Chapter 8 of the CBSE Class 10 English Book, ‘First Flight’, comprises a poem, For Anne Gregory by William Butler Yeats. He was an Irish poet, dramatist, and writer, recognized as one of the leading figures in literature of the 20th century. Also helped in making Irish literature popular again during a time called the Irish Literary Revival. W. B. Yeats even won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923. Later, he became a Senator in the Irish Free State for two terms. Here’s a simple summary & detailed explanation of the poem – For Anne Gregory.
CBSE Class 10 English For Anne Gregory Summary
This poem presents a dialogue between the poet William Butler Yeats and a young girl named Anne Gregory, who is described as having lovely honey-colored hair. Through the poet’s words, it is conveyed that people often fall in love with Anne’s external beauty and physical appearance, while overlooking her intrinsic qualities and inner beauty. The poet reflects on the notion that true love, appreciating someone for their essence, is a rarity among humans, suggesting that only a divine entity like God can love us unconditionally for who we truly are, beyond mere physical attributes.
For Anne Gregory Poem Explanation
“Never shall a young man,
Thrown into despair
By those great honey-coloured
Ramparts at your ear,
Love you for yourself alone
And not your yellow hair.”
“But I can get a hair-dye
And set such colour there,
Brown, or black, or carrot,
That young men in despair
May love me for myself alone
And not my yellow hair.”
“I heard an old religious man
But yesternight declare
That he had found a text to prove
That only God, my dear,
Could love you for yourself alone
And not your yellow hair.”
Explanation
In the first part of the poem, the poet tells Anne Gregory that if she turns down a guy, he might feel really sad. The poet talks about how pretty Anne is, especially her beautiful golden hair that falls around her ears like protective walls around a fort. The poet compares Anne’s hair to a barrier that keeps people from seeing her true self inside. Because of her good looks, guys are only interested in her and don’t care about her personality. The poet thinks it’s hard for anyone to love Anne for who she is, beyond just her looks.
In the second stanza, Anne tells the poet that she can alter her hair color. She can dye it brown, black, or even carrot-colored. By this, she implies that external beauty is transient and subject to change. Therefore, the men who are drawn to her solely for her appearance may eventually see her true essence. Anne wishes that whoever falls in love with her will appreciate her for who she truly is, rather than solely for her blonde hair and outward attractiveness.
In the final stanza, the poet responds to Anne’s sentiments about valuing internal beauty over external beauty. He recounts an encounter with an elderly religious figure who asserted that only God possesses the capacity to love us unconditionally for who we are. The poet supports this notion by referencing a religious text. He reflects on how humans are often swayed by superficial appearances, lacking the insight to perceive the essence of a person’s soul. Thus, the poet concludes that only God possesses the profound understanding required to perceive and love us for our inner qualities.
We trust that this summary of the CBSE Class 10 English First Flight Poem “For Anne Gregory” has provided you with a quick grasp of the poem. Stay connected with GK Publications for the latest updates on CBSE and study materials. Explore sample papers and question papers from various years to enhance your preparation for the Board Exams.
