Sound as an echo of Sense in W B Yeats Leda and the Swan
In several cases, sound is an echo of sense in W.B.Yeats’ poem “Leda and the Swan”. ... The hard sounds of b’s, t’s, and g’s emphasize the violence of what is being said. The emphasis also serves to show the power of the attacker, Zeus, in the form of a swan, that the victim, Leda, could not hope to stop him. The effect of the blows sends Leda staggering, as is seen in “STAGgering GIRL”. ... This rhythmic variation also emphasizes the power of the swan. ... The words “strange heart” also remind the reader that he is not only a god, but a swan raping the victim, which emphasizes further the sense of wrong that accompanies the idea of rape.