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Home CCSU Theses & Dissertations A Yeatsian definition of the poet and the poet's role / Kristen M. Smatt

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A Yeatsian definition of the poet and the poet's role / Kristen M. Smatt

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Identifier	Thesis 1667
Author	Smatt, Kristen M
Title	A Yeatsian definition of the poet and the poet's role / Kristen M. Smatt
Publisher	Central Connecticut State University
Date	2001
Resource Type	Master's Thesis
Notes	This thesis explores William Butler Yeats's definitions of himself as poet and also his role as a poet. Tracing Yeats's definition of himself in these roles as he progresses from youth to old age allows the reader to observe the changes Yeats undergoes as he evolves into a poet of Irish national standing. Yeats analyzes and theorizes the definition of the poet and how to achieve that status through his autobiographically linked poems. The path that Yeats followed as a poet was one of emotional and spiritual self-realization. Yeats's imagery and symbolism matured as he did; they are most meaningful and complex. Throughout the course of his poetry, Yeats grows from the youthful, idealistic man into the adult man, hardened by life and all it had to offer him. Yeats is not a didactic poet, although he often defines and redefines himself as a poet. In order to follow his thought, one must recognize certain dispositions that characterize Yeats as a poet. Yeats dramatizes his life through his poetry and plays it out upon the page. This thesis traces Yeats's many ideas of the poet by examining his poems chronologically, observing the development of his idea of himself and his role. Who the poet is, how one becomes a poet, and where one draws poetry from all can be found within Yeats's poems. The thesis is organized into three roughly chronological sections which build upon Yeats's expression of his identity as a poet. Each section draws upon selections from Yeats's poetry to elucidate his developing definition of the poet while exploring his poems and prose (especially Yeats's essays and letters) in an attempt to discern his definition of the poet. This thesis refers to research from secondary sources which relate to this issue, utilizing such critics as Harold Bloom, George Bornstein, Frank Kermode, Aladair Macrae, John Unterecker, and Alex Zwerdling. Section One concentrates on early influences on Yeats's life as an artist. It looks closely on Yeats's early ideas of who the poet is via influences in his life, such as that of his father and his readings of Shelley and Blake, and the consequent effects upon his decision to accept his life calling as a poet. Section Two concentrates upon Yeats's middle years (1900 to 1921) and the influences upon them that shaped him and his definition of himself as a poet. Contained within this section is a discussion Yeats's notion of poetry as the product of the argument with oneself and his idea of the mask. Yeats's essays, letters, and middle poetry are used to elucidate this discussion. Issues raised in Section Two include: The poet's invention of himself as opposed his essential makeup; the poet's public role; the need for a poet to have a society and a nation in order to become a great poet. The focus of Section Three is upon Yeats's later years (1921 to 1939) and his final views of himself as a poet. The poems used exemplify the poet's discussion with himself as he reflects upon the latter stages of his poetic life. Later poetry and prose is examined for his most self-defining statements. Yeats's life was defined as a struggle toward fulfillment - not in terms of happiness, but in terms of selfhood seen via the colors and forms of his poetry. He continued to learn as he wrote; he realized that reality was his cause for poetry: the constant questioning of identity, his connection to the past and to the future. He found his poetic personality in an evolving struggle with inheritance, aspirations, and reflections.
Subject	Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), 1865-1939
Department	Department of English
Advisor	Bonaccorso, Richard, 1941-
Type	Text
Digital Format	application/pdf
Language	eng
OCLC number	50704285
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Home CCSU Theses & Dissertations A Yeatsian definition of the poet and the poet's role / Kristen M. Smatt

A Yeatsian definition of the poet and the poet's role / Kristen M. Smatt

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