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When You Are Old Notes

The poem 'When You Are Old' by W.B. Yeats addresses a young woman the poet loves, contrasting her transient beauty with the permanence of his spiritual love. The poet reflects on how she will eventually be left with regret for not recognizing his true affection as her physical beauty fades. The poem employs a time frame of present and future, highlighting the differences between youthful admiration and the enduring nature of genuine love.

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67 views

When You Are Old Notes

The poem 'When You Are Old' by W.B. Yeats addresses a young woman the poet loves, contrasting her transient beauty with the permanence of his spiritual love. The poet reflects on how she will eventually be left with regret for not recognizing his true affection as her physical beauty fades. The poem employs a time frame of present and future, highlighting the differences between youthful admiration and the enduring nature of genuine love.

Uploaded by

Shankar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 6 - When You Are Old

Comprehension I

1. The poet is addressing


(a) a young woman the poet has loved
(b) an old woman that he has met now
(c) the woman that he has admired in his life
Ans: (a) a young woman the poet has loved

2. In line two, the word ‘book’ refers to


(a) memories
(b) book of poems
(c) an album
(d) diary
Ans: (b) book of poems

3. The words ‘glad grace’ suggests


(a) her physical beauty
(b) her inner beauty
(c) her goodness
Ans: (a) her physical beauty

4. ‘Pilgrim soul’ means the soul


(a) which is immortal
(b) that has gone on a pilgrimage
(c) which is in quest of true love
Ans: (c) which is in quest of true love

5. What does the phrase ‘your changing face’ suggest?


Ans: It suggests that her youth and beauty will fade away.

6. ‘Love fled’ connotes


(a) the death of the man who loved her
(b) the fleeing of her lover to the mountains
(c) the loss endured by her
Ans: (c) the loss endured by her

Comprehension II

1. How is the ‘one man’ different from the many others who loved the lady?
Ans: William Butler Yeats is an Irish poet and one of the foremost figures 20 th century
literature. The speaker of the poem addresses the most beautiful lady of his time who does not
reciprocate his love. The poet visualizes her old age and thinks that, by then, the lady will be
left with none but only with his book of poems that express his true love for her. He now feels
that the young lady whom he loves so intensely is surrounded by many young love aspirants
who are merely drawn to her physical beauty. He doubts if their intentions of love is true or
false. In contrast, he says that he is the one man different from them as he has loved the pilgrim
soul in her.

2. Does the poem bring out the transient nature of beauty as against permanence of love?
Ans: W.B. Yeats in this poem says that the young lady is surrounded by many who are
attracted to her physical beauty. Once it wears off, what remains will be nothing. He states
that she does not understand his true love. He loves her spiritual soul rather than her physical
self. The poet thus says that the lady who now enjoys attention hardly understands that in
future she will be left only with regret. The poem emphasises the fact that beauty is transient
against permanence of love.

Comprehension III

1. Comment on the usage of time frame by the poet.

OR

2. “When You Are Old” is a poem of contrasts. What purposes do they serve?

Ans: “When You Are Old” is a short love poem written by one of the best known Irish poets
W.B. Yeats. Here the poet addresses the most beautiful young lady of his time whom he loved.
The poem has a time frame of present and future. Besides, it presents striking contrasts. In the
poem the poet feels that his pure love for her is not reciprocated by her, so he asserts his
spiritual love. The poem sets up a time frame of present and future in comparison with youth
and old age. The lady seems to bask in her stardom as understandably, there are many who
just adore her glamour and beauty. The poet has found the pilgrim soul in her which appeals
to his heart. The opening stanza presents the picture of the future years when the lady will be
left with none but only the lines of the poet. He says that the lady will only regret the loss of
her spiritual love and youth.
The poem shifts to the present in the second stanza where the poet brings us the picture of the
lady surrounded by love aspirant youth. He regrets that she does not perceive his real spiritual
love. The poem concludes with a shift to the future years where she will have lost her beauty
and love. The poet sadly concludes that his soul will have traversed beyond her reach over the
mountains.
The poet has used wide contrasts in terms of present and future and beauty and time. He takes
a conservative stand in his spiritual love in contrast with the many who loved her glad grace.

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