An Analysis Of Connotative Codes In Yeats's Early Poems

William Butler Yeats?1865—1939?,an eminent Irish poet,playwright,essayist,was honored by T.S.Eliot as the greatest poet of English language in the 20^th century.Yeats made great achievements in literary creation,especially in poetry.In terms of the changes of the themes and poetic styles of poems,his poetry is generally divided into three phases:the early,the middle and the last phase.This thesis applies the codes analysis theory put forward by the French semiotician and linguist Roland Barthes?1915—1980?to the analysis of the connotative codes in Yeats's early poems,trying to interpret the two opposite poetic views reflected in his early poems from a relatively new perspective.Through interpreting the conventional use and innovation of some connotative codes like rose,water,and isle,the rose upon the rood,Cuchulain and Fergus in Yeats's early poems,we can find that two contradictory poetic ideas co-exist in Yeats's early poems.On the one hand,the poet is an escapist who wants to cast away from the mundane world.The chaotic modern society urges him to flee from the world and seek the paradise in his heart.On the other,he is an active nationalist.As a poet,he hopes to contribute to the revival of Irish literature and the independence of Ireland.This thesis consists of six chapters.The First Chapter is the introduction,briefly presenting the background of the research,the research significance and the layout of the thesis.Chapter Two summarizes the researches on Yeats and his poems both at home and abroad,and gives a brief introduction of Barthes's codes analysis theory.Chapter Three analyzes the meanings of some connotative codes like rose,water and isle in his early poems,demonstrating Yeats's inheritance of the meanings of some connotative codes.The Fourth Chapter explores Yeats's innovation of the codes in early poems,such as the rose upon the rood,Cuchulain and Fergus.By applying the code of the rose upon the rood of time,Yeats aims at pleading the coming of the goddess of salvation and rewriting the legends of Cuchulain and Fergus in modern context to arouse Irish people's attention to the traditional culture and the wish to reconstruct heroes.Based on the above researches,Chapter Five reveals two contradictory poetic views in Yeats's early poems:escapism and nationalism.The poet hopes to seek an Arcadia paradise or fairyland to get away from the earthly worries.At the same time,the poet endeavors to establish the national identity and national pride of Irish people and reconstruct the ideal homeland by rebuilding the ancient Irish myths and folklore.Yeats has been attempting to connect the national fate with his own fate during his life and makes innovations in poetic skills and themes,thus enables to promote the Irish Renaissance with his own literary creation.His unique application of the connotative codes enriches the poetic themes and versification,reflecting his patriotism and strong sense of social responsibility.He also provides guidance for the nations propelling the development of the national literature.