The Scholars by W.B. Yeats (1919)
The Scholars is a poem by W.B. Yeats, written in 1895. It is a reflection on the passing of time and the changing of generations. The poem is set in a small Irish village, where the old scholars are slowly being replaced by a new generation of students. The poem is a lament for the passing of the old ways, and a celebration of the new. The poem is written in a lyrical style, with a strong sense of nostalgia and longing for the past. The poem is a reminder of the importance of preserving the wisdom of the past, and of passing it on to the next generation.
By W.B. Yeats · First published 1919 · Genre: Poetry, Drama, Romanticism · 71 words
First lines
Bald heads forgetful of their sins, Old, learned, respectable bald heads Edit and annotate the lines That young men, tossing on their beds, Rhymed out in love's despair To flatter beauty's ignorant ear.
They'll cough in the ink to the world's end; Wear out the carpet with their shoes Earning respect; have no strange friend; If they have sinned nobody knows. Lord, what would they say Should their Catullus walk that way?
What this Textopian page supports
The Scholars is listed on Textopian as a poem by W.B. Yeats, dated 1919 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: W.B. Yeats
- Date: 1919 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Drama, Romanticism, Modernism
- Length: 71 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Scholars by W.B. Yeats
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Scholars?
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Similar titles
- The Balloon Of The Mind by W. B. Yeats
- The Collar Bone Of A Hare by W. B. Yeats
- A Prelude by Francis Sherman
- The Eyes Of Beauty by Charles Pierre Baudelaire
- The People by W. B. Yeats
- The Romance Of Rhyme by G. K. Chesterton
Genres
- Poetry — The Scholars is a poem written by W.B. Yeats, a renowned Irish poet.
- Drama — The Scholars is a dramatic poem, with a narrative structure and characters that interact with each other.
- Romanticism — The Scholars is a romantic poem, with themes of nostalgia, idealism, and the beauty of nature.
- Modernism — The Scholars is a modernist poem, with its focus on the individual and its use of free verse.
Tags
poetry · Yeats · scholarship · knowledge · wisdom · philosophy · literature · education · intellect · art · tradition · modernity