William Butler Yeats - Biographical Summary

Early Life and Background

• Born: 1865 in Dublin, Ireland.
• Family: Son of a lawyer and a well-known portrait painter.
• Education: Studied in London and Dublin.
• Influence: Spent summers in Connaught, west of Ireland, contributing to his cultural and intellectual development.

Literary and Dramatic Work

• Early Work: First volume of verse appeared in 1887.
• Dramatic Influence: Initially more focused on dramatic work than poetry.
• Irish Literary Revival: Active participant in societies aimed at reviving Irish literature.
• Theatre Contributions: Co-founded the Irish Theatre, later known as the Abbey Theatre, with Lady Gregory.
  • Served as the chief playwright.
  • Collaborated with John Synge.

Notable Plays

• The Countess Cathleen (1892)
• The Land of Hearts Desire (1894)
• Cathleen ni Houlihan (1902)
• The King's Threshold (1904)
• Deirdre (1907)

Evolution in Dramatic Style

• Post-1910 Transition: Shifted to a highly poetical, static, and esoteric style.
• Influence of Japanese Noh Plays: Experimented with masks, dance, and music.
• Audience: Written for small audiences, reflecting a unique artistic vision.

Political Views and Involvement

• Nationalism: While a patriot, he opposed the hatred and bigotry within the Nationalist movement.
• Political Role: Appointed to the Irish Senate in 1922.

Recognition and Later Works

• Nobel Prize: Awarded in 1923, primarily for dramatic works.
• Poetic Legacy: Most significant works written post-Nobel Prize.
• Major Poetry Collections:
  • The Wild Swans at Coole (1919)
  • Michael Robartes and the Dancer (1921)
  • The Tower (1928)
  • The Winding Stair and Other Poems (1933)
  • Last Poems and Plays (1940)
• Themes: Explored art vs. life, masks, life's cyclical nature, and the ideal of beauty versus modern life's chaos.

Death

• Date: January 28, 1939.

References

• This biographical summary is based on information available through Nobel lectures and the Nobel Prize organization.