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 5 beats
1The speaker says young men love Anne Gregory for her yellow, honey-coloured hair, not for her real self.
2He adds that no young man can truly love her only for herself.
3Anne replies that she can dye her hair brown, black, or carrot-colour.
4She hopes that then someone may love her for herself alone.
5The 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
Characters & key ideas
AAnne GregoryThe beautiful young woman addressed in the poem.
YYellow hairHer golden hair, a symbol of outer, physical beauty.
IInner versus outer beautyThe central contrast of the poem.
TTrue loveLove for the self alone, not for appearance.
OOnly GodThe one said to be able to love a person for the self alone.
WW.B. YeatsThe poet who wrote “For Anne Gregory”.
Word meanings · शब्दार्थ
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
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Who wrote “For Anne Gregory”?
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