w-b-yeats-poems-quiz

W.B. Yeats Poems Quiz

by Kelbee TrowbridgePublished: June 15, 2026

Step into the enchanting world of W.B. Yeats, where mysticism, folklore, and profound emotion intertwine in verses that have captivated readers for generations. This quiz invites you to reflect on the depth and beauty of Yeats’ poetry, exploring his most celebrated works and the themes that define them. Sharpen your literary insights and celebrate the timeless genius of Yeats. Good luck!
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W.B. Yeats Poems Quiz
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1. Which poem by W.B. Yeats includes the line ‘Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold’?
This line is one of Yeats’ most famous and is often quoted in discussions of chaos and disorder.

W.B. Yeats Poems Quiz Questions Overview

1. Which poem by W.B. Yeats includes the line ‘Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold’?

The Second Coming
Easter, 1916
Sailing to Byzantium
The Lake Isle of Innisfree

2. In which poem does Yeats describe his desire to ‘arise and go now, and go to Innisfree’?

The Lake Isle of Innisfree
The Wild Swans at Coole
Leda and the Swan
An Irish Airman Foresees His Death

3. Which poem by Yeats begins with the line ‘I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree’?

The Lake Isle of Innisfree
The Wild Swans at Coole
The Second Coming
Easter, 1916

4. In ‘Sailing to Byzantium,’ what does the speaker wish to become?

A golden bird
A swan
A tree
A star

5. Which historical event is the focus of Yeats’ poem ‘Easter, 1916’?

The Easter Rising
The Great Famine
The Irish Civil War
The Battle of the Boyne

6. In ‘The Wild Swans at Coole,’ how many swans does Yeats count?

Fifty-nine
Sixty
Seventy
Forty-nine

7. Which mythological figure is central to Yeats’ poem ‘Leda and the Swan’?

Leda
Helen of Troy
Zeus
Achilles

8. In ‘An Irish Airman Foresees His Death,’ what does the airman predict?

His imminent death
Victory in battle
A long life
A return to Ireland

9. Which poem by Yeats includes the phrase ‘a terrible beauty is born’?

Easter, 1916
The Second Coming
The Lake Isle of Innisfree
Sailing to Byzantium

10. What is the main theme of Yeats’ poem ‘The Stolen Child’?

The allure of the fairy world
The horrors of war
The beauty of nature
The passage of time

11. In which poem does Yeats reflect on his unrequited love for Maud Gonne?

When You Are Old
The Wild Swans at Coole
The Second Coming
Easter, 1916

12. Which poem by Yeats describes a vision of an apocalyptic future?

The Second Coming
Sailing to Byzantium
The Lake Isle of Innisfree
The Wild Swans at Coole

13. In ‘The Song of Wandering Aengus,’ what does Aengus seek?

A magical fish
A golden apple
A silver tree
A mystical bird
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