Sailing To Byzantium|Summary&Analysis|Yeats
The famous poem "Sailing to Byzantium" was written by William Butler Yeats. It was first published in the 1928 collection"The tower".It is divided into four stanzas in Ottava rima. Yeats expresses his thoughts and feelings on immortality in an impressive way. The poet was about 60 years old when he wrote this poem. This phase of age is mostly spiritual for all human beings. In the same way, Yeats was very spiritual at this through the use of various poetic techniques.
It describes the metaphorical journey of a man pursuing his own vision of eternal life. This poem is one of the greatest poems of the twentieth century. The poet expresses his thoughts of old age. According to the poet, at an old age, spiritual work is required to keep mind calm. He says that the old man should leave the country of the young and travel to Byzantium, the holy city. Here the poet expresses his mind that saints will appear in the fire in the holy place of Byzantium to purify the soul of the poet.
It describes the metaphorical journey of a man pursuing his own vision of eternal life. This poem is one of the greatest poems of the twentieth century. The poet expresses his thoughts of old age. According to the poet, at an old age, spiritual work is required to keep mind calm. He says that the old man should leave the country of the young and travel to Byzantium, the holy city. Here the poet expresses his mind that saints will appear in the fire in the holy place of Byzantium to purify the soul of the poet.
Analysis.....Stanza wise
Stanza-1
That is no country---------intellect.
Here in this stanza, the poet expresses his feelings in his country. He says that there is no place for old people in his country. His country where he lives has changed completely. The young people in the country do not like old things and people. They are busy loving their young partners. They are busy with physical pleasure. Although there is beautiful natural surrounding. The birds are singing melodious songs. Birds are sitting on the trees but the young people do not give attention to their songs. They seem to the poet like dying generation who are busy in lust and physical love.
The poet expresses his thought with the example of Salmon fish which live in the sea and is always busy in reproducing new fish. As the animals are busy in giving birth to new animals and birds are busy in giving new life to their chick. Like this people are also busy in giving birth to a new generation. They are busy with physical pleasures. They do not feel pleasure in the natural beauty.
They are surrounded by material and physical pleasure. They born and die with this pleasure. They do not feel other natural pleasure of earth.
Even they do not like old things, old buildings, old monuments, old culture and art. They only like their own new culture. They do not understand the importance of old things. Although old things have a great culture, art and history. They neglect old people. They do not respect their intellect and experience. They do not understand the beauty of the old culture and art.
Stanza--2
an aged -------------Byzantium.
In this stanza, the poet exposes the physical appearance of an old man. The old man looks like a useless thing. He looks like a torn coat hanging on a stick. There is no respect for old people in the country. The old people are only petty things for the young man of the country. The poet says that he wants to sing songs in louder noise and wants to clap with his hands joyously. His body has become very weak. Still, he wants to do singing and clapping for his happiness. The poet further says that there is no place for old people to enjoy but there are old monuments for study. Monuments have its own glory. therefore the poet wants to go to the holy city of Byzantium. He sails the sea for the holy city of Byzantium. Thus he goes to the holy city of Byzantium.
Stanza--3
O sages---------eternity.
In this stanza, the poet addresses the sages who are standing in the holy fire. When the poet enters the holy city of Byzantium he sees the sages. He compares the sages to the figure stands in the gold mosaic work. The poet requests the sages to come from the holy fire and spin in the gyre to educate his soul. The poet wants to learn spiritual singing of soul from the sages. The poet asks the sages to guide him for purification of his soul.
He says that his heart has become tired of sensual desires. So he prays the saints to come and purify his heart. The poet says that he has worldly desires like animals and he has become animal in his behaviour but now he wants to be a purified man. The poet further says that the worldly desires and matters have profaned his soul, therefore, he does not know how to purify his soul. He prays the saints to purify him. He wants to become an immortal art. Now the poet has become sick of the cycle of birth and death. He wants to escape from this cycle and wants to be permanent.
Stanza--4
Once out--------------to come.
The poet says when he gets purified he will become the golden bird. The Grecian goldsmith made the golden bird to sing and make the king awake. He further says that he wants to be such a piece of art as a golden bird awake the king. He says that he would awake the king. He would sit in the golden tree and sing the stories of kings and queens and he would sing the stories of past, present and future of the people who would come to the holy city of Byzantium.
