Welcome, young literary explorers, to a journey into one of William Butler Yeats’ most enchanting poems, “The Song of Wandering Aengus.” Prepare to be captivated by a tale of magic, longing, and an eternal quest for beauty. This poem is a shimmering jewel in the crown of English literature, inviting us to ponder the mysteries of desire and the pursuit of the unattainable. Let us begin by immersing ourselves in the poem itself.
The Song of Wandering Aengus
by William Butler Yeats
I went out to the hazel wood,
Because a fire was in my head,
And cut and peeled a hazel wand,
And hooked a berry to a thread;
And when white moths were on the wing,
And moth‑like stars were flickering out,
I dropped the berry in a stream
And caught a little silver trout.When I had laid it on the floor
I went to blow the fire a‑flame,
But something rustled on the floor,
And someone called me by my name:
It had become a glimmering girl
With apple blossom in her hair
Who called me by my name and ran
And faded through the brightening air.Though I am old with wandering
Through hollow lands and hilly lands,
I will find out where she has gone,
And kiss her lips and take her hands;
And walk among long dappled grass,
And pluck till time and times are done,
The silver apples of the moon,
The golden apples of the sun.
The Song of Wandering Aengus Summary: A Glimpse into Eternal Longing
“The Song of Wandering Aengus” is a lyrical masterpiece by William Butler Yeats, first published in 1899. This poem tells the story of an unnamed speaker, driven by an intense inner restlessness, who ventures into a mystical hazel wood. There, he crafts a fishing rod and catches a silver trout. In a moment of pure magic, this fish transforms into a beautiful, ethereal girl with apple blossoms in her hair. She calls his name, then vanishes, leaving the speaker to embark on a lifelong, tireless quest to find her again.
The central idea of “The Song of Wandering Aengus” revolves around the themes of love, longing, and the pursuit of an ideal that remains forever just out of reach. It explores the human condition of yearning for something beautiful, fleeting, and perhaps unattainable, a desire that can shape an entire life. This poem is noteworthy for its blend of Celtic mythology, dreamlike imagery, and its profound exploration of enduring human desire.
The Song of Wandering Aengus Analysis: Unpacking the Poetic Journey
This poem is a rich tapestry of symbolism and emotion. Let us delve deeper into its layers, stanza by stanza, to uncover the profound meaning within “The Song of Wandering Aengus.”
The Initial Quest and the Spark of Magic
The poem opens with a powerful declaration of internal unrest:
I went out to the hazel wood,
Because a fire was in my head,
The phrase “a fire was in my head” immediately signals a restless, almost obsessive state of mind. This is not a casual stroll, but a driven, urgent journey. The speaker is compelled by an inner force. The setting, the “hazel wood,” is significant. In Celtic folklore, the hazel tree is often associated with wisdom, inspiration, and the Otherworld, suggesting that this journey is not merely physical but spiritual or magical.
The speaker’s actions are deliberate and ritualistic:
And cut and peeled a hazel wand,
And hooked a berry to a thread;
The crafting of the “hazel wand” and the use of a “berry” as bait transform a simple act of fishing into a magical rite. This preparation sets the stage for something extraordinary. The atmosphere deepens with the imagery of twilight:
And when white moths were on the wing,
And moth‑like stars were flickering out,
These lines create a dreamlike, liminal space where the boundaries between reality and fantasy begin to blur. The “silver trout” that is caught is no ordinary fish, but a harbinger of the miraculous, a creature from the mystical realm.
The Enchanting Transformation and Fleeting Encounter
The poem’s magical turning point occurs in the second stanza, where the ordinary gives way to the supernatural:
When I had laid it on the floor
I went to blow the fire a‑flame,
But something rustled on the floor,
And someone called me by my name:
The mundane act of tending a fire is interrupted by a sudden, mysterious event. The rustling and the calling of his name create a sense of wonder and apprehension. The transformation itself is breathtaking:
It had become a glimmering girl
With apple blossom in her hair
The “glimmering girl” suggests an ethereal, almost translucent being, not entirely of this world. The “apple blossom in her hair” evokes youth, beauty, and the fleeting nature of spring, hinting at her ephemeral presence. Apple blossoms are also symbolic of love and fertility, but their delicate nature underscores the fragility of this encounter.
The interaction is brief and elusive:
Who called me by my name and ran
And faded through the brightening air.
She speaks his name, a moment of intimate connection, yet immediately “ran” and “faded.” The “brightening air” suggests the dawn, a time when dreams dissipate. This fleeting glimpse of beauty and the immediate loss of it become the driving force for the speaker’s entire life.
The Eternal Pursuit and Symbolic Destiny
The final stanza shifts from the magical encounter to the speaker’s enduring, lifelong quest:
Though I am old with wandering
Through hollow lands and hilly lands,
I will find out where she has gone,
And kiss her lips and take her hands;
Despite his age and years of “wandering,” the speaker’s resolve remains unbroken. The repetition of “I will find out” emphasizes his unwavering determination. His desire to “kiss her lips and take her hands” speaks to a profound longing for connection and fulfillment. This is not just a search, but a deeply personal yearning for a love that was glimpsed and lost.
The ultimate goals of his quest are grand and mythical:
And walk among long dappled grass,
And pluck till time and times are done,
The silver apples of the moon,
The golden apples of the sun.
The “silver apples of the moon” and “golden apples of the sun” are powerful symbols. They represent ultimate beauty, immortality, and perhaps the perfect, unattainable ideals of love and happiness. These are not ordinary fruits, but treasures of myth and legend, signifying a quest that transcends mortal limitations. The phrase “till time and times are done” underscores the eternal nature of his search, suggesting that this pursuit will continue beyond the boundaries of his own life, perhaps even into eternity. This final image encapsulates the poem’s core theme: the enduring human pursuit of an ideal, a dream, or a love that may never be fully realized, yet continues to inspire and define existence.
Literary Devices in The Song of Wandering Aengus: Poetic Tools of Enchantment
Yeats masterfully employs various literary and poetic devices to imbue “The Song of Wandering Aengus” with its magical quality, musicality, and profound resonance. Understanding these tools enhances our appreciation of the poem.
Imagery
Imagery refers to language that appeals to the senses, creating vivid mental pictures. Yeats fills the poem with evocative imagery that transports the reader to a dreamlike world.
- Visual Imagery: “white moths were on the wing,” “moth‑like stars were flickering out,” “a glimmering girl / With apple blossom in her hair,” “long dappled grass,” “silver apples of the moon,” “golden apples of the sun.” These images create a sense of beauty, mystery, and otherworldliness.
- Auditory Imagery: “something rustled on the floor,” “someone called me by my name.” These sounds heighten the sense of magic and surprise.
Symbolism
Symbolism involves using objects or ideas to represent something else, often a deeper, abstract concept. The poem is rich with symbolic elements.
- The Hazel Wood: Symbolizes wisdom, inspiration, and the mystical Otherworld in Celtic mythology.
- The Hazel Wand: Represents a tool for magic or a connection to the supernatural.
- The Silver Trout: A symbol of transformation, magic, and the elusive nature of beauty.
- The Glimmering Girl: Embodies ideal beauty, unattainable love, and the fleeting nature of enchantment. She is often interpreted as a faerie or a muse.
- Apple Blossom: Symbolizes youth, beauty, fragility, and the transient nature of spring.
- The Silver Apples of the Moon and Golden Apples of the Sun: Represent ultimate ideals, immortality, perfect beauty, and the highest aspirations of the soul. They are mythical treasures, signifying an eternal quest.
Alliteration
Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in words close to each other, creating a musical effect and emphasizing certain phrases.
- “white moths were on the wing” (stanza 1): The repeated ‘w’ sound creates a soft, flowing, almost whispering effect, enhancing the dreamlike atmosphere.
- “hollow lands and hilly lands” (stanza 3): The ‘h’ sound emphasizes the vastness and varied terrain of Aengus’s long journey.
Assonance
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within words close to each other, contributing to the poem’s lyrical quality.
- “fire was in my head” (stanza 1): The repeated ‘i’ sound creates a sense of internal intensity.
- “time and times are done” (stanza 3): The long ‘i’ sound draws out the phrase, emphasizing the endlessness of the quest.
Enjambment
Enjambment occurs when a line of poetry continues into the next line without a pause or punctuation, creating a sense of flow and momentum, often mimicking natural speech or thought.
- “I went out to the hazel wood,
Because a fire was in my head,” (stanza 1): The thought flows directly from the action to its motivation. - “It had become a glimmering girl
With apple blossom in her hair” (stanza 2): The description of the girl is continuous, emphasizing her sudden appearance.
Rhyme Scheme
The poem follows a consistent AABB CCDD rhyme scheme in each stanza, contributing to its musicality and memorable quality.
- In stanza 1: “wood” rhymes with “head” (A), “wand” rhymes with “thread” (B), “wing” rhymes with “out” (C), “stream” rhymes with “trout” (D). This consistent pattern creates a soothing, song-like rhythm.
Meter
The poem predominantly uses iambic tetrameter, meaning each line generally has four iambs (an iamb is an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable, da-DUM). This meter gives the poem a steady, rhythmic, and almost ballad-like quality, making it pleasant to read aloud and easy to remember.
- “I WENT | out TO | the HA | zel WOOD” (stanza 1): This line clearly demonstrates the four iambic feet, creating a consistent rhythm.
The Enduring Magic of “The Song of Wandering Aengus”
“The Song of Wandering Aengus” remains a timeless masterpiece, captivating readers with its lyrical beauty, evocative imagery, and profound exploration of love, longing, and the endless human quest for the unattainable. Yeats masterfully weaves together elements of Irish folklore with universal themes, creating a poem that resonates deeply with anyone who has ever pursued a dream or yearned for an ideal. It invites reflection on our own desires and the fleeting nature of beauty in a world shrouded in mystery, reminding us that sometimes, the journey of seeking is as significant as the destination itself.