William Butler Yeats (June 13, 1865 - January 28, 1939) is perhaps the poet most associated with Ireland, quite an achievement in a land which has produced such a remarkable number of writers.
William Butler Yeats (June 13, 1865 - January 28, 1939) is perhaps the poet most associated with Ireland, quite an achievement in a land which has produced such a remarkable number of writers.
Much of Yeats' work can be described by the title of his collection of 1893 The Celtic Twilight, and this term came to be used of a school of writers. Their common theme was a longing for a perhaps mythical Celtic past, of fairies and hobgoblins, druidism and spiritual mysteries, and a reverence for nature. This force continues today, as we can see in the development of Wicca and other new age religions, of celtic Christianity and the continuing interest in all things "Celtic". Much of this can be attributed to Yeats, whose verse popularised and disseminated his love for Ireland's past in much the same way as William Morris' many artistic endeavours encouraged a wide-ranging interest in English mediaevalism. Indeed the Arts and Crafts movement has a bearing on Yeats, for sisters were involved with the movement.
Yeats was born in Dublin, but his father, a portrait painter, moved the family to London until 1880. Yeats published his first poems in the Dublin University Review while still at school, and for two years from 1884, attended the Metropolitan School of Art. In 1887 the Yeats family moved back to London where, in 1890, Yeats co-founded the Rhymers Club which published collections of the verse of its members.
In 1889 Yeats met Maud Gonne, the woman who was to have an enormous influence on his later works. He developed a romantic attachment to her, which she did not reciprocate, although he proposed to her many times. She eventually married an Irish Nationalist (she was active in the movement).
In 1896, together with Lady Augusta Gregory, Yeats spearheaded the Irish Literary Revival (Celtic Revival), which drew together emerging Irish authors such as J M Synge and Sean O'Casey to write verse that was uniquely Irish while also influenced by modern styles. At the time there was considerable interest in ancient poetry and Gaelic folk songs which provided fresh ideas and influences to a generation. It was during this period that Yeats became involved with the foundation of the Abbey Theatre, which he wrote plays for and helped run until his death.
Yeats was heavily involved with the revival of ancient paganism and a variety of esoteric practises. He formed the Dublin Hermetic Order, was involved with Theosophy and attended seances and became head of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in 1900.
His early poetry was based on Irish myth and legend, and heavily influenced by the works of Shelley and the pre-Raphaelite poets.
After 1913 a more modern style can be seen in Yeats' work, which can partly be attributed to his friendship with Ezra Pound and to the work of new writers who he met through him. This marked a movement from the Celtic Twilight into Irish Nationalism, which can be seen in his poems September 1913 and Easter 1916. Yeats was appointed to the Seanad Éireann in 1922. Towards the end of his life, Yeats' poetry became more personal, talking about growing old and about his family. Yeats spent his last years away from Ireland, dying in France at the age of 73. He was first buried at Roquebrune and his body was later moved (according to his wishes) to Drumecliff, Sligo where his epitaph reads:
"Cast a cold eye
on life, on death;
horseman, pass by!"
See his poem From `Under Ben Bulben' for more.
Dublin literary gossip of 1898-1904 a very funny site with lots of information and pictures of just about everyone you've ever heard of in Ireland (and plenty you haven't) and what they were doing during these years.
The Complete Poems (Warning: this site has lots of popups. If you know of a better one, please tell me.)
© Dubhóc MacEògainn, 2005.
