Reveries Over Childhood and Youth - W.B. Yeats

Summary

"Reveries Over Childhood and Youth" is an autobiographical memoir by W.B. Yeats, chronicling his early life from birth up to his move to London around the age of 22. It offers a nostalgic and often mystical account of his formative years, shaped by his Anglo-Irish heritage, his artistic family, and the contrasting landscapes of Sligo and Dublin. The book explores his early encounters with Irish folklore, his developing interest in the occult, the challenges of his formal education, and the awakening of his poetic sensibility. Through a series of vivid recollections, Yeats paints a portrait of a sensitive, imaginative boy navigating the complexities of his family's artistic and unconventional lifestyle, while searching for his own identity and artistic path.

Book Sections

Section 1: First Home

Yeats begins by recalling his earliest memories, starting from his birth in Sandymount, Dublin, and moving to London at a young age when his father decided to become a painter. He describes the move and his early impressions of London life, including his first memories of his family and the people around him. He details his family's artistic inclinations and the somewhat bohemian atmosphere of their home.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
W.B. Yeats (child)	Observant, imaginative, sensitive	To understand the world around him, to process early experiences and memories.
John Butler Yeats	Artistic, intellectual, unconventional father	To pursue his passion for painting, to provide an artistic upbringing for his children.
Susan Pollexfen Yeats	Gentle, somewhat melancholic, Sligo-rooted mother	To manage the household, to instill a sense of tradition and Irish identity.
Lily and Lolly Yeats	Younger sisters	N/A (minor characters in this section, part of the family dynamic).

Section 2: The Dublin House

The family returns to Dublin, living in a house in George's Street. Yeats recounts his experiences in this new environment, describing the servants, his family's social life, and the general atmosphere of the Dublin household. He touches upon his earliest school experiences and the beginnings of his artistic inclinations, often finding solace in stories and imaginative play.

Section 3: Grandfather Pollexfen

This section focuses on Yeats's maternal grandfather, William Pollexfen, a prominent ship-owner in Sligo. Yeats describes visits to his grandfather's house in Sligo, recalling Pollexfen's stern but respected presence, his practical nature, and his connection to the sea. These visits were formative, exposing young Yeats to the wild, mystical landscape of Sligo and its people, fostering a deep connection to his Irish roots and a sense of the supernatural.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
William Pollexfen	Stern, practical, respected Sligo ship-owner, authoritative grandfather	To maintain his business and reputation, to uphold family traditions.
George Pollexfen	Uncle, skilled horseman, adventurer	To engage in country pursuits, enjoy a life of activity and sport.

Section 4: Childhood

Yeats delves deeper into his childhood in Sligo. He vividly describes his imaginative games, his fascination with Irish folklore and stories of faeries and spirits, and his close relationship with nature. He recounts spending time with servants and local people who shared tales of the supernatural, further fueling his already active imagination. These experiences solidified his love for Ireland and its mystical heritage.

Section 5: The Country-Side

Continuing his recollections of Sligo, Yeats details his explorations of the surrounding countryside, including Lough Gill and Ben Bulben. He describes the wild beauty of the landscape and how it contributed to his developing sense of spirituality and his poetic vision. He also shares anecdotes about the local characters and the unique culture of rural Sligo.

Section 6: The School

Yeats recounts his experiences at the Godolphin School in Hammersmith, London, during a period when his family returned to England. He describes himself as an academically poor student, struggling with mathematics and finding the formal curriculum uninspiring. He found refuge in literature and his own imaginative world, often daydreaming and reading forbidden books. This section highlights his early struggles with conventional education and his preference for self-directed learning.

Section 7: Early Friends

During his time back in London, Yeats describes his friendships, particularly with a fellow student named Maclagan. He discusses their shared interests in literature, the occult, and their early artistic endeavors. These friendships were crucial in fostering his intellectual and creative development, providing a space for him to explore his burgeoning artistic and mystical ideas outside the confines of school.

Section 8: A New Life

The Yeats family returns to Dublin, settling in a new house. Yeats describes the shift in their social circle and his increasing engagement with intellectual and artistic life in the city. He recounts his father's salon-like gatherings, where artists, writers, and thinkers would congregate, exposing him to stimulating conversations and diverse perspectives that further shaped his worldview. He also describes his early attempts at writing poetry and drama.

Section 9: The Arts and Crafts

This section focuses on Yeats's time at the Metropolitan School of Art in Dublin. While not pursuing a career as a painter, he attended the school, and it served as a significant environment for his artistic and intellectual development. He describes his encounters with other aspiring artists and writers, and how the school provided a context for his exploration of aesthetics, symbolism, and the broader arts and crafts movement.

Section 10: The Boyhood of Aengus

Yeats reflects on the development of his inner life and his growing interest in Irish mythology and the supernatural. He discusses his creation of the mythical figure Aengus, and how this character embodied his fascination with poetic vision and mystical experiences. This section illustrates his deeper immersion into the world of Irish legend and his efforts to infuse his own poetry with these elements.

Section 11: Magic

Yeats explicitly details his increasing involvement with the occult, spiritualism, and various magical practices. He recounts his early experiments and studies in these areas, often alongside friends with similar interests. He discusses his belief in unseen forces and the power of the imagination to access them, emphasizing how these mystical pursuits were deeply intertwined with his poetic development.

Section 12: An Indian's Tale

This section features a specific memory or story related to the occult or mysticism, possibly an anecdote involving a seer or an unusual spiritual experience. It serves to illustrate his practical engagement with the esoteric and how he sought to find truth and meaning beyond conventional understanding, often drawing inspiration from non-Western spiritual traditions.

Section 13: Dublin Again

Yeats provides further recollections of his life in Dublin as a young adult. He describes his literary aspirations, his involvement in various cultural societies, and his growing network of intellectual acquaintances. He reflects on the social and political climate of Dublin at the time, and how it influenced his budding nationalism and his commitment to an Irish literary revival.

Section 14: The Close of the Nineteenth Century

In the concluding section, Yeats brings his memoir to an end as he prepares to leave Dublin for London, marking the transition from youth to young adulthood and the beginning of his professional literary career. He reflects on the influences that shaped him, the individuals who left an impression, and the aspirations he carried forward. This section encapsulates his journey of self-discovery and his readiness to embark on his artistic destiny.

---

Literary Genre: Memoir, Autobiography

Author Facts:

• Full Name: William Butler Yeats
• Born: June 13, 1865, Sandymount, Dublin, Ireland
• Died: January 28, 1939, Menton, France
• Nobel Prize: Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923 "for his always inspired poetry, which in a highly artistic form gives expression to the spirit of a whole nation."
• Key Figure: A central figure in Irish and English literature, a driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival.
• Varied Interests: Beyond poetry and drama, Yeats was deeply interested in Irish mythology, folklore, and the occult (mysticism, spiritualism, magic). He was a member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.
• Political Life: Served as a Senator of the Irish Free State for two terms.

Morale:
The morale or central lesson of "Reveries Over Childhood and Youth" is the profound influence of one's early environment, family, and cultural heritage on the formation of identity and artistic vision. Yeats demonstrates how the interplay of urban and rural landscapes, intellectual discourse, folklore, and personal experiences shapes a unique perspective and provides the bedrock for creative expression. It emphasizes the importance of imagination, the search for meaning beyond the mundane, and the power of childhood memories in understanding one's true calling. The book suggests that authenticity in art often springs from a deep engagement with one's roots and an unwavering commitment to one's inner world.

Curiosities:

• Published Late: Despite covering his youth, the memoir was written and published relatively late in Yeats's life (1916), allowing him to reflect on his early years with the wisdom and perspective of an accomplished elder.
• Stylistic Choices: The language is highly poetic and evocative, blending factual recollection with a dreamlike quality, reflecting Yeats's own artistic sensibilities. It's not a dry historical account but an artistic re-creation of memory.
• The Occult Thread: The memoir provides crucial insight into Yeats's lifelong fascination with magic and the occult, showing how these interests were not peripheral but foundational to his poetic imagination and worldview from a young age.
• Family Influences: The book prominently features his artistic father, John Butler Yeats, whose intellectual conversations and bohemian lifestyle profoundly influenced young W.B. Yeats, sometimes in conflicting ways, but always stimulating.
• Part of a Larger Work: "Reveries Over Childhood and Youth" is often considered the first part of Yeats's larger autobiographical project, "Autobiographies," which also includes "The Trembling of the Veil," "Estrangement," "The Death of Synge," and "The Bounty of Sweden."