Yeats's Leda and the Swan: The Power of Poetry

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Sources for research:
Janet Leigh, "Reading from the Drop: Poetics of Identification in Yeats's Leda and the Swan"
www.jstor.org/stable/3831884?&...
Williams Johnsen, "Textual/Sexual Politics in Yeats's Leda and the Swan"
www.msu.edu/user/johnsen/resu...
Camile Paglia, "BREAK, BLOW, BURN: CAMILLE PAGLIA READS FORTY-THREE OF THE WORLD'S BEST POEMS"
www.randomhouse.com/knopf/enew...

[@Frankagator]

I think your understanding art series is some of the best content on youtube.

[@Nerdwriter1]

Frankagator Thanks Frankagator. Share it around!

[@MrInfernoTiger]

+Frankagator The Death of Socrates one was really good.

[@AquaFanForeverX]

You need to see Barbara Ciardo's illustrations..inspired by ancient history and mythology - .....her recent painting series is based on Feminine Archetypes is MAGNIFICENT!!!!! (Check her work out at @barbaraciardoart on instagram or goto her website. She is a master......she's an internationally known comic artist - BATMAN NOEL, SUPERMAN EARTH 1,2,& 3...Wathcmen, Dylan Dog....she's an incredible artist.

[@chloiecruz7475]

Yes! absolutely agree with that.

[@ObaREX]

Dude, I just clapped. I wish you were my english teacher.

[@vinofiloblado1618]

+Edward Gil (ObaREX) It's sad that KZbin videos like these - as long as they're anywhere near competent - often are a lot more educational than (at least) my actual education.

[@MasDouc]

You clapped at a video.

[@zebunnisachughtai]

SAME! mind blown. heart inspired.

[@chloiecruz7475]

Same, though haha

[@fizzarafique2616]

Same!

[@Lucols4]

Now I get why Faulkner thought the poem was the most difficult form of literature to write.

[@Lucols4]

pewol Well there's good and bad poetry. I believe The Wasteland is something that few people can achieve.

[@blueberrypanquakes]

Here's the other thing about this poem. I think you're right about the effect that the violence of the First World War had on Yeats's perspective. This is particularly evident when you look at the way that previous poets and artists had depicted the same story. In many cases Leda is either passive or even welcoming when the swan appears. And indeed the rape seems to have traditionally been depicted as more of a loving embrace than anything else. That's the view of the old world, the Romantic perspective that was torn completely to shreds by the experience of so much carnage in the trenches in Europe during the war. In its stead, Yeats substitutes brutal realism. Every romantic notion is stripped away. And the fact of the matter is the way he describes the attack is a very accurate depiction of how fowl actually mate. I remember the first time I had to read this poem in school. My parents raised chickens. The whole concept of the Swan gripping her by the back of the neck with his beak and beating against her with his wings - that's precisely how these real birds mate. The idea that as soon as he's done the swan simply lets go with its seemingly indifferent beak and vanishes is likewise precisely how sex works between birds. So in the end we're left with a very realistic depiction of what would happen if a swan decided to mate with a human. It's not sweet, it's not tender, it's not romantic, and 30 seconds later it's lost all meaning for him. And yet the consequences...

[@seanomaille8157]

Great analysis in a similarly concentrated form. One thing you omit: Yeats had just lived through a brutal war of independence and subsequent civil war in Ireland. At the time he was writing about, living through and part of the birth of a nation.

[@austingaebe5400]

Wow this video was incredible. I am going to college to study in film, art history, and education and your 'Understanding Art' series has really inspired me to continue studying my passion. Before this year poetry wasn't really something I appreciated but I recently took an American literature and poetry class that really enlightened me to the medium and this video does a lot to solidify my newfound love for poetry. Please continue making these videos because I will definitely be enjoying them!

[@cheshireinjapan]

Austin Gaebe You should certainly follow your passions. Poetry rocks.

[@alexandrahope8814]

I wish you had taught me this when I had to study this in college.... I feel so robbed. You're awesome! This was the definition of brilliance

[@tttony]

5 years later, I still come back to this video.

[@danielcookman3971]

As with the rest of your work, particularly your "Understanding Art" Series, this was fascinating to watch and think about. As a person who mainly works in the sciences, I haven't spent many years of formal education in the way of art beyond the statutory amount that someone training into a STEM field would require, so though I can grasp the basics of different art forms, I remain 'blind' in a way: art that is shown to me almost always requires elucidation from an external source. Thank you for being one of those 'external sources'. I can still only understand little, but these videos (in addition to Every Frame a Painting, Crash Course, Vlogbrothers etc.) help me to truly grasp the full meaning of a work in a way that is very difficult to understand otherwise; many such as myself are turned away from understanding art critically, either because no help was given to understand the pieces, or because the help that was given wasn't given sufficient context or meaning to be useful in any way. You seem to manage that well, giving enough reasoning behind the ideas that they add dimensions to the piece itself. Thanks once again. As you alluded to at the end of your video, doing a wide variety of art forms would be amazing! Forms including dance, sculpture and theatre could be interesting to look at, particularly as they are looked at less than other forms (film, painting and poetry).

[@bitnev]

+Daniel Cookman Try Brows Held High.

[@bhnnad]

I do have one question, though. I didn't think "Agamemnon dead" was such a stretch. You posit that it shows the full effect of the trauma of the rape - connecting Clytemnestra's murderousness with the trauma of the rape of her mother - but to me it's obvious why the rape of Leda lead directly to Agamemnon's death. Why does Clytemnestra kill Agamemnon? Well, it's because he a) he was gone at war in Troy so long she went and got herself another lover, but mostly because b) Agamemnon killed their daughter, Iphigenia. Why did he kill their daughter? Because on his way to Troy, Agamemnon offended Artemis who demanded the sacrifice of Iphigenia as a reprisal, and the Greeks could not leave for Troy until this was done. So he did it. Why were they going to Troy? To get Helen back. So, although it's a long and convoluted story: Leda's rape lead to Helen being born, Helen lead to the Trojan War, the Trojan War led to Agamemnon's leaving and having to sacrifice his daughter, and killing his daughter led to his wife in turn killing him.

[@nandafilgueiras1]

i totally agree with you. for me, the causality is a little bit more objective than the context meant by the author of the video.

[@TARRS1]

I'm attempting to find the best source for this story in general? Besides starting with a Google search, do you have any recommendations where I can start to develop a sense of this story? Thank you for your insight.

[@thetorresons297]

Nicole ~ I’m here, reading this in 2021. You’re brilliant. I hope you’re doing well.🦋

[@promaroychowdhury8786]

Hello,reading this in 2024. Everything has changed,wishing yall the best

[@semloh1870]

This is an absolutely brilliant reading of Yeats' poem. I used it to teach my A-Level students about this poem and it worked better than anything I could have ever taught them. Thank you and I hope you keep making videos of such high quality. KZbin and the Internet needs intellectual creators like you.

[@SicTransitArdua]

Dear Nerdwriter, Podcast. Please? Sincerely, Me

[@Nerdwriter1]

SicTransitArdua Hmmmm.....should I?

[@TheMultiPickle]

Nerdwriter1 Podwriter1

[@SicTransitArdua]

+Nerdwriter1 Absolutely. There are only a few around with content that's worth a damn. I can tell you actually enjoy what you're talking about and sincerity goes a long long way

[@AnOfferHeCantRefuse]

Nerdwriter1 Please do

[@eastonsmith4817]

+Nerdwriter1 absolutely

[@alannazaritz5396]

that you can unpack so much from 14 lines and 113 words is amazing. this is one of my favorite poems and i'm so grateful that you've given me so much more to appreciate in it.

[@ObaREX]

Whenever you say "more on that in a moment", i get excited because it shows just how much of the complexity you've decoded.

[@saintdonoghue]

What an amazing thing. Thank you.

[@Nerdwriter1]

Steve Donoghue Much appreciated Steve.

[@mohamedmajam3632]

this is by far one of my favourite poems everwritten and your insight into it is second to none, you have just made me appreciate its beauty even more. this is the definition of poem that will always have a place of sinificance in this world

[@spicerc1244]

Good video. Paglia touched on all of this, almost word-for-word, in "Break, Blow and Burn." She described that 11th verse as the jagged lightening bolt by which Zeus came down from Mount Olympus.

[@trouts4]

You should do more videos on poetry. I'd love to watch a video about Robert Frost or Keats.

[@samidhaization]

You're literally the best channel on KZbin right now! So happy I came across your channel.

[@LoveRonnelid]

All these poetry analyses are outstanding. Thanks for putting this out there!

[@masterwhovian666]

My Absolute Favourite Channel Of All Time. Always insightful, provocative and inspiring, you constantly remind me why I love the arts. From your meditations on art, poetry in this case and especially film, I love your work. Thank you.

[@mangalove112]

Love this video and the way you edit all your other videos. Always get goosebumps at the end of them

[@lawrencecalablaster568]

This is absolutely brilliant! The poem is so beautiful & haunting, & you've done a great job.

[@cherylbenton7107]

I love how you put that..about pulling one string and seeing what lights up on the web! That phrase, to me, sums up how poetry can venture past literature into the realm of mysticism, touching not only minds and hearts of the readers , but also speak in symbology of the spirit/soul. Excellent video!❤❤❤

[@lwnystudio]

I cried. This was beautiful. Thank you sir.

[@CloudCuckooCountry]

Your language analyses are my favourite of your videos. I've been fascinated with language structure and form for quite a while, so these are a treat.

[@tttony]

In retrospect, this is still one of my favorite essays from you Mr.Nerdwriter1

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This is absolutely incredible. One of the greatest videos I've seen in a long time.

[@dannyamado92]

Hands down... one of the best channels I've ever came across on KZbin! Your Art Case Study on Bladerunner is so beautiful and inspiring. Thanks and keep up the good work!

[@MsKariLola]

You just helped me with my paper because I did not even know where to start when analyzing this poem!

[@TCDriftingLeaf]

I read the poem as soon as I saw this video, then waited, and let it sink in. Two days later, I read it again, and followed up by watching this. I had great appreciation for the poem - its magic, its beauty - and this was multiplied by your analysis. Thank you.

[@razeensamsodien5633]

One of the greatest video essays I have ever seen!

[@tathanbennett9421]

I just wanted to say I have watched probably 20 of your videos today and I love your work. I'm a college student who dabbles in art and poetry and find your content thought provoking and reassuring that others think about these subjects and enjoy them.

[@meimoose]

Keep making these! I love watching your :Undertstanding Art" series very much!

[@Nerdwriter1]

meimoose Thanks!

[@mqhenning]

I've loved this poem and returned to this (and many other Yeats poems) for about a decade. This was great, and I saw something I hadn't previously.

[@marcosm5183]

Dear Evan, Please, more literature case studies, it will please us (me) immensely. Thanks, Marcos M. P.S. you're great (idk if I spelled your name correctly).

[@secondratefilms635]

You sir, are incredibly talented. Every video is expertly edited and your voiceover work is perfect. Always so impressed by your research and attention to detail.

[@AdamSDoyle]

Fascinating and enlightening as always.

[@Nerdwriter1]

Adam S Doyle Thanks Adam!

[@OTheQuietOneO]

I am hooked on your videos and detailed explorations of art. This is the internet and KZbin at its best. Thank you for all your content. Keep it up mate! :)

[@elocin22791]

This analysis of Yeats's "Leda and the Swan" was absolutely sublime - thought-provoking yet simple at the same time. I enjoy reading and thinking about poetry, so listening and watching this video makes my mind buzz with many ideas. Thank you! And I hope you can upload more videos looking at other poems from the early 20th Century, maybe even tackling the Romantics.

[@Gg-jc8hw]

This is actually the best youtube channel, I absolutely love this!!!!!

[@withlovefalseortrue9839]

William Butler Yeats is one of my favorite poets, my favorite poem of his is, "When You Are Old". His words have truly moved me. Thank you for this video.

[@alicefremont]

This analysis is a master piece itself, very well done. Thanks for putting such content here.

[@KAUSTUBH447]

What beautiful beautiful content. I am watching each and every video of yours. I am an artist myself and landed on your KZbin when searching about paintings. I had watched your videos in past bur so glad I stumbled upon your channel again. Keep it up.

[@vatltatl]

Your reviews and analisys are way to great! Please continue! When i finished my studies i will contribute with your patreon!

[@Nerdwriter1]

vatltatl Thanks vatltatl!

[@brettfonfa2541]

One of my favorite poems! Great videos... really excellent breakdowns of art.

[@izzyc.6721]

i just love listening to these videos they always sound so soothing

[@wabbasMEpern]

Another great video! I really appreciate watching your uploads.

[@ronbishop1068]

One of WB Yeats most interesting works-thank you for this, quite a relief to find these jewels on KZbin

[@TenguBird]

This made me appreciate poetry a lot more. Where can I find poetry as good as this, and how can I develop a greater understanding of poetry?

[@carlmarshall55]

Hart Crane's poetry would make a great episode... Thank you for your outstanding consciousness.

[@MrMarioguy888]

You have a very diverse interpretation on art, I love how you look beyond the layers to illustrate an implicit meaning.

[@DRose1NBA]

Hats off! Amazing analysis!

[@myiapapaya]

Such an awesome video, thoroughly enjoyed this as I am a poet myself. The depth you explored in this poem was brilliant. Thanks!

[@stSiren]

My heart hurts from watching that. Thank you for laying it out with such care and clarity. I appreciate your work so much. By the way... I like your video essays because i"m a visual person. I"m glad you are doing this and not podcasts. :)

[@theroyalspice]

This is really, really brilliant. Love what you do.

[@sameehaal-sayed645]

I'm new here and this video left me teary-eyed. A masterpiece about a masterpiece.

[@donnadalton6071]

Thank you that was amazing! One of my favorite poems from my long ago days as an English major.

[@anin14dita]

Amazing! Reminded me of the strength of poetry that made me fall in love with it in the first place !

[@JanelChristensen]

Beautiful and thought-provoking work, as always.

[@Nerdwriter1]

***** Thanks Janel!!

[@spooky-starbuck]

Truly amazing video! You helped me a lot to analyse this poem 👏

[@1337HaxXx0r]

you're doing great work on this channel! you have my full support.

[@Nerdwriter1]

1337HaxXx0r Thanks 1337HaxXx0r.

[@amrhany3334]

I got weirdly emotional towards the end. I think I've only felt this specific mix of intellectual awe and raw emotion with Wong Kar Wai movies. Excellent job man. So glad I stumbled upon this channel.

[@codycarlsonsfilms]

This is seriously such great insight! I'm so glad I found this channel!!!

[@Nerdwriter1]

Cody Carlson Welcome to The Nerdwriter, Cody. Stay a while.

[@s-mabdurrazak]

Great video; I love the quality behind the work and how you put everything together. You definitely need to do more poetry analyses! I don't think there's a youtube channel that analyzes poems at this quality and this in depth. Keep it up, Nerdwriter!

[@Nerdwriter1]

muzzammil9 My whole intention with UA is to bring art appreciation to the general public in a way that I always wanted to see. I'm really just trying to make the thing that I want. Thanks for the comment.

[@TypeSaturn]

Poetry in particular is a medium that I've always had trouble understanding, but you make it look so simple. As always, great work, and thank you.

[@Nerdwriter1]

TypeSaturn I'm glad to hear that!

[@xXSabzyKababzyXx]

ooooo boy I love your work so engrossing so necessary.

[@clairerozario7442]

That was absolutely fascinating and helped me a great deal with the poetry analysis.

[@justclayhead]

This is great, love your channel.

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You do a fantastic job with this channel.

[@ree99ma]

Another great video, easily my favorite channel.

[@Nerdwriter1]

ree99ma Woohoo! Thanks ree99ma

[@joelfry4982]

Thank you for posting this. I'm a poet, and my favorite yeats poems are "The Song of Wandering Angus," "When You Are Old," and "The Lake Isle of Innisfree." "Leda And The Swan" is also very fine. This is a great channel.

[@colonelweird]

This video is absolutely fucking brilliant. I have nothing to add except that now I need to watch it two or three more times.

[@wxoxozy]

Or in my case, 100 times more.

[@toolkit42]

I`ve never been a fan of poetry for some reason, but i have watched and rewatched this video since it is so amazing, thank you. It would also be great if you could make one about sculpture. I do some sculpting myself, but i don`t have the feeling that i grasp the meaning of most thing i see or even try to make

[@Avalyn_Wu]

This is fucking awesome. I'm happy to see you branching out to all kinds of art with your Understanding Art series. Will you ever start to analyze music? And if so, can you use albums such as The Dark Side of the Moon and OK Computer as case studies? Thanks!

[@Nerdwriter1]

ASENBAISEN I am going to try music, see if I can do it justice on video.

[@barsam2a]

+ASENBAISEN BIG THUMBS UP for both albums you picked :-)

[@717deathmetal]

Beautiful analysis. Thank you.

[@karimam1275]

What can I say god bless you for your great efforts...the insight & mastery displayed in those analyses of yours are just fascinating!

[@avip671]

im sorry but thenerdwriter has the absolute coolest fucking intro in youtube history!

[@OrlandOrmzs]

This is amazing!!! I would Love to see an Understanding Art of A Clockwork Orange or any Stanley Kubrick film.

[@HartlandOrchard]

Thank you so much for this work ... Incredible job

[@myfriendscallmeGigi]

This video helps me understand HOW to write about poetry. A fantastic example on how to write an analysis on something that is vague and subjective. This really helps as review for my AP Literature and Composition test tomorrow. Thanks!

[@garrymac6928]

outstanding. you hit so many notes. wonderful xxx

[@ironikkronik]

Always very insightful! Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

[@Nerdwriter1]

Nathan Fulk My pleasure!

[@melaniepetrona]

This is amazing. Would love to see more poetry videos. Really interesting!

[@imagerson]

Since this video was posted I've been playing it, from time to time, just to hear you recite the poem

[@BarneyHorvath]

Amazing analysis. Helps me a lot preparing for my exam. Thanks a lot!

[@PicopicoEMD]

Amazing stuff Evan!

[@Nerdwriter1]

PicopicoEMD Thanks!!!

[@donnydanko2718]

I wish I had you as a professor. I would take any class you taught. (Also, kudos for the video! it was brilliantly produced.)

[@user-xe9uh9wx3v]

I'm absolutely hoping to help you soon though i'm yet a student. I like your channel so much!! It's like quenching my thirst of learning more and more to watch your videos

[@irblock1]

Totally brilliant analysis - Bravo, and thank you!

[@guidoguido2245]

You have conditioned me. I get goosebumps every single time I hear that outro melody.

[@Piearty]

I love poetry and Yeats so much. This is a great job

[@not2jon]

This is fantastic. I love how you're breaking away from your Vsauce-like investigations into science and all that good stuff and doing more videos about art. There's not enough channels that talk about art as in-depth as you do. I hope you release more videos on your Understand Art series! But whatever you do I'm sure it will be great as always. Good luck!

[@Nerdwriter1]

NOTJonFogarty A lot more understanding art to come!

[@mattgilbert7347]

This is, in my opinion, your best video to date.

[@asderc1]

Loved, loved, loved this video. I knew of Yeats, but had never bothered to look into his work. I definitely will now.

[@Nerdwriter1]

asderc1 This makes me so happy.

[@sliverofamoment]

So cool! I love these so much!!!

[@Nerdwriter1]

Camille Mullins-Lemieux Glad to hear it.

[@theogreiner9604]

Excellent work!

[@vlogactor]

I love the Understanding Art series. Part of what I like about it is how it introduces me to different art, but I think it would be interesting to see you analyze a modern popular song. But for now, I will eat up whatever analysis you have. It's always so interesting.

[@mushtarin1670]

Oh my god. Your video was better than my college lecture on this poem. It is very much helpful. Thanks a lot.

[@dive1888]

You reminded me how much I love studying literature. Thank you so much.