The Cold Heaven
By W. B. Yeats
Group these words together under headings of
your choice:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Cold
• Love
Heaven
• sense
Ice
• Reason
Burned
• Cried
Imagination
• Trembled
Heart
• Riddled
Wild
• Light
Vanished
• Ghost
Memories
• Confusion
Hot
Based upon these words and your knowledge of Yeats so
Blood
far, what can you predict about the content and themes of
Youth
this poem?
What is he worried about? Write your response
beginning with the words:
• In a nut-shell….
Listen to the Poem…
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O0sZN
IcW-8
Questions to focus your discussion…
1. What are the themes of the poem?
2. How does the speaker feel?
3. What are the different meanings of the verb “riddled” –
what does this add to your understanding of the poem?
4. The poem is constructed of two sentences only.
Discuss what contribution this makes to the effect.
5. Stylistically, do you think there is still something of the
older “Celtic Twilight” manner in the poem? If so,
where?
6. Comment on the verse form and structure.