Analysis of The Mask

William Butler Yeats 1865 (Sandymount) – 1939 (Menton)



'PUT off that mask of burning gold
With emerald eyes.'
'O no, my dear, you make so bold
To find if hearts be wild and wise,
And yet not cold.'
'I would but find what's there to find,
Love or deceit.'
'It was the mask engaged your mind,
And after set your heart to beat,
Not what's behind.'
'But lest you are my enemy,
I must enquire.'
'O no, my dear, let all that be;
What matter, so there is but fire
In you, in me?'


Scheme ABABACDCDCEFEFE
Poetic Form Tetractys  (20%)
Metre 11111101 1101 11111111 11111101 0111 11111111 1101 11010111 01011111 1101 11111100 11010 11111111 110111110 0101
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 411
Words 94
Sentences 7
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 15
Lines Amount 15
Letters per line (avg) 20
Words per line (avg) 6
Letters per stanza (avg) 300
Words per stanza (avg) 86
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 28, 2023

27 sec read
545

William Butler Yeats

William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet and one of the foremost figures of 20th century literature. more…

All William Butler Yeats poems | William Butler Yeats Books

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