A Created World Of Dream---On The Irish Folklore Motif In Yeats'Early Poetry

This thesis intends to analyze the Irish folklores in Yeats?s ear- ly poetry and how these folklores reflect Yeats?s spiritual conflict when he handles the folklore subject. Yeats?spiritual conflict dur- ing his quest for a supernatual fairyland, patterns it self upon pulling, wandering and conterpulhng. This thesis is composed of five chapters. Chapter 1 retrospects briefly Yeats ?s work and Irish folklore tradition, biographically and historically. Chapter II concentrates on the folklore elements in his early poetry . Chapter III deals with how Yeats handles his irish folklore subject. Concluding part, points out that Yeats?s employ- ment of Irish folklore creats a surpernatual world in his poetry. Yeats?employment of Irish folklore, and his spiritual journey to su- pernatual fairyland symbolizes Yeats?spiritual quest. The spiritual conflict during the quest hints the influence of the romanticism and realism on Yeats, and indicates Yeats?s realizing upon the identity of the nation and of himself.