Collected Poems” in 1949
 In 1899, Yeats co found the Irish Literary
Theatre in Dublin
 One of the first plays performed there waas his
Catheleen ni Houlihan, with Maud Gonne
portraying the main character
 Abbey Theatre, which was also known as the
National Theatre of Ireland.

13.  Yeats’ philosophy of Irish History
 Changing of the Old Irish Civilization
 The birth of New Irish Civilization
 His Disappointment towards his society
 And Using of Irish Myths and Phrases (widening
gyre, ceremony of Innocence, Spritus Mundi, a
shape with lion body and head of a man etc.)

15.  No blame on Maud Gonne for his ruined.
 The only trouble was that those people’s
courage did not lived up to their desire.
 Her beauty is like a ‘tightened bow’.
 She was capable of burning another Troy.
 There is no second Troy to burn for her.
 Was a good example of how Yeats was able to
use Greek mythology to great advantage for
poetic purposes.

16.  A personal poem. Annie Butler Yeats.
 Worried about the future of his daughter.
 Yeats’ love for tradition and custom. (not any
christian values)
 He wishes her to have beauty but not vanity.
Helen, Maud Gonne and Venus the goddess of
love.
 He wanted her to be glad naturally.
 Intellectual hatred is the worst at all.
 “ceremony” is lie horn of plenty and”custom” is
like the growing laurel-tree providing shade and
comfort to all.

17.  To sum up, it can be easily said that the auto-
biography of W.B. Yeats is vividly reflected in
his poems. We fine almost all cultures and
tradition as well as history of Irish people in his
poems.
 He was very much attracted to his own culture
and history. That’s why he is considered as the
National Poet of Ireland. At-last, we may
conclude by reciting the some unforgettable
lines from his poem “ A Prayer of Daughter”.
 Ceremony is a name for name for the rich horn,
And custom for the spreading laurel tree.”

18. THANKS FOR CONCENTRATION