When poets refer to other great works, people, and events, it’s usually not accidental. Put on your super-sleuth hat and figure out why.
Literary and Philosophical References
- Aengus (title): Aengus is a god of love and beauty in Celtic mythology. In one myth, the inspiration for Yeats' poem, Aengus falls in love with a girl he sees in a dream. He goes looking for her and realizes that she's been turned into a swan. In order to be reunited with her, he has to identify her in her swan form. That's pretty hard, considering that he has to pick her out from 150 other swans she's hanging out with. But Aengus manages to pick the right girl. He himself then turns into a swan, and the two lovebirds (he and the girl) fly off together.