For Anne Gregory — Class 10 English
First Flight – Poems · Chapter 10
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Chapter summary
In “For Anne Gregory”, W.B. Yeats presents a conversation about the difference between outer beauty and inner worth, and the nature of true love. The speaker tells the young, beautiful Anne Gregory that young men, attracted by the “honey-colour” of her yellow hair, can fall in love with her outer beauty rather than with her true self. Anne replies that she could change the colour of her hair — to brown, black or carrot — so that young men might love her for herself alone and not for her golden hair. The speaker answers that he has found an old, religious text saying that only God could love her for herself alone and not for her yellow hair, suggesting that ordinary human love is usually drawn to external appearances. Through this gentle dialogue, the poem reflects on the contrast between physical beauty and inner self, and on how rare and almost divine it is to be loved purely for who one truly is.
The story in steps
- The speaker says young men love Anne Gregory for her yellow, honey-coloured hair, not for her real self.
- He adds that no young man can truly love her only for herself.
- Anne replies that she can dye her hair brown, black, or carrot-colour.
- She hopes that then someone may love her for herself alone.
- The speaker answers that an old religious man says only God can love her purely for herself.
Inner versus outer beautyThe nature of true loveSymbolism of yellow hairHuman love and appearancesDialogue form
Key ideas & terms
- Anne Gregory
- The beautiful young woman addressed in the poem.
- Yellow hair
- Her golden hair, a symbol of outer, physical beauty.
- Inner versus outer beauty
- The central contrast of the poem.
- True love
- Love for the self alone, not for appearance.
- Only God
- The one said to be able to love a person for the self alone.
- W.B. Yeats
- The poet who wrote “For Anne Gregory”.
शब्दार्थ · Word meanings
- honey-coloured
- golden-yellow like honey
- ramparts
- high walls of a fort
- despair
- complete loss of hope
- dye
- change colour of hair or cloth
- brown
- a dark earth-like colour
- black
- the darkest colour
- carrot
- orange-red colour
- religious man
- a man devoted to religion
- beautiful
- good-looking; pleasing to see
- alone
- only; by itself
Extra questions & answers
What is the central theme of “For Anne Gregory”?
The contrast between outer (physical) beauty and inner worth, and how rare it is to be loved purely for one’s true self.
What does the speaker say about young men and Anne’s beauty?
That young men, drawn by the honey-colour of her yellow hair, may fall in love with her outer beauty rather than her true self.
How does Anne respond to this?
She says she could dye her hair brown, black or carrot, so that young men might love her for herself alone and not for her golden hair.
What does the speaker reply about being loved for oneself?
He says he has found an old religious text declaring that only God could love her for herself alone and not for her yellow hair.
What does the “yellow hair” symbolise?
It symbolises outer, physical beauty that attracts people’s attention.
What does the poem suggest about human love?
That ordinary human love is usually drawn to external appearance, not to the inner self.
Why is being loved for oneself alone described as almost divine?
Because the poem says only God can love a person purely for the self, suggesting humans rarely achieve such love.
What is the form of the poem?
It is written as a gentle dialogue or conversation between the speaker and Anne Gregory.
What does Anne’s wish to change her hair show?
Her longing to be valued for her real self rather than for her physical beauty.
What message does the poem finally convey?
That true love based on inner worth alone is rare, since human beings are usually attracted by outer beauty.