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Library's collection Library's IT development CancelThe thesis discusses the recurring symbols of swans in William Butler Yeats's "Leda and
the Swan", "The Wild Swans at Coole"and "Nineteen Hundred and Nineteen". In fact, so far
the symbol of swan in those poems are assumed to have several meanings. Critics interpreted
the symbol of swan in those poems differently according to references they used such as Greek
mythology, Irish legend and history and Yeats's philosophical point of view. Malins, for
example, stated that the swans in "Nineteen Hundred and Nineteen" related to Yeats's
philosophical point of view symbolize subjective man (Malins 201). On the other hand,
Jeffares claimed that the swans in the same poem, related to Ireland history, symbolize solitary
soul (Jeffares 49). Those contradictions often lead readers into confusion. That is why, the
writer tries to reveal whether critics' opinions about the real meaning of Yeats's symbols of
swans can be justified. The purpose of the study is to provide the meaning of Yeats's symbols
of swans and the logical explanation of critics' opinions about the meaning of the symbol of
swaas. In the analysis, the writer uses theory of symbol which is supported by the theories of
characterization and setting to analyze the meaning of the symbol of swan in "The Wild Swan
at Coole", "Nineteen Hundred and Nineteen" and "Leda and the Swan". Based on the
analysis, the writer agrees with critics' opinions in Yeats's Poetry Notes which states that the
symbol of swan in "The Wild Swan at Coole" represent youth. Moreover, the writer from the
characterization of the swans and the setting finds out that the swans in "Nineteen Hundred and
Nineteen" also symbolizes the flux and the fixedness of life. In "Nineteen Hundred and
Nineteen", the writer finds out that Jeffares's and Malins' statement that the swan in that
poem symbolizes solitary soul and subjective man are proven. Finally, in "Leda and the
Swan", Jeffares' idea that actually the swan in that poem means power and war are considered
true. In addition, the writer defines the symbol of swan in "Leda and the Swan" has another
meaning. She proves that it also means a new annunciation of history. Thus, the writer
concludes that a symbol in poetry can have multiple meanings. Actually, everyone can
associate the symbols of swans according to their moods and memory as long as they are not
out of contexts. For the richness and complexity of the symbols regarding to the contextual
border that is used by yeats, the readers should get through beyond the literal meaning seeking
the references of the poems and use their imagination. One thing that should be remembered,
without the appropriate understanding of symbol in poetry, one will lose the meaning of poem.