Old man visits lake Sees 59 swan Takes place in autumn Tone is reminiscent.
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Transcript of Old man visits lake Sees 59 swan Takes place in autumn Tone is reminiscent.
Old man visits lake
Sees 59 swan
Takes place in autumn
Tone is reminiscent
Describes swans in detail, envious
Swans start to fly around
At end, they settle on water
Swans in pairs
Speaker- William Butler Yeats
Listener- himself and indirectly readers
Swans symbolize author’s memories
Poem is extended metaphor of his memories
Autumn- near death
Water and sky calm- no reminiscing
59 swans- odd man out
19th autumn- swans appear eternal, living in past
Well finished- death
Scatter wheeling in great broken rings- life/memories flash before him
“I have looked…sore”- can’t relive memories, frustrating
“All’s changed…tread”- memories lift his spirits
“Unwearied…air”- swans are coupled, seem unchanged, can’t find love
“Their hearts have not grown old”- youthful
“Passion…still”- swans seem passionate, vibrant (memories still fresh)
“But now they drift on still water”- comes to grips that memories gone
“Mysterious, beautiful”- admires memories so much (that’s why difficult to let go)
“By….away?”- doesn't want to lose memories, know where they’ll be
Keating › Reminiscent
› Envious
› Enforces Carpe Diem
› Tries to be orderly in chaotic world