Leda and the Swan

by W.B. Yeats

Genres: Poetry, Classics, Mythology, 20th Century, Greek Mythology, Adult, Literature

8 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 1935

About the author

William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet and dramatist, and one of the foremost figures of 20th century literature. A pillar of both the Irish and British literary establishments, in his later years Yeats served as an Irish Senator for two terms. He was a driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival, and along with Lady Gregory and Edward Martyn founded the Abbey Theatre, serving as its chief during its early years. In 1923 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for what the Nobel Committee described as "inspired poetry, which in a highly artistic form gives expression to the spirit of a whole nation." He was the first Irishman so honored. Yeats is generally considered one of the few writers who completed their greatest works after being awarded the Nobel Prize; such works include The Tower (1928) and The Winding Stair and Other Poems (1929).

Yeats was born and educated in Dublin but spent his childhood in County Sligo. He studied poetry in his youth, and from an early age was fascinated by both Irish legends and the occult. Those topics feature in the first phase of his work, which lasted roughly until the turn of the century. His earliest volume of verse was published in 1889, and those slow paced and lyrical poems display debts to Edmund Spenser and Percy Bysshe Shelley, as well as to the Pre-Raphaelite poets. From 1900, Yeats' poetry grew more physical and realistic. He largely renounced the transcendental beliefs of his youth, though he remained preoccupied with physical and spiritual masks, as well as with cyclical theories of life.
--from Wikipedia

Reviews

[˗ˏˋ n a j v a ˊˎ˗ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two and a half stars for Yeats’ masterful pen. However, the approach to human encounter with divinity or epiphany in this> way is highly questionable for me.

Do I, as a literature student, read poems to educate? Not really. I read to enjoy. There was no enjoyment in this one for me. And by enjoyment I don’t mean in a literally way, but any word, line or phrase to provoke my thoughts or feeling, either in a sad or joyous way, I embrace that piece of art. But Yeats my man, you could not make it this way.

[Kitkat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really messed but interesting.

[John Yelverton · Rating 1 out of 5]

An incredibly graphic poem about the rape of Leda by Zeus in the guise of a swan. The myth is bad enough without Yeats going into graphic detail in prose. It, quite frankly, turned my stomach.

[Tavleen Kaur (Travelling Through Words)]

Read for my paper "British Literature: Early 20th Century" in Oct-Nov 2020

[sami (semi-hiatus) · Rating 1 out of 5]

i may be biased when i say swan upon leda was better.

[midnightfaerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and powerful. A sensual description of a young girl getting caught in the beak by a swan, a fight to death, and a comparison to Agamemnon. A fantastic use of words.

[eva ⚘]

i can't even rate this one bc how tf do you normalize rape and consider violence vital in order for progress to come ??

[Eduard Gafton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read as part of The Collected Poems of W.B. Yeats



In picture: Leda and the Swan, 1741, Francois Boucher

More than your average dose of awkward.

[Kadbury]

In short

How the Trojan War began....

Zeus: Kids, this is how I assaulted met your mother

Leda: Curse you! But my thighs are quivering.Time to lay some eggs.

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chaotic and graphic, this sonnet designates an act of rape. Leda is insisted upon by Zeus and can do little nothing but give in. This union gives birth to Helen and the Trojan War as a result. How sexual promiscuity can lead to great historical events was a theme which fascinated Yeats. More than anything, this poem gets one thinking about the womanizing penchant of the All-Father. For all his authority and supremacy as the son of a Titan, a Celestial, Zeus is plagued by character blemishes, which are abnormally human. His notoriety as a womanizer has been amusingly referred to by Homer as well. Perks of being a sky-God.

[minminavecbooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think it'd be unfair to share an accurate rating without a clear understanding of the Historical Importance of the relation between this Poetry & the Trojan War. I only chanced upon this when @emmie.reads mentioned studying it for her Finals in one of her Reading Vlogs. All I've understood is, it implies the significance of Leda's (g)rape by Zeus which was quintessential for something revolutionary to kickstart & that's disturbing in itself. However, the writing isn't all that bad...

[oceania · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’ve always liked this myth for its darkness and strangeness so idk why i haven’t read this before. yeats connects the rape of leda with the trojan war, the violence of this sexual encounter rippling and magnifying into the violence of war.

[asiya | アセヤ (free palestine) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't too into this story, but it also has been a while since I've read it, so maybe I should give it a retry again sometime soon.

My love for Greek lore has pretty much evaporated though. Thanks a lot Percy Jackson.

[AHMED · Rating 3 out of 5]

لقراءة أكثر امتاعًا
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4CJ7h3mX4Q

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This poem describes how in Greek mythology Zeus in the form of a swan raped Leda a mortal.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leda and the Swan – (3/5) “A sudden blow..” is a great opening line.

[Morëlle · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, Yeats isn't my favorite poet out there but he's nice.

I liked this one more than his other but I think the mythology part might have a lot to do with it.

[Blix · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of favourites ngl. Chef's kiss.

[Cookie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Iskra Profil nije aktivan u ovo vreme. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 🌟

[Brodie Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This really puts Zeus nail in the coffin for me, the sadness of being the burden of all that trauma and having to create something beautiful out of it 💔

[—✮ Mery · Rating 1 out of 5]

0 ESTRELLAS TODO LO QUE APRENDÍ SOBRE ESTO FUE EN CONTRA DE MI VOLUNTAD QUÉ HORROR

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heart wrenching.

[H.M. · Rating 1 out of 5]

No