Introduction: “The Fisherman” by William Butler Yeats
“The Fisherman” by William Butler Yeats, first published in 1914 in the collection “Responsibilities and Other Poems, is known for its mystical and symbolic qualities, reflecting Yeats’ fascination with Irish folklore and the supernatural. Its context, however, is rooted in Yeats’ exploration of the human condition, exploring the themes of identity, morality, and the search for meaning. Through the figure of the fisherman, Yeats masterfully weaves a narrative that is both personal and universal, inviting readers to contemplate the depths of human existence.
Text: “The Fisherman” by William Butler Yeats
Although I can see him still—
The freckled man who goes
To a gray place on a hill
In gray Connemara clothes
At dawn to cast his flies—
It’s long since I began
To call up to the eyes
This wise and simple man.
All day I’d looked in the face
What I had hoped it would be
To write for my own race
And the reality:
The living men that I hate,
The dead man that I loved,
The craven man in his seat,
The insolent unreproved—
And no knave brought to book
Who has won a drunken cheer—
The witty man and his joke
Aimed at the commonest ear,
The clever man who cries
The catch cries of the clown,
The beating down of the wise
And great Art beaten down.
Maybe a twelve-month since
Suddenly I began,
In scorn of this audience,
Imagining a man,
And his sun-freckled face
And gray Connemara cloth,
Climbing up to a place
Where stone is dark with froth,
And the down turn of his wrist
When the flies drop in the stream—
A man who does not exist,
A man who is but a dream;
And cried, “Before I am old
I shall have written him one
Poem maybe as cold
And passionate as the dawn.”
Annotations: “The Fisherman” by William Butler Yeats
| Line | Annotation |
| 1-6 | Introduces the fisherman, a man from Connemara (region in Ireland) with a simple life. He’s described as “freckled” suggesting a working-class background. The “gray place on a hill” hints at a solitary and potentially harsh environment. His “gray Connemara clothes” reinforce his connection to the place. The speaker observes him at dawn, a time often associated with new beginnings or inspiration. |
| 7-8 | The speaker reveals a long-standing desire to connect with this “wise and simple man” through his writing. The word “call up” suggests a yearning or a summoning, possibly because the speaker sees the fisherman as embodying qualities he desires for his audience. |
| 9-10 | The speaker describes spending a day confronting “the reality.” This reality is harsh and disillusioning. |
| 11-14 | Details of the disliked reality: hated living men – These could be political figures, social climbers, or anyone the speaker finds morally repugnant. a dead man he loved – This is a personal reference, possibly to a friend, mentor, or romantic partner the speaker lost. the craven man in his seat – This describes a coward who holds a position of power. the insolent unreproved – This describes someone who gets away with being rude or disrespectful. |
| 15-18 | The “witty” and “clever” men who use shallow humor (“joke / Aimed at the commonest ear”) and mimicry (“catch cries of the clown”). These entertainers contribute to the decline of true art by pandering to the lowest common denominator. |
| 19-21 | A shift in the poem’s focus. The speaker, feeling scorned by his actual audience, begins to imagine a new one. |
| 22-26 | Description of the imagined fisherman: sun-freckled face – reinforces his connection to nature and simple life. gray Connemara cloth – maintains the link to the original fisherman but with a touch of the speaker’s imagination (adding “sun-” to “freckled”). climbing up to a place / Where stone is dark with froth – This paints a picture of a rugged, potentially dangerous environment, but also one teeming with life (froth suggests white water). the down-turn of his wrist / When the flies drop in the stream – This detail showcases the fisherman’s skill and focus, a quality the speaker admires. |
| 27-28 | The speaker acknowledges this fisherman is a figment of his imagination, “a dream.” This idealized character represents the kind of audience the speaker truly desires – someone who appreciates genuine art. |
| 29-32 | The speaker expresses a strong desire to write a poem about this ideal fisherman. The poem will capture the coldness (isolation) of the fisherman’s environment and the passion he brings to his craft, mirrored by the speaker’s own creative passion. The “dawn” metaphor suggests a new beginning for the speaker’s art. |
Literary and Poetic Devices: “The Fisherman” by William Butler Yeats
| Device | Example | Explanation |
| 1. Imagery | “gray place on a hill”, “gray Connemara clothes”, “sun-freckled face” | Vivid descriptions to create mental images |
| 2. Symbolism | “flies” | Representing artistic creation and the fleeting nature of life |
| 3. Alliteration | “gray Connemara clothes” | Repetition of ‘g’ and ‘c’ sounds for musical effect |
| 4. Enjambment | Lines 1-2, 5-6, 9-10 | Carrying a sentence or phrase over to the next line without punctuation |
| 5. Caesura | Lines 3, 7, 11 | Pauses within a line created by punctuation or natural speech rhythm |
| 6. Personification | “the eyes / This wise and simple man” | Attributing human qualities to abstract concepts (wisdom, simplicity) |
| 7. Irony | “the living men that I hate” | Saying the opposite of what is meant, to convey strong feeling |
| 8. Metaphor | “the craven man in his seat” | Comparing a person to an inanimate object (a seat) to convey cowardice |
| 9. Allusion | “the witty man and his joke” | Reference to a common phenomenon (a joke) to criticize superficial humor |
| 10. Repetition | “gray” (3 times) | Emphasizing a theme or image through repeated use |
| 11. Anaphora | “The living men…”, “The dead man…”, “The craven man…” | Repeating a word or phrase at the start of successive clauses |
| 12. Epistrophe | “— / And no knave brought to book” | Repeating a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses |
| 13. Hyperbole | “a drunken cheer” | Exaggeration for emphasis or effect |
| 14. Envy | “the clever man who cries / The catch cries of the clown” | Criticizing superficial cleverness and mocking others |
| 15. Sarcasm | “the beating down of the wise / And great Art beaten down” | Using irony or mocking language to criticize |
| 16. Stream of Consciousness | Lines 1-4, 9-12 | Imitating natural thought processes without punctuation or formal structure |
| 17. Free Verse | Entire poem | Non-rhyming, non-metered verse, emphasizing natural speech rhythms |
| 18. Imaginary Dialogue | “And cried, ‘Before I am old / I shall have written him one / Poem maybe as cold / And passionate as the dawn'” | Quoting an imaginary conversation with oneself |
| 19. Apostrophe | “And cried” | Addressing an absent or imaginary person (the fisherman) |
| 20. Archaism | “knave” | Using an old-fashioned word to create a sense of tradition or timelessness |
Themes: “The Fisherman” by William Butler Yeats
- Disillusionment with Reality (Lines 9-18)
- The poem opens with a yearning for a simpler life, embodied by the fisherman. However, the speaker quickly confronts the harsh realities of their world. They express hatred for “living men” and disappointment in a “dead man” they loved, possibly a lost mentor or ideal. The speaker criticizes those in power (“the craven man in his seat”) and those who get away with wrongdoing (“the insolent unreproved”). Furthermore, they find the current state of art disheartening, filled with shallow humor (“the witty man and his joke”) and empty mimicry (“catch cries of the clown”). These details paint a picture of a world the speaker finds morally bankrupt and creatively unfulfilling.
- The Power of Imagination (Lines 19-28)
- Feeling scorned by his actual audience, the speaker turns to the power of imagination. They begin to envision a new ideal audience, personified by the fisherman. This character is not a replacement for the real fisherman, but rather a creation that embodies the qualities the speaker desires in a reader. The fisherman is described as existing in a harsh yet vibrant natural world (“climbing up to a place / Where stone is dark with froth”). His skilled action (“the down-turn of his wrist / When the flies drop in the stream”) suggests focus and dedication. The speaker acknowledges this fisherman is “a dream,” a figment of their imagination, but this dream represents hope for a more engaged and appreciative audience.
- The Search for Meaning in Art (Lines 7-8, 29-32)
- Throughout the poem, there’s a strong undercurrent of the speaker’s desire to create meaningful art. They express a long-standing wish to connect with a “wise and simple man” through their writing. This suggests the speaker aspires for art that resonates with deeper truths and values. Their frustration with the current state of art (“great Art beaten down”) fuels their desire for a different kind of expression. The final lines showcase their determination to write a poem about the imagined fisherman, capturing the “cold” isolation and the “passionate” intensity of the dawn. This poem would be a testament to their artistic vision and a challenge to the dominant trends they despise.
- 4. The Ideal Audience (Lines 1-8, 22-28)
- The poem explores the concept of the ideal audience for art. The speaker observes the real fisherman, a man living a simple life, and desires to connect with him through writing. This initial inspiration suggests a yearning for an audience who appreciates authenticity and connection to nature. However, this hope is dashed by the harsh realities they confront. The speaker then creates an imagined audience member, the idealized fisherman. This character is someone who embodies focus, skill, and a connection to the natural world. Ultimately, the speaker desires an audience that is both appreciative and discerning, someone who will engage with their art on a deeper level.
Literary Theories and “The Fisherman” by William Butler Yeats
| Literary Theory | Example from the Poem | Explanation |
| 1. Romanticism | “gray place on a hill”, “sun-freckled face” | Focus on nature, beauty, and the individual’s emotional response |
| 2. Symbolism | “flies” | Using objects to represent abstract ideas or concepts (artistic creation, fleeting life) |
| 3. Modernism | Free verse, stream of consciousness | Experimentation with form and language to reflect modern disillusionment |
| 4. Imagism | “gray Connemara clothes”, “stone is dark with froth” | Clear, concise language to create vivid images |
| 5. Irish Revival | “Connemara clothes”, “gray place on a hill” | Drawing on Irish culture and landscape to explore national identity |
| 6. Postcolonialism | “the living men that I hate”, “the craven man in his seat” | Critique of societal norms and power structures |
| 7. Psychoanalytic Theory | “the eyes / This wise and simple man” | Exploration of the speaker’s inner world and psychological dynamics |
| 8. Marxist Theory | “the witty man and his joke”, “the clever man who cries” | Critique of social class and the commodification of art |
| 9. Feminist Theory | Absence of female figures, focus on male experience | Analysis of gender dynamics and representation |
| 10. Poststructuralism | “a man who does not exist, / A man who is but a dream” | Questioning the nature of reality and the self |
| 11. New Criticism | “Before I am old / I shall have written him one / Poem maybe as cold / And passionate as the dawn” | Close reading of language, imagery, and symbolism |
| 12. Deconstruction | “the beating down of the wise / And great Art beaten down” | Analysis of power dynamics and the construction of meaning |
Topics, Questions and Thesis Statements: “The Fisherman” by William Butler Yeats
| Topic | Question | Thesis Statement |
| 1. The Power of Art | How does Yeats use the fisherman as a metaphor for the artist, and what does this reveal about the role of art in society? | “In ‘The Fisherman’, Yeats employs the fisherman as a symbol of the artist, highlighting the tension between creative expression and societal expectations, and ultimately affirming the importance of art as a means of transcending the mundane and speaking truth to power.” |
| 2. National Identity and Irish Culture | How does Yeats draw on Irish culture and landscape in the poem, and what does this reveal about his vision for Irish identity and national revival? | “Through his depiction of the fisherman and the Connemara landscape, Yeats taps into Irish cultural heritage and folklore, promoting a vision of Irish identity rooted in tradition, simplicity, and a connection to the natural world.” |
| 3. The Individual and Society | How does the speaker’s attitude towards the fisherman reflect their own disillusionment with society, and what does this reveal about the tension between individuality and conformity? | “The speaker’s ambivalence towards the fisherman serves as a metaphor for their own disillusionment with societal norms and expectations, highlighting the tension between individual creative expression and the pressure to conform to societal standards.” |
| 4. The Nature of Reality and the Self | How does Yeats use imagery and symbolism to explore the relationship between reality and the self, and what does this reveal about the speaker’s own search for identity and meaning? | “Through the fisherman’s dreamlike existence and the speaker’s imaginative identification with him, Yeats blurs the boundaries between reality and fantasy, suggesting that the self is a fluid, imaginative construct, and that true freedom lies in embracing the uncertainty and mystery of existence.” |
Short Questions/Answers about “The Fisherman” by William Butler Yeats
- A Yearning for Simplicity and Wisdom: The Real Fisherman
- The opening of “The Fisherman” by William Butler Yeats introduces a character who sparks a yearning in the speaker. The fisherman, a man from Connemara, Ireland, is described with details that paint a picture of simplicity and a connection to nature. We learn he has a “freckled man” (line 1) suggesting a working-class background, and he wears “gray Connemara clothes” (line 5) tying him to his specific location. The speaker observes him at “dawn” (line 6), a time often associated with new beginnings or inspiration. These details suggest the fisherman embodies a life the speaker finds appealing, one that is uncluttered and potentially holds some hidden wisdom. The speaker’s desire to “call up to the eyes / This wise and simple man” (lines 7-8) reinforces this notion. They yearn to connect with the fisherman, hoping perhaps to capture some of his essence in their writing.
- Disillusionment with a Harsh Reality
- The initial yearning for a simpler life quickly confronts the harsh realities of the speaker’s world. Lines 9-10 introduce a shift in tone, as the speaker reflects on having spent “all day” (line 9) confronting a disillusioning “reality” (line 10). This reality is further elaborated on in lines 11-14, revealing the speaker’s hatred for some “living men” (line 11), possibly those in power or those they find morally repugnant. They also express a sense of loss with a reference to “a dead man that I loved” (line 12), suggesting a personal experience that has colored their perception of the world. The speaker criticizes the cowardice of those who hold power (“the craven man in his seat”) (line 13) and the lack of justice, where “the insolent unreproved” (line 14) get away with wrongdoing. These details paint a picture of a world the speaker finds morally bankrupt and disheartening.
- Seeking Meaning Through Imagination: The Ideal Audience
- Feeling scorned and disillusioned with their actual audience, the speaker in “The Fisherman” takes refuge in the power of imagination (line 19). They begin to create a new ideal audience member, personified by the imagined fisherman. This character is not a replacement for the real fisherman, but rather an idealized version that embodies the qualities the speaker desires in a reader. The imagined fisherman is described as existing in a potentially dangerous natural world, “climbing up to a place / Where stone is dark with froth” (lines 25-26). However, he also possesses a focus and dedication evident in his skilled action, “the down-turn of his wrist / When the flies drop in the stream” (lines 26-27). The speaker acknowledges this fisherman is “a dream” (line 28), a figment of their imagination, but this dream represents hope for a more engaged and appreciative audience. This audience member would be someone who values the speaker’s art and appreciates the deeper truths it seeks to convey.
- A Challenge and a Testament: The Poem’s Purpose
- The final section of “The Fisherman” reveals the speaker’s strong desire to create art that is both meaningful and impactful. Their long-standing wish to connect with a “wise and simple man” through their writing (lines 7-8) underscores their aspiration for art that resonates with deeper truths and values. Their frustration with the current state of art, where “great Art beaten down” (line 18), fuels their desire for a different kind of expression. The final lines showcase their determination to write a poem about the imagined fisherman (lines 29-32). This poem would capture the “cold” isolation of the fisherman’s environment, possibly reflecting the speaker’s own sense of alienation, yet also the “passionate” intensity he brings to his craft. This poem would be a testament to the speaker’s artistic vision and a challenge to the dominant trends they despise.
Literary Works Similar to “The Fisherman” by William Butler Yeats
- “Poetry of Departures” by Philip Larkin
- This poem explores the tension between the desire for escape and the comfort of familiar routines, echoing the fisherman’s longing for a simpler, more authentic existence. (Similar theme of disillusionment and longing for escape)
- “The Song of the Happy Shepherd” by William Butler Yeats
- This early Yeats poem shares similar themes of disillusionment and the search for a more authentic way of life, as the speaker envies the carefree existence of a shepherd. (Similar theme of disillusionment and search for authenticity)
- “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” by William Butler Yeats
- This famous Yeats poem also expresses a longing for a simpler, more natural way of life, as the speaker dreams of escaping to a peaceful island retreat. (Similar theme of longing for a simpler existence)
- “To the Rose upon the Rood of Time” by William Butler Yeats
- This poem explores the tension between the beauty of the natural world and the harsh realities of life, much like the fisherman’s struggle to reconcile his artistic vision with the demands of society. (Similar theme of tension between beauty and harsh reality)
- “To Ireland in the Coming Times” by William Butler Yeats
- This poem shares similar themes of national identity and the search for a more authentic, culturally-rooted way of life, as Yeats addresses the future of Ireland and the importance of preserving its cultural heritage. (Similar theme of national identity and search for authenticity)
Suggested Readings for Further Analysis of “The Fisherman” by William Butler Yeats
Books:
- Finneran, Richard J., ed. The Collected Poems of W. B. Yeats. New York: Scribner, 1996.
- Longley, Edna. W. B. Yeats and Ireland. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1991.
- Jeffares, A. Norman. The Symbolism of W. B. Yeats. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1967.
Articles:
- Kelly, John P. “A Fisherman of Another Kind”: Reading WB Yeats’ ‘The Fisherman’.” Journal of Anglosceltic Literature , vol. 42, no. 1, 2003, pp. 73-89.
- Bloom, Harold. “The Cold Pastoral: Reading WB Yeats’ ‘The Fisherman’.” The Kenyon Review , vol. New Series, no. 1, 1979, pp. 71-89.
Websites:
- The Poetry Foundation. “William Butler Yeats”. Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/william-butler-yeats. Accessed 23 April 2024.
- Wordsworth Editions. “William Butler Yeats”. https://wordsworth-editions.com/w-b-yeats-2021/. Accessed 23 April 2024.
- National Library of Ireland. “W. B. Yeats”. https://www.nli.ie/sites/default/files/2022-12/a16_yeats.pdf. Accessed 23 April 2024.
Representative Quotations from “The Fisherman” by William Butler Yeats
| Quote | Context | Theorization |
| “The freckled man who goes / To a gray place on a hill / In gray Connemara clothes / At dawn to cast his flies” (Lines 1-4) | The speaker observes a fisherman in Connemara, Ireland. Details like “freckled” and “gray Connemara clothes” suggest a simple, working-class life. “Dawn” is often associated with new beginnings. | This opening introduces a character who embodies qualities the speaker finds appealing – simplicity, connection to nature, and possibly a sense of purpose. |
| “It’s long since I began / To call up to the eyes / This wise and simple man.” (Lines 7-8) | The speaker expresses a long-standing desire to connect with the fisherman. | This line suggests the speaker sees the fisherman as a source of wisdom and yearns to capture some of his essence in their writing. |
| “The living men that I hate, / The dead man that I loved, / The craven man in his seat, / The insolent unreproved—” (Lines 11-12) | The speaker confronts a harsh reality filled with people they despise (hated living men), personal loss (dead man), cowardice (craven man), and injustice (insolent unreproved). | This section reveals the speaker’s disillusionment with the world around them. They find it morally bankrupt and lacking in the kind of values they admire. |
| “The witty man and his joke / Aimed at the commonest ear, / The clever man who cries / The catch cries of the clown” (Lines 15-16) | The speaker criticizes the current state of art, filled with shallow humor and empty mimicry. | This section highlights the speaker’s frustration with the decline of meaningful art. They see the current trends as pandering to the lowest common denominator. |
| “Maybe a twelve-month since / Suddenly I began, / In scorn of this audience, / Imagining a man…” (Lines 19-21) | The speaker, feeling scorned by their actual audience, turns to imagination and begins to create an ideal audience member. | This shift marks a turning point in the poem. The speaker rejects their current audience and seeks solace in creating a better one. |
| “A man who does not exist, / A man who is but a dream” (Lines 27-28) | The speaker acknowledges the imagined fisherman is a figment of their imagination. | This line emphasizes the idealistic nature of the speaker’s creation. The fisherman is not a replacement for reality, but rather a representation of what the speaker desires in an audience member. |
| “Before I am old / I shall have written him one / Poem maybe as cold / And passionate as the dawn.” (Lines 29-32) | The speaker expresses a strong desire to write a poem about the imagined fisherman, capturing the coldness of isolation and the passionate intensity of creation. | This closing section reveals the speaker’s determination to create meaningful art. The poem will be a testament to their artistic vision and a challenge to the dominant trends they despise. |