Old man visits lake

Sees 59 swan

Takes place in autumn

Tone is reminiscent

Describes swans in detail, envious

Swans start to fly around

At end, they settle on water

Swans in pairs

Speaker- William Butler Yeats

Listener- himself and indirectly readers

Swans symbolize author’s memories

Poem is extended metaphor of his memories

Autumn- near death

Water and sky calm- no reminiscing

59 swans- odd man out

19th autumn- swans appear eternal, living in past

Well finished- death

Scatter wheeling in great broken rings- life/memories flash before him

“I have looked…sore”- can’t relive memories, frustrating

“All’s changed…tread”- memories lift his spirits

“Unwearied…air”- swans are coupled, seem unchanged, can’t find love

“Their hearts have not grown old”- youthful

“Passion…still”- swans seem passionate, vibrant (memories still fresh)

“But now they drift on still water”- comes to grips that memories gone

“Mysterious, beautiful”- admires memories so much (that’s why difficult to let go)

“By….away?”- doesn't want to lose memories, know where they’ll be

Keating › Reminiscent

› Envious

› Enforces Carpe Diem

› Tries to be orderly in chaotic world