In the poem, Yeats laments the misinterpretation of his earlier works. In a well-organized essay, briefly summarize Yeats' thoughts and analyze how the diction, imagery, and syntax help to convey his state of mind.

W.B. Yeats, an Irish poet of the 19th and 20th centuries, often wrote of his homeland and its culture. He focused on the folklore of Ireland in his initial works, and the more contemporary aspects of social life later. He was regarded as one of the best writers of his time, and even won the Nobel prize in Literature in 1923 because of his works. However, Yeats was disillusioned at the wide response and misinterpretation of his earlier works, as expressed in this poem to himself, “A Coat”.

Yeats was a true Irish countryman, and was proud of his heritage. Much of his earlier poetry reflected his attachment to his country, and he recounts these works within the lines of this particular poem.

Yeats gives up and chooses not to fight them. He feels that fighting the “fools” would be a moot action and a waste of energy. Instead, he chooses not to fight. The last line is a combination of imagery and figurative speech, because the image of Yeats walking naked certainly comes to mind, but the meaning behind the statement is figurative. In walking naked, he no longer carries the reputation kept with him by his earlier writings of Ireland.

Finally, Yeats resolves his lament with another vivid picture in the reader's mind's eye.

Some topics in this essay:
Coat” Yeats, Finally Yeats, Yeats Irish, WB Yeats', , walking naked, unusual word, irish folklore, language imagery, “a coat”, figurative language, subtle poem, misinterpretation earlier, chooses fight, reader's mind,