Sailing to Byzantium

“A Coat” by William Butler Yeats (1912)

Written in 1912 and later published in Responsibilities (1914), this poem shows Yeats taking responsibility for his poetic sensibilities of the 1890s. He criticizes his overuse of flowery language and “old mythologies.” “A Coat” indicates a major stylistic shift towards Minimalism in his work that will last for decades.

“The Second Coming“ by William Butler Yeats (1920)

First published in Yeats’s collection The Dial, “The Second Coming” is one of the most well-known pieces by the poet. Much like “Sailing to Byzantium,” the poem dramatizes prophetic events. Rather than invoking ancient history to express his Messianic sentiments, Yeats takes a more direct approach in this poem by utilizing Christian imagery of apocalypse and absolute ruin, mirroring the ambience of post-war Europe.

“Byzantium“ by William Butler Yeats (1928)

As a continuation of “Sailing to Byzantium” which elaborates on the role of the city in Yeats’s philosophy. “Byzantium”—also from The Tower—continues where its companion leaves off, further explicating themes like animality, spirit, and empire.

W.B. Yeats’s A Vision: Explications and Contexts ed. Neil Mann, Matthew Gibson and Claire Nally (2012)

In this collection of essays, a diverse set of issues from Yeats’s A Vision are considered in detail.