Biblical echo and allusion in the poetry of W.B. Yeats
Book Description
This scholarly exploration reveals how one of Ireland's greatest poets transformed biblical language into a powerful tool for personal and cultural renewal. Dwight H. Purdy examines the intricate ways William Butler Yeats wove scriptural echoes throughout his verse, creating a unique poetic voice that both challenged and drew strength from the King James Bible.
The study traces Yeats's evolving relationship with biblical texts across his career, from his early Celtic-influenced works that positioned the Bible as spiritual antagonist, to his mature poetry where scriptural language became a foundation for his own mystical visions. Rather than accepting biblical authority in traditional terms, Yeats crafted what he called "haughtier texts" that mirrored biblical forms while expressing his heterodox beliefs about rebirth, death, and resurrection.
Through detailed analysis of major poems including "The Second Coming" and "Sailing to Byzantium," Purdy demonstrates how Yeats created dramatic tension between biblical imagery and his personal spiritual philosophy. The poet emerges as someone who escaped religious dogmatism while remaining deeply indebted to scripture's poetic power.
For readers interested in the intersection of spirituality and creative expression, this work illuminates how sacred texts can be reimagined as vehicles for individual spiritual exploration. It offers insights into how ancient wisdom traditions can be transformed into contemporary spiritual language, showing one artist's journey toward creating his own sacred literature while honoring the poetic legacy of biblical expression.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Short (< 200 pages) (~5 hours)
📄 Length: 169 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore In literature
- ✓ Study Bible from spiritual perspective
- ✓ Explore Poetics
- ✓ Explore Yeats, w. b. (william butler), 1865-1939
- ✓ Explore Bible
- ✓ Explore Christianity in literature
- ✓ Explore God in literature
- ✓ Explore Religion
