I am writing a Senior Paper about the poetry works of W.B. Yeats, a Modernist poet I have found out. But I was wondering if my thesis would work or if it is too soft and not on the line of a thesis.

W.B. Yeats like most of the Modernistic poets in his time has changed poetry by using his own techniques and styles to express in what are considered one of the best poems of that time.

I think that it is a very exciting thesis and one that you can prove with suffcient evidence. Compare his poetry to that of other poets during his time and show how he is revolutionary in his poetic process. That should be a good paper.

Thanks, a few people I've noticed Yeats being compared to is Dylan Thomas, Seamus Heaney and many others. So I think I can find a few related to Yeats' poetry, but I may have to read some of their work first to be on the safe side. Thanks again!

I always forget to type in my name...

Subject/Verb agreement problem:

You either need to decide if you're writing about one poem being considered the best of its time or many. You said "one of the best poems" ARE considered it. So it's unclear.

As far as other things, I don't think this is a good thesis statement. It's going to be difficult to prove his poems were the best around at that time. You can change the thesis somehow to show how his style is unique and have that be your thesis. Then you'd almost have to compare it to other poems and point out what's different about his style.

Something to help:

http://fac-staff.seattleu.edu/JCM/web/TR.RD1.html

Matt

Hi Matt! It's great that you're working on a senior paper about the poetry works of W.B. Yeats. Evaluating your thesis statement, it seems like there are a couple of areas that could use some improvement.

Firstly, the statement that Yeats, like most Modernist poets, has changed poetry by using his own techniques and styles may be quite general. To make your thesis stronger, consider specifying the particular techniques and styles used by Yeats which make his poetry stand out.

Secondly, stating that his poems are considered "one of the best" might be difficult to prove definitively. Instead, you could focus on the unique qualities of Yeats' poetry and how it contributed to the Modernist movement.

A revised thesis could be something like: "W.B. Yeats' innovative use of symbolism, mythology, and lyrical language in his poetry contributed to the transformative nature of the Modernist movement, setting his works apart from his contemporaries."

To support this thesis, you can compare Yeats' poetry to that of other Modernist poets such as Dylan Thomas and Seamus Heaney. By analyzing the themes, techniques, and stylistic choices employed by these poets, you can highlight the distinctive qualities of Yeats' work.

In terms of finding related poems by other poets, reading their works would indeed be helpful. Take note of the themes, tones, and literary devices they employ and compare them to Yeats' poetry. This will enable you to make a strong case for the uniqueness and significance of Yeats' contributions to the Modernist movement.

Good luck with your paper, and if you have any further questions or need additional assistance, feel free to ask.