Which Yeats work is cited as an early piece connected to Irish folklore?

• A. The Second Coming
• B. The Secret Rose
• C. Sailing to Byzantium
• D. The Lake Isle of Innisfree

Answer: (B)

Yeats’ early poetry is steeped in Irish legends and fairy lore, a hallmark of his nationalist and literary- revival phase. The Secret Rose, published in the 1890s, is an early collection that gathers poems clearly drawn from Irish folklore and fairy imagery, signaling his initial push into Ireland’s mythic landscape. The other works come from later periods and while they use powerful mythic or symbolic devices, they aren’t anchored in Irish folklore in the same way. The Lake Isle of Innisfree centers on personal longing for a simple, natural retreat, not folklore; Sailing to Byzantium and The Second Coming move into broader mythic or apocalyptic territory rather than traditional Irish folklore. So, The Secret Rose best fits as the early piece connected to Irish folklore.