In this assignment I will compare and contrast three poems based on the
theme of love. I will look at 'He Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven' by W.B
Yeats, Robert Burns' 'A Red,Red Rose' and the 'Lucy Poems' by
Wordsworth. I will focus on each poet's tradition and culture, the poet's use
of language and the similarities and differences between each poem. I will
conclude the assignment with my personal response.
'He Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven' was written by W.B Yeats.
William Butler Yeats was born in Dublin in 1865. He abandoned his
painting career after only three years to pursue a writing career with lyrics
and plays. He eventually developed his own individual style and his work
was known for being particularly 'Irish'. He went on writing for the rest of
his life, and eventually died in 1948.
In the poem 'He Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven' W.B Yeats
expresses his love for Maud Gonne. Gonne was an extreme Nationalist who
rejected W.B Yeats and eventually married Major John MacBride in 1903.
After this period there is a noticeable change in Yeats' poetry, perhaps
because he realised his dreams of a life with Maud could never become a
In 'He Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven' the tone is calm and
peaceful, due to the sibilants used, nasal and 'L' sounds which combine to
"Silver light" "Softly" "Embroidered cloths"
To help the tone flow peacefully along there are no exclamation marks,
dashes or monosyllables to interrupt the flow. Yeats creates a soft rhyming
melody and tune, almost like a lullaby. The natural stress in each word helps
to create the rhythm, A B A B C D C D.
Yeats' use of language creates very clear visual images, eg 'heaven'
has connotations of peace ,serenity, almost a nirvana. Likewise
&apos...