The woods of Arcady are dead, And over is their antique joy; Of old the world on dreaming fed; Grey Truth is now her painted toy; Yet still she turns her restless head.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Yeats laments the loss of mythical joy and says truth is now treated as a toy, yet the world keeps moving restlessly.
- In plain terms
- Old myths are dead and truth is toyed with, but the world still turns.
- What can you take from it?
- Past wonder is gone but life continues without it.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What myths matter today?
- Is truth a toy now?
Another view
It assumes antique joy was universally better than present understanding.
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