“For Anne Gregory” by W.B. Yeats – CBSE

The chapter “For Anne Gregory” is a poem written by W.B. Yeats, part of the English syllabus in CBSE for Class 10. The poem explores themes of beauty, love, and the superficial nature of human attraction. Here’s a breakdown of the key concepts, themes, and important points to help students understand the poem better.

Poem: “For Anne Gregory” by W.B. Yeats

Summary of the Poem

The poem is a dialogue between two characters. The speaker tells Anne Gregory that no man would ever love her for who she truly is but rather for her physical beauty, particularly her golden hair. Anne Gregory, however, disagrees and believes that someone could love her for her inner qualities and not just her outward appearance.

In the final stanza, the speaker references a wise man (possibly a saint or religious figure) who claims that it is indeed impossible for humans to love each other for their true selves and that physical beauty will always play a part in love. The wise man’s statement implies that only God is capable of seeing beyond external beauty and loving someone purely for their inner qualities.

Themes

1. Superficiality of Love Based on Appearance

• The poem questions whether love is based on inner beauty or merely on outward appearances, particularly hair color in this case. Anne Gregory is told that men may love her for her beauty but not for who she really is on the inside.

1. Inner vs. Outer Beauty

• The poem contrasts external beauty (Anne’s golden hair) with inner beauty (her personality, character, and soul). Anne Gregory wants to believe that true love is possible when based on inner qualities, while the speaker suggests otherwise.

1. Human Nature

• The poem reflects on the shallow tendencies of human nature to fall in love with physical traits rather than looking beyond appearances.

1. Divine Love

• In the final stanza, the poem makes a distinction between human love, which is superficial, and divine love, which transcends appearances and sees the true essence of a person.

Structure of the Poem

• The poem is written in the form of a dialogue, with three stanzas, each representing a different voice or perspective.
• Stanza 1: The speaker suggests that no man can love Anne for who she truly is, only for her golden hair.
• Stanza 2: Anne Gregory responds, insisting that she could change her appearance and be loved for her true self.
• Stanza 3: The speaker cites a wise man who suggests that humans cannot see past outward beauty, and only God can love someone for their true nature.

Poetic Devices

1. Dialogue Form

• The poem is presented as a conversation between two speakers, which makes it more engaging and personal. The first speaker addresses Anne Gregory directly.

1. Alliteration

• The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words, e.g., “great honey-coloured.”

1. Symbolism

• The golden hair symbolizes physical beauty, which is often a superficial criterion for love.

1. Irony

• The poem uses irony to highlight how people may claim to love someone for their character but are often drawn to physical appearance instead.

1. Enjambment

• The poem uses enjambment, where lines run on without a pause, making the conversation flow naturally.

Important Quotes and Analysis

1. “That I shall never love you for your yellow hair alone”

• This line highlights the speaker’s belief that physical appearance is a major factor in love, even if not the only one. It suggests that love may not be purely based on inner beauty.

1. “But I can get a hair-dye / And set such colour there”

• Anne Gregory’s response reflects her desire to be loved for something beyond her physical appearance. She believes that if her outward beauty were altered, someone could love her for who she truly is.

1. “God may love you for yourself alone / And not your yellow hair”

• The final lines point to the idea that only divine love (God’s love) is pure and capable of seeing beyond physical beauty, unlike human love.

Message of the Poem

The poem conveys the idea that human love is often tied to physical beauty and appearances, but true love should look beyond the superficial. However, the poet seems to suggest that only divine love can fully appreciate a person’s inner beauty.

Character Analysis

1. Anne Gregory

• Anne represents youthful beauty and optimism. She believes that true love should be based on a person’s inner qualities rather than their physical appearance. Her character reflects the hope that people can love beyond the superficial.

1. The Speaker

• The speaker is more realistic (or perhaps cynical) about love, implying that human attraction is mostly based on physical appearance. He cites an authority figure (the wise man) to reinforce his argument that people cannot easily see beyond outward beauty.

Moral and Reflection

The poem leaves readers with questions about the nature of love and attraction. Is it possible for people to look beyond appearances and love someone for their true self? The poem hints that while people may aspire to this ideal, human nature often falls short, and only divine love can truly transcend physical beauty.

Exercises for Students

1. Short Answer Questions

• What does Anne Gregory say she can do to change her appearance?
• What does the speaker believe about men’s love for Anne Gregory?
• What does the wise man’s statement in the poem suggest about love?

1. Long Answer Questions

• Do you think it is possible for humans to love someone purely for their inner beauty? Give reasons for your answer based on the poem.
• Explain the theme of inner vs. outer beauty in “For Anne Gregory.”

1. Discussion Topics

• Can we truly love someone for their personality alone, without being influenced by their appearance?
• How does society’s perception of beauty affect relationships in modern times?

Key Points for Exams

• Theme of the poem: Superficial vs. real love.
• Poetic devices: Symbolism, dialogue, irony.
• Moral message: The distinction between human and divine love, and how true love should transcend physical appearances.

This resource material provides a detailed understanding of the poem “For Anne Gregory” and its key themes, along with exercises to help students engage with the text.