Varied Passion And Style

This dissertation investigates the relationship between the varied passion of Yeats to Gonne in different life phases and the corresponding changes of poetic style represented in Yeats'lyrics to Gonne. A large space of the dissertation is devoted to a thorough exploration and interpretation of the complicated variation of Yeats'passion to Gonne, which correspondingly arouses changes in poetic style of his lyrics to Gonne. Through the poetic analysis of some of his lyrics to Gonne and with the guidance of stylistic theories and methods, this dissertation tries to reveal and interpret how Yeats expressed his passion in different life phases and formed his characteristic composition style. Besides, the author means to explore what kind of stylistic forms the poet employs to reflect his varied passion in the lyrics. The author of the dissertation finds that Yeats'relationship with Gonne involved friendship, spiritual marriage, estrangement, reunion, etc., and his passion for her lasted for several decades. As Yeats experienced all kinds of emotions from deep passion to helpless resentment, thus, his lyrics to Gonne, mixed with such various feelings, bear much personal emotion, which he resorted to artistic charm and linguistic forms to display. This explains why his lyrics to Gonne are delicate and poignant. In addition, through a deep analysis of some representative lyrics to Gonne with stylistic method, this dissertation reveals that Yeats, as a representative of symbolism, enjoys a good command of uncanny power over verbal felicity and delicate poesy.