W.B. Yeats's poems

Hello Everyone 🤠,

This blog is in response to thinking task activity assigned by Dilip Barad Sir.

 In this blog , we will explore the W.B. Yeats's poems from Twentieth Century literature. Our focus will be on the analysis of two poems: "On Being Asked for a War Poem" and "The Second Coming".

About W.B.Yeats: 

 W.B. Yeats is a famous Irish poet and one of the most influential figures in 20th-century literature. Yeats was known for his deep and mystical poetry, exploring themes of love, nature, and Irish folklore. He was also involved in the Irish literary revival and played a significant role in the cultural and political movements of his time. Some of his notable works include "The Second Coming," "Easter, 1916," and "The Lake Isle of Innisfree." His poetry is truly captivating and worth exploring.

His famous Poems :

Let's discuss about a few of his well-known works:

1. "The Second Coming": 

  This poem reflects the turbulent times of the early 20th century and explores the idea of an impending apocalypse.

2. "Easter, 1916" :

   Written in response to the Easter Rising in Ireland, this poem pays tribute to the martyrs and reflects on the struggles for Irish independence.

3. "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" :

   In this tranquil and reflective poem, Yeats expresses his desire to escape the noise and chaos of the city and find solace in the peacefulness of nature.

4. "When You Are Old":

  A poignant love poem, Yeats contemplates the passage of time and the enduring nature of true love.

So, Let's discuss about his two famous Poems.

On Being Asked for a War Poem:

I think it better that in times like these,

A poet's mouth be silent, for in truth,

We have no gift to set a statesman right;

He has had enough of meddling who can please,

A young girl in the indolence of her youth,

Or an old man upon a winter’s night.

About the Poem:

"On Being Asked for a War Poem" is a thoughtful poem by W.B. Yeats from World War I times. The poem was first published in 1915 during World War I in a collection titled "Responsibilities."  Unlike many war poems that either praise or criticize war directly, Yeats takes a different approach. He talks about how hard it is to capture the real feelings of war in a poem. He feels writing about war is not enough to show how terrible it is. Instead, he talks about how difficult it is for poets to express the true horror of war in words. The poem makes us think about the role of artists during times of war and how hard it is to put such big ideas into poems.

Composition and Publication:

• Written in 1915, during World War I.

• First published in Poetry magazine in 1915.

• Included in Yeats's 1916 collection "Responsibilities."

Historical Context:

This poem responds to the widespread calls for poets to glorify the war effort. It also reflects Yeats's disillusionment with nationalism and the glorification of violence. By this Poem Yeats draws parallels between the contemporary war and past conflicts, particularly the Irish Civil War.

Structure and Form:

The poem Divided into eight quatrains with an ABAB CDCD rhyme scheme. It Written in traditional iambic pentameter, but with subtle variations that create a sense of tension and unease. It Uses powerful imagery and symbolism to convey its message.

Let's analyze this poem,

Critical Analysis of "On Being Asked for a War Poem" by W.B. Yeats :

W.B. Yeats's "On Being Asked for a War Poem" is a complex and multifaceted poem that challenges the traditional expectations of war poetry. Instead of glorifying heroism or lamenting loss, Yeats uses irony, satire, and historical perspective to critique the glorification of war and its inherent hypocrisy.

Silent Reflections Amidst the Storm:

In moments like these, a poet's silence may be more profound, recognizing that amidst the crashing waves of chaos, the true power lies in the quiet spaces between, acknowledging that their words may not provide all the answers to the grand challenges facing leaders.

The Compassionate Touch Amidst Turmoil:

Politicians often navigate through grand schemes and rely on logic and reason. Yet, amidst chaos, there arises a call for a different approach—a gentle hand to comfort a worried young girl or a reassuring voice for an old man confronting a long winter night.

The Poet's Comfort in Times of Turmoil:

In the innocence of youth or the solitude of old age, the poet's gift shines bright. While their words may not sway leaders, they offer solace and beauty amidst darkness. Through stories, they remind us of life's precious moments, urging us to appreciate the quiet joys that unite us, even in turbulent times. The poem suggests understanding when to advocate for big solutions and when to offer gentle reminders of the simple things that connect us.

Key Points of Analysis:

Irony and Satire:

   The poem is infused with irony and satire, particularly through the speaker's persona as a reluctant poet who finds war distasteful and uninspiring. Lines like "I have no anger in my heart for men that have done wrong" and "I offer no battle-cry, no exultation, no tears" subvert the typical emotional language of war poetry.

Historical Perspective:

   Yeats juxtaposes the contemporary call for a war poem with the atrocities and disillusionment of past wars. He references the Trojan War, the Irish Civil War, and other conflicts, highlighting the futility and cyclical nature of violence. Lines like "Men who have seen the nations as they are" and "And after that, terrible beauty" demonstrate the speaker's awareness of war's destructive and paradoxical nature.

Rejection of Patriotism:

  The poem challenges the blind patriotism often associated with war poetry. Yeats criticizes the romanticization of soldiers and the simplistic labeling of enemies. Lines like "I offer no oblation, no franc-piece of death" and "I offer no wounds that cannot heal" emphasize the human cost of war and the futility of sacrifice.

Focus on Individuality:

   In contrast to the collective fervor of war poetry, Yeats emphasizes the individual experiences of those affected by conflict. He speaks of "a lonely ghost" and "a woman's tongue" as symbols of the personal suffering that war inflicts. This shift in focus underscores the poem's humanistic message.

Ambiguity and Open-endedness:

   Despite its critical stance, the poem does not offer easy solutions or pronouncements. The ending lines, "I offer no battle-cry, no exultation, no tears, / Henceforward, friend, O friend, I speak my bitter thought," leave the reader to grapple with the complexities of war and its aftermath.

Overall Impact:

"On Being Asked for a War Poem" stands as a powerful indictment of war and its glorification. By employing irony, satire, and historical perspective, Yeats challenges the reader to move beyond simplistic narratives and consider the human cost of conflict. The poem's ambiguity and open-endedness encourage critical reflection and individual engagement with the complex realities of war.

THE SECOND COMING by W. B. Yeats:

Turning and turning in the widening gyre   

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere   

The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

The best lack all conviction, while the worst   

Are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand;

Surely the Second Coming is at hand.   

The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out   

When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi

Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert   

A shape with lion body and the head of a man,   

A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,   

Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it   

Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.   

The darkness drops again; but now I know   

That twenty centuries of stony sleep

Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,   

And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,   

Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

"The Second Coming" by W.B. Yeats is a poem written in the aftermath of World War I, and it paints a dark and apocalyptic vision of the future. It's considered one of Yeats's most famous and complex works.

Composition and Publication:

Written in 1919, shortly after the end of World War I.Originally called "The Second Birth" before being published in The Dial in 1920 and later included in Yeats's 1921 collection "Michael Robartes and the Dancer." It reflects the historical context of the post-war period and the Irish War of Independence.

Historical Context:

The Second Coming (1919) is a poem by W. B. Yeats. It was written in 1919 after World War I, a time of great social, political and cultural turmoil around the world. The war had killed millions of people in Europe and left many countries in ruins. In the poem, Yeats describes the disillusionment and unease of the post war era, which was marked by rapid social transformation, the loss of traditional values and the emergence of new ideas and movements. In the context of the history of the poem, it is clear that Yeats is exploring chaos, decay and the search for a sense of purpose in a world that was spinning out of control.

Let's first see analysis of the poem:

   The poem opens with a sense of unease and chaos. The world is described as being in a state of decay and decline, with "mere anarchy loosed upon the world." The falcon, a symbol of order and clarity, can no longer hear the falconer, representing the loss of control and direction.In Yeats’ poem, the world spins like a runaway kite, caught up in a whirlwind. Imagine a magnificent hawk soaring high above the sky, only to be cut loose and unable to heed its captor’s call to halt its flight. This scene mirrors the opening lines of the poem, where order breaks down (things fall apart) and chaos (just chaos) reigns.

Imagine a river overflowing its banks, red from the blood-dimmed flood, and all innocence washed away. The ancient rituals of the ceremony of innocence drown in the maelstrom. Good people, shaken by their faith, stand uncertain (the best have no faith at all), while the bad people, their eyes burning with passion and intensity, thrive in the chaos.

But there is a glimmer of hope in the midst of all this darkness. The speaker mumbles, “Surely some great thing is coming; surely the Second Coming is coming.” Is it the return of a savior, someone who will restore the world to its former glory?

   The speaker then shifts to a more prophetic tone, predicting that a "rough beast" is about to rise. This beast is a monstrous and terrifying figure, unlike the gentle savior traditionally associated with the Second Coming of Christ. It is described as having a lion body and a human head, with "blood-dimmed tide" in its eyes.

   The speaker describes the world that this beast will usher in. It will be a world of violence and cruelty, where the center "cannot hold" and everything falls apart. Even the most basic values and beliefs will be shattered.

Consider this rephrased vision from "Spiritus Mundi": Picture an expansive desert, with its glistening sands extending beneath the scorching sun. In the distance emerges a colossal creature, part lion, part human, with eyes resembling smoldering embers ("blank and merciless as the sun"). This monstrous "rough beast," roused from a slumber ancient beyond time, leisurely advances towards Bethlehem, the cradle of hope, its intentions shrouded in ominous uncertainty.

  In the final stanza, the speaker seems to accept the inevitability of the coming change. He acknowledges that this new era will be one of violence and chaos, but he also sees it as a necessary cleansing fire. From the ashes of the old world, something new and perhaps better may emerge.

Yeats skillfully intertwines these scenes using straightforward yet impactful imagery. The cry of the lost hawk resonates with the world's disorientation. The river, stained red, portrays a stark image of brutality. The creature's vacant gaze evokes a chilling sensation. Through these vivid portrayals, he leaves us pondering a haunting inquiry: Could this monstrous figure be the anticipated redeemer, or does it herald an even deeper abyss of darkness?

Overall, we can say that "The Second Coming" is a poem about the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. It is a dark and foreboding vision, but it also holds a glimmer of hope for the future.

The poem is full of rich symbolism. The gyres, for example, are a recurring image that Yeats used to represent the cyclical nature of history. The poem is also influenced by Yeats's interest in the occult and mysticism. "The Second Coming" has been interpreted in many different ways, but it is generally seen as a reflection of the anxieties and uncertainties of the post-World War I era.

Structure and Form:

• Divided into four stanzas with a consistent rhyme scheme (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG).

• Written in free verse, lacking a strict meter.

• Utilizes vivid imagery and symbolism to create a powerful and unsettling atmosphere.

"The Second Coming" by W.B. Yeats is structured in a unique and impactful way. It consists of four stanzas, each with three lines, known as tercets. The poem follows a loose iambic pentameter, with varying line lengths and rhythms.

Yeats employs a fragmented and disjointed style, using enjambment to create a sense of unease and uncertainty. The poem lacks traditional rhyme schemes, but it does contain internal rhyme and repetition, which adds to its musicality and emphasizes certain phrases.

The first stanza sets the stage with the image of a "widening gyre," symbolizing the chaotic spiral of history. The second stanza introduces the falcon and the falconer, representing the loss of control and the breakdown of order. The third stanza delves into the darkness and foreboding of the impending change, while the final stanza concludes with the powerful image of the "rough beast" and the sense of impending doom.

The structure of the poem mirrors its themes of chaos and the collapse of traditional values. It captures the sense of uncertainty and unease that Yeats sought to convey. Overall, the structure of "The Second Coming" adds to its impact and reinforces its powerful message.

Title Significance:

The title "The Second Coming" refers to the Christian belief in the return of Jesus Christ to Earth. However, Yeats reinterprets this concept to reflect a more sinister and chaotic vision.

Symbolism:

Throughout the poem, Yeats uses rich symbolism to convey his message. The falcon and falconer symbolize the breakdown of order and the loss of control. This image is a metaphor for the disintegration of society and the loss of traditional values.

Spiral of Destruction:

   The poem suggests a cyclical view of history, where periods of order are followed by chaos, and vice versa. Yeats employs vivid imagery to convey the idea of a spiraling descent into darkness, culminating in the ominous proclamation, "And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, / Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?" This final image suggests the emergence of a monstrous force, heralding a new era of upheaval and destruction.

Imagery:

Widening Gyre:

Evokes a sense of spiraling chaos and disintegration.

Falcon and Falconer:

Symbolizes the breakdown of control and connection.

Things Falling Apart:

Imagery of collapse and instability.

Center Cannot Hold:

Conveys a sense of loss and disorientation.

Rough Beast:

Represents a monstrous force emerging from the chaos.

Slouching Towards Bethlehem:

Ominous image of impending doom and destruction.

For more clear understanding the Poem, I've attach here one Ted.ed video...

Thank you so much for Reading 😊🙏🏻

Happy Learning 😀