Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi all! We have been experiencing an issue on site where threads have been missing the latest postings. The platform host Vanilla are working on this issue. A workaround that has been used by some is to navigate back from 1 to 10+ pages to re-sync the thread and this will then show the latest posts. Thanks, Mike.
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Cretan barb that pierced a star? What did Yeats mean?

  • 16-06-2016 12:46am
    #1
    MichaelR
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 807 ✭✭✭


    Hello,

    I really really like Yeats' "Parnell's Funeral". Its worldview resonates strongly. But I would like to understand the big cultural reference there.

    "What is this sacrifice? Can someone there
    Recall the Cretan barb that pierced a star?

    Rich foliage that the starlight glittered through,
    A frenzied crowd, and where the branches sprang
    A beautiful seated boy; a sacred bow;
    A woman, and an arrow on a string;
    A pierced boy, image of a star laid low.
    That woman, the Great Mother imaging,
    Cut out his heart. Some master of design
    Stamped boy and tree upon Sicilian coin."

    What is the myth that Yeats is referring to? I failed to find it online...


Comments

Advertisement