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Autobiographies by William Butler Yeats - Test
Contributed by: Cameron
  • 1. William Butler Yeats, the renowned Irish poet and playwright, is celebrated not only for his profound literary contributions but also for his intriguing autobiographical writings that offer a glimpse into his artistic development and personal philosophies. His autobiographies, primarily encapsulated in 'The Trembling of the Veil' and 'The Autobiography of William Butler Yeats', reveal the complexities of his life, from his formative years in late 19th-century Ireland to his maturation as a leading figure in the Irish Literary Revival. Yeats's narrative is rich with reflections on his relationships with other literary figures, his burgeoning interest in mysticism and the occult, and his deep connection to Irish mythology and folklore. Through a blend of personal anecdote and philosophical insight, Yeats explores the themes of inspiration, the creative process, and the interplay between the personal and the universal, ultimately painting a vivid portrait of a man who was profoundly influenced by the cultural and political currents of his time. His autobiographies not only serve as a record of his life but also as an exploration of the nature of art itself, making them essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the intersection of personal experience and literary expression.

    What is the title of W.B. Yeats's autobiography?
A) Reveries Over Childhood and Youth
B) The Trembling of the Veil
C) Autobiographies
D) Memoirs
  • 2. Which of the following is a major section within Yeats's 'Autobiographies'?
A) The Trembling of the Veil
B) Easter 1916
C) The Celtic Twilight
D) A Vision
  • 3. Yeats's autobiography details his involvement with which occult society?
A) The Freemasons
B) The Theosophical Society
C) The Golden Dawn
D) The Rosicrucians
  • 4. Which Irish political revolutionary and love interest is a central figure in Yeats's 'Autobiographies'?
A) Maud Gonne
B) Lady Gregory
C) Olivia Shakespeare
D) Constance Markievicz
  • 5. Yeats's autobiography begins with recollections of his time living in which London suburb?
A) Chelsea
B) Hampstead
C) Bedford Park
D) Greenwich
  • 6. In his autobiography, Yeats describes his family's strong connection to which Irish county?
A) Cork
B) Sligo
C) Galway
D) Dublin
  • 7. Which artistic father figure had a profound influence on the young Yeats, as described in his autobiography?
A) John Butler Yeats (his father)
B) Dante Gabriel Rossetti
C) John Ruskin
D) Augustus John
  • 8. What was the original publication date for the collection 'Autobiographies'?
A) 1905
B) 1938
C) 1926
D) 1914
  • 9. Which literary figure did Yeats have a famous disagreement with, as recounted in his autobiography?
A) George Moore
B) Samuel Beckett
C) James Joyce
D) Seamus Heaney
  • 10. Yeats's autobiography provides a portrait of which controversial Irish political leader?
A) Eamon de Valera
B) Michael Collins
C) Daniel O'Connell
D) Charles Stewart Parnell
  • 11. Which play's controversial reception and riots are detailed in Yeats's autobiography?
A) The Countess Cathleen
B) Cathleen ni Houlihan
C) The King's Threshold
D) The Playboy of the Western World
  • 12. Which Irish country house, a center of the literary revival, features prominently in Yeats's autobiography?
A) Ballylee Castle
B) Coole Park
C) Lissadell House
D) Castle Leslie
  • 13. What major public role did Yeats take on late in life, which is touched upon in his later autobiographical writings?
A) Professor of Poetry at Oxford
B) Senator of the Irish Free State
C) Director of the Abbey Theatre
D) Mayor of Dublin
  • 14. In his autobiography, Yeats describes the creation of his mystical system which was later fully published as what?
A) The Celtic Twilight
B) The Secret Rose
C) Per Amica Silentia Lunae
D) A Vision
  • 15. What was the original title of the first part of his autobiographical writings?
A) Reveries Over Childhood and Youth
B) Early Memories
C) Boyhood Days
D) The Bounty of Sweden
  • 16. Which theatrical co-founder and close collaborator is a significant figure in 'Autobiographies'?
A) Samuel Beckett
B) George Bernard Shaw
C) Oscar Wilde
D) Lady Gregory
  • 17. Yeats's father, John Butler Yeats, is portrayed as:
A) A successful businessman
B) Largely absent from his life
C) A talented artist and intellectual influence
D) A strict disciplinarian
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