A Prayer for My Daughter Questions Answers
Very Short Answer Questions
Who is the author of the poem “A Prayer for my Daughter”?
The author is William Butler Yeats.
What is the form of the poem?
The poem is written in octave form.
Who is the speaker of the poem?
The speaker of the poem is usually read as Yeats himself.
When was the poem written?
The poem was written in 1919.
What is the setting of the poem?
The setting of the poem is during a storm as his daughter sleeps.
What are the themes of the poem?
The poem explores themes of parenthood, Irish politics, and reflections on Yeats’s own past.
What is the tone of the poem?
The tone of the poem is contemplative.
What is the style of the poem?
Yeats’s style in this poem is deeply touching.
What is the central message of the poem?
The central message of the poem is a father’s profound desire for his daughter to grow with wisdom.
What is the structure of the poem?
The poem is written in the lyric form containing ten eight-line stanzas.
What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
The poem follows a regular rhyme scheme of AABBCDDC.
What does the poet pray for in “A Prayer for My Daughter”?
The poet prays for his daughter’s future, wishing her to grow with wisdom.
What does the storm symbolize in Yeats’s poem “A Prayer for My Daughter”?
The storm symbolizes the tumultuous world that his daughter will grow up in.
What virtues does the poet wish for his daughter in “A Prayer for My Daughter”?
The poet wishes for his daughter to be beautiful but not overly so, to be well-mannered and full of humility.
What does W. B. Yeats mean by “intellectual hatred” in A Prayer for My Daughter?
“Intellectual hatred” refers to the destructive power of hatred that arises from intellectual disagreements.
How does the storm in “A Prayer For My Daughter” reflect the poet’s mind?
The storm reflects the poet’s turbulent thoughts and fears for his daughter’s future.
How does “A Prayer for My Daughter” reveal a father’s concern for his daughter?
The poem reveals a father’s concern through his prayers for his daughter’s future.
Why is the poet concerned about his newborn daughter’s future?
The poet is concerned about his daughter’s future due to the tumultuous world she will grow up in.
According to W. B. Yeats’s “A Prayer for My Daughter,” which hatred is the worst?
According to Yeats, “intellectual hatred” is the worst form of hatred.
Where is the child sleeping in “A Prayer for My Daughter”?
The child is sleeping in her cradle during a storm.
What is the background and main theme of W. B. Yeats’ “A Prayer for my Daughter”?
The background of the poem is the birth of Yeats’ daughter during a tumultuous time in history. The main theme is a father’s concern for his daughter’s future.
In “A Prayer for My Daughter,” who does the line “While the great queen that rose out of the spray…” refer to?
The line refers to the mythological figure Helen of Troy.
How does Yeats exhibit modernist aspects in “A Prayer For My Daughter”?
Yeats exhibits modernist aspects through his exploration of personal anxieties and the tumultuous state of the world.
How do the references to ‘Helen’ and ‘that great Queen’ in Yeats’ “A Prayer for my Daughter” relate to its themes?
The references to ‘Helen’ and ‘that great Queen’ serve as warnings of the dangers of beauty and the chaos it can cause.
Summarize the poet’s vision of “radical innocence” in “A Prayer for My Daughter.”
The poet’s vision of “radical innocence” is his hope that his daughter will maintain her innocence and humility as she grows up.
Short Answer Questions
Discuss the themes of the poem “A Prayer for my Daughter”.
The poem explores several themes including parenthood, Irish politics, and reflections on Yeats’s own past. The central theme is a father’s profound desire for his daughter to grow with wisdom. The poem also explores the theme of beauty and its potential dangers, as seen in the references to Helen of Troy.
Analyze the form and structure of “A Prayer for my Daughter”.
“A Prayer for my Daughter” is written in the lyric form containing ten eight-line stanzas. Each stanza has eight lines written in iambic pentameter or iambic tetrameter. The poem follows a regular rhyme scheme of AABBCDDC, which could be considered a variation on ottava rima.
How does Yeats use symbolism in “A Prayer for my Daughter”?
Yeats uses symbolism extensively in the poem. The storm symbolizes the tumultuous world that his daughter will grow up in. The references to ‘Helen’ and ‘that great Queen’ serve as warnings of the dangers of beauty and the chaos it can cause.
Discuss the tone and style of “A Prayer for my Daughter”.
The tone of the poem is contemplative and filled with the universal concerns of a parent for their child. Yeats’s style in this poem is deeply touching, demonstrating his concern and anxiety over the future wellbeing and prospects of his daughter.
What is the central message of “A Prayer for my Daughter”?
The central message of the poem is a father’s profound desire for his daughter to grow with wisdom. It not only expresses the helplessness of Yeats as a father but all fathers who had to walk through this situation.
Discuss the use of imagery in “A Prayer for my Daughter”.
Yeats uses vivid imagery to convey his thoughts and emotions in the poem. The storm raging outside as his daughter sleeps peacefully is a powerful image that sets the tone for the poem. The references to Helen of Troy and the great queen also create strong visual images.
How does “A Prayer for my Daughter” reflect Yeats’s personal life and experiences?
The poem reflects Yeats’s personal life and experiences in several ways. It was written two days after the birth of his daughter, Anne, and expresses his hopes and fears for her future. The poem also reflects Yeats’s experiences with Irish politics and his own past.
Analyze the role of nature in “A Prayer for my Daughter”.
Nature plays a significant role in the poem. The storm symbolizes the tumultuous world that his daughter will grow up in. The poem also uses natural imagery to convey its themes and messages.
Discuss the influence of Irish politics on “A Prayer for my Daughter”.
The influence of Irish politics can be seen in the poem’s exploration of the tumultuous world that Yeats’s daughter will grow up in. The poem reflects Yeats’s concerns about the political situation in Ireland at the time.
How does “A Prayer for my Daughter” explore the theme of beauty?
The poem explores the theme of beauty through its references to Helen of Troy and the great queen. Yeats warns of the dangers of beauty and the chaos it can cause. He wishes for his daughter to be beautiful but not overly so.
