Celtic Tradition: The Guiding Force of William Butler Yeats (original) (raw)
Related papers
Occulture: WB Yeats'Prose Fiction and the Late Nineteenth
2009
In addition to being a respected poet, dramatist, essayist, and statesman, William Butler Yeats was a dedicated student of the occult and practicing magician for most of his adult life. In spite of his dedication, Yeats' commitment to occultism has often been ridiculed as "bughouse" (as Ezra Pound put it), shunted to the margins of academic discourse, or ignored altogether. Yeats' occult-focused prose fiction-the occult trilogy of stories "Rosa Alchemica," "The Tables of the Law," and "The Adoration of the Magi" and the unfinished novel The Speckled Bird-has often received similarly dismissive treatment. Some critics have accused Yeats of being an escapist or of being out of touch with the intellectual currents of his time. However, Yeats was in touch with the intellectual currents of his time, one of which was the late nineteenth-and early twentieth-century occult revival. This was not a fringe movement; it was one which intersected with some of the most pressing social and cultural issues of the time. These include the dissatisfaction with mainstream religions, the renegotiation of women's roles, the iv backlash against science, and nationalism and the colonial enterprise. This intersection is what I have termed occulture. The central purpose of this dissertation is twofold. First, I demonstrate the cultural and academic relevance of the occult revival by analyzing its connections to these critical issues. Second, I situate the occult trilogy and The Speckled Bird as artifacts of the occult revival and its associated facets. Through its main characters, the occult trilogy illustrates a fragmented self associated with literary modernism and with scientific challenges to individual identity from Darwin, Freud, and others. In addition, these three stories exemplify a sacralization of the domestic sphere which conflicts with the officially-sanctioned sacred spaces of mainstream religions. The Speckled Bird also reconfigures the sacred space as Michael Hearne contemplates a magical order with Irish nationalist implications. In examining these works within this historical context, I present them as texts which engage with the social and cultural landscape of the time. v
W. B. YEATS’S POETRY: CRYSTALLIZING IRISH ETHNIC AND NATIONAL IDENTITY
Myths and folklore often help create ethnic and national identity. Common shared heroic or subjugated backgrounds serve as focal points around which people can rally to a common cause. When the questions of ethnicity, identity and their impact upon literature, and viceversa, are mentioned the poetry of W. B. Yeats has to be reckoned with as a force which was both influenced by and deeply influenced the crystallization of Irish ethnicity and identity through the unearthing of myths and Celtic folklore lost in the palimpsest of time.
YEATS AND CELTIC HEROISM: AN APPRAISAL
The paper intends to analyze the importance of Irish mythological heroes in the poetry of W.B.Yeats in the context of Irish nationalism. The Irish Literary Revival had its ramifications, as is quite evident from the inspiration which rebels got from the Irish legendary heroes like Finn, Oisin and Cuchulain in fighting against all odds for the sake of Irish soil. Yeats being a serious artist and staunch patriot was well aware about the importance of myths, folklore and legends in shaping the psyche of the common masses. The paper will try to highlight the significance of these mythological heroes as a source of inspiration for the Irish nationalists. Taking 'time and space' limitations into consideration, the main focus will be on Irish legendary heroes like Cuchulain and Oisin.
An Investigation into W.B. Yeats’s Occult Philosophy Through an Analysis of Two of his Lyric Poems
An understanding of Yeats’s mystical philosophy, in particular his cyclical view of history, is essential for illuminating the intricacies of his lyrical symbolism. Simply more than just metaphors, the rape of Leda and the Beast’s awakening are emblematic of the same theme: of the intellectual gyres rupturing the fabric of human history, of the point of contact between immortal and mortal forces. By unifying the metaphoric acts with the music of the lyric, Yeats evokes a unique mood, creates a total symbol that resists intellectual comprehension, just as the transcendent godhead itself cannot be comprehended through reason alone. This symbolic evocation emotionally suggests the presence of the spiritual forces that many skeptically overlook. More than just a stylistic flourish or eccentric interest, an understanding of Yeats’s occult psychology is essential for illuminating the symbolic power of two of his greatest poems.
1975
London and Basingstoke Associated Companies inN ew York Dublin Melbourne Johannesh by and Madras This book has been published with the help of a grant from the Humanities Research Council of Canada, using funds provided by the Canada Council. This book is sold subject to the standard conditions of the Net Book Agreement.
Otto, Bernd-Christian & Johannsen, Dirk (Red.), Fictional Practice: Magic, Narration, and the Power of Imagination. Brill Academic Publishers., 2021
During the late nineteenth century, creating fiction had become a business and the literary imagination had become a resource. Established in 1888 as a secret society for the practice of magic and the study of the creative imagination, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn provided a considerable infrastructure that would cater to the expectations and needs of upcoming artists. The magic performed within the order promised not only to transform the adepts, but also their art. Among the magicians of the Golden Dawn, it is especially William Butler Yeats who gave a consistent account of how magic would continue to flourish in the modern age: through its merging with fiction. Studying Yeats' role in the order between 1890 and 1901, this chapter details how his development of a ‘talismanic poetry’ allowed for a fictional practice in a strict sense: ritualistic and poetic work became dependent upon each other, with their theories aligned and their effects identified to be of the same nature.
The Politics of W. B. Yeats's Poetic Expression
Introduction William Butler Yeats is a name that is familiar to almost everyone. It infuses something great and splendid immediately after hearing it. Indeed, Yeats was considered one of the most magnificent Irish national poets of all time. He loved his country, and he was not afraid to show it through his poems and his political engagement. Living at a crucial period in Irish history, his poetry is linked to the struggle for national self-definition. He had a somewhat interesting life, as most poets do, however, what really strikes the most about him is his deep passion for mysticism and occult matters. Many of his poems are interwoven with some kind of mystic touch, no matter what the theme of his writing is. My own passion for astrology and occultism makes me sympathize with Yeats even more than I would, knowing he was a very good poet alone. He was a theosophist, and his belief in reincarnation and spiritual evolution could not be more in line with my own spiritual beliefs. The fact that he lived his life to the full, adorning his poetry with passion and energy, believing in the power of Irish people and Irish legends, and never giving in to the sorrows of his unrequited love for Maude Gonne, infuses a great respect and admiration for the poet on my behalf. He once wrote the following words: “What can be explained is not poetry”, and I believe it is much more than poetry that is impossible to explain about such an intricate and profound figure as W. B. Yeats. In spite of my deep interest in occultism, this paper is predominately focused on Yeats’s political and public engagement and how his deep passion for Ireland is reflected in his work. Further, I explain the political background in the world at the time and how it might influence the situation in Ireland, as well as Yeats’s personal attitude towards the events taking place in his country. Finally, I focus on Yeats’s political views as they are presented in his poetical expression and analyze one of his greatest works, Easter 1916.