English Literature Made Easy for Students

  When You Are Old-Explanation-Line-to-Line-W B Yeats William Butler Yeats was born in Dublin in 1865 and died in 1939. He was a great Irish poet. He is considered one of the great modern poets also. He began writing poetry at an early age and he was much influenced by Spenser, Shelley, and a few Pre-Raphaelite poets also. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1923. About the Poem When You Are Old’ is WB Yeats’ memorable poem which deals with the theme of ‘love’ that is expressed by the poet in a very unique manner. It is said that the great Irish poet, W. B. Yeats had immense love for Maud Gonne, who was equally active in native politics. Several times the poet expressed his love for her, but he was always met with rejection. It seems that, while writing this poem, the poet writes this poem keeping in view his beloved Maud Gonne, whom he continuously loved and his love indeed met with a failure. In the present poem, the poet tries to convince his beloved that he was...

  Questions & Answers: When You Are Old By WB Yeats: Answer in about 20-30 words Q1. Explain the rhyme scheme used in the poem ‘When You Are Old’. Ans. In this poem, each stanza has four lines. We also find that in each stanza. the first line rhymes with the fourth and the second line rhymes with the third one. This is the rhyme scheme in the poem is abba, cddc, effe Q2. How does the poet use personification in this poem 'When You Are Old'? Ans. The poet uses personification here to bring out the meaning that true love is a rare phenomenon on this earth. He says that it has left the earthly surroundings and fled by pacing upon the mountains. It has hidden his face amid the crowd of stars. One cannot pick up a star and bring it down on the earth. So it has become to find true love on the earth. The use of the word ‘murmur’ shows regret. Q3. How does Yeats nostalgically recall his beloved? Ans. The poet nostalgically recalls the days when his beloved was young...