W. B. YEATS'S POEMS

 

Greetings!! Everyone This blog is a part of thinking activity on W.B. Yeats's poems; given by Dr. Dilipsir Barad. For more information about the task CLICK HERE.

# TOPIC:-

 For this reflective exercise, please carefully analyze two poems and subsequently compose a blog post on either one or both of them. Feel free to provide your personal interpretation of the poems. Additionally, include links to the original poems or insert the complete text within the blog. If you come across pertinent images, surreal paintings, or videos, incorporate them into the blog to enhance the overall content.

# INTRODUCTION OF W.B. YEATS:-

"FOR MORE BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ABOUT W.B.YEATS CLICK HERE"

# Let's discuss the both major poems by W.B.YEATS:-

1. THE SECOND COMING:-

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?

# Description of the poem; "THE SECOND COMING":-

1. Central Meaning Of the Poem:-

“The Second Coming” presents a nightmarish apocalyptic scenario, as the speaker describes human beings’ increasing loss of control and tendency towards violence and anarchy. Surreal images fly at the reader thick and fast, creating an unsettling atmosphere that suggests a world on the brink of destruction.

Yet for all its metaphorical complexity, “The Second Coming” actually has a relatively simple message: it basically predicts that time is up for humanity, and that civilization as we know it is about to be undone. Yeats wrote this poem right after World War I, a global catastrophe that killed millions of people. Perhaps it’s unsurprising, then, that the poem paints a bleak picture of humanity, suggesting that civilization’s sense of progress and order is only an illusion.

Further more we can also say that,...

"The Second Coming" by W.B. Yeats is a complex and symbolic poem that explores the chaotic state of the world following World War I, as well as Yeats' belief in the cyclical nature of history and the impending collapse of civilization. The poem describes a world that is spinning out of control, where traditional values and structures are breaking down, and chaos and violence seem to be on the rise.

The central meaning of the poem can be interpreted as a reflection on the loss of faith in traditional institutions and ideologies, the rise of extremism and totalitarianism, and the sense of impending doom and uncertainty that characterized the early 20th century. Yeats uses powerful imagery and symbolism to convey these themes, drawing on mythological, religious, and historical references to create a sense of foreboding and unease.

Overall, "The Second Coming" can be seen as a meditation on the disintegration of civilization and the search for meaning and order in a world that seems to be spiraling towards destruction. It warns of the dangers of extremism and fanaticism, and calls for a renewed sense of moral and spiritual values in order to confront the challenges of the modern age.

2. Analysis of the poem (Stanza wise) :-

The First World War had shaken the foundations of knowledge for many, and scarred from the knowledge of the ‘war to end all wars’, they could no longer reconcile themselves with a time before the Great War. This poem is the literary version of that: a lack of ability to think of a time before the war.

Stanza One 

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.

Analysis:-

Much has been written on the apocalypse, and many of those writings focus on the harbingers of the event: it is always bloody and massive, a vicious explosion that shakes the world to its foundation. In Yeats’ poem, the apocalypse is a much quieter, more understated, affair. It opens up with the disturbance of nature.

‘Turning and turning in the widening gyre / The falcon cannot hear the falconer’.

Falcons were used as hunting animals since the medieval era. They are incredibly smart, and dedicated to their trainers, responding immediately to any noise that their handler makes, thus for the falcon to have flown so rapidly out of the reach of the falconer shows us how the delicate balance of the world has been upset. It’s a particularly Shakespearian tactic to reflect evil in the way that nature behaves. In Macbeth, when the villainous Macbeth murders the good king, a lowly porter recognizes that the horses have started to eat each other and that there was a great and thunderous storm. This is the same manipulation of imagery, using the innocent vision of nature to imply a great warping in the fabric of things as they should have been. We see it throughout the first stanza: Yeats’ words take on an edge of doomed and destroyed innocence (‘things fall apart, the center cannot hold’). The very world as he knew it – here no doubt represented in the immediate world as Yeats knew it, which was Europe – has started to crumble. The Great War is still fresh on his mind, and the phrase ‘the centre cannot hold’ can also represent the battles that were fought in France, battles that left the country scarred beyond repair, and struggling in the aftermath of the war. ‘Blood-dimmed tide’, also, can reference the same war, but aside from the historical link, there is again that idea of nature warped by man – blood-dimmed tide, water corrupted by spilled blood, by war, by an encroaching and violent end.

Stanza Two

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?

Analysis:- 

In the second stanza, the Biblical imagery takes over the visions of corrupted nature. From the start, Yeats ties his poem to religion by stating ‘the Second Coming is at hand’, and conjuring up a picture of a creature with a lion’s body and a man’s head, much like the sphynx, and a gaze as ‘blank and pitiless as the sun’. By comparing it to the very nature that Yeats spoke about in the first part of the poem, he brings out the almost infallible quality of this beast: like nature, it feels nothing for the suffering of man. It is and will be when man has turned to ash and dust in its weak.

It is worth noting that Yeats believed that poets were privy to spiritual ‘after images’ of symbols and memories recurring in history, and especially available to souls of a sensitive nature such as poets. Here, the Spiritus Mundi is the soul of the Universe, rattling in the wake of the coming apocalypse, delivering to Yeats the image of the beast that will destroy the world, and him with it. The beast will come, Yeats is assured of this, but not yet; by the end of the poem, the veil has dropped again, the monster is no longer, and Yeats writes that ‘twenty centuries of stony sleep / were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle’, implying that whatever is coming for the world, whatever monster, will be here soon. It is not yet born, but the world is right for it, and waiting for it, and Yeats is certain that the rough beast ‘its hour come round at last’ is only a few years away from wracking the world into a state of complete destruction.

3. Structure and Historical Background of the Poem:- 

"The Second Coming" is one of W.B. Yeats' most 

famous and enigmatic poems, written in 1919 amidst the turmoil of post-World War I Europe. The poem is deeply rooted in Yeats' own apocalyptic vision and his interpretation of history and human nature.

# Structure:-

1. Rhyme Scheme and Meter:-

 The poem is composed of two (partially four) stanzas, each  with a loose rhyme scheme (ABCD DCBA EFGF GHGH). The meter varies, creating a sense of unpredictability and unrest, reflecting the chaotic themes of the poem.

2. Language and Imagery:-

 Yeats employs rich symbolism and vivid imagery throughout the poem, drawing from religious, mythological, and historical references to convey his message.

3. Narrative Style:- 

The poem has a prophetic and almost biblical tone, with the speaker foreseeing a world in upheaval and the arrival of a new epoch.

# Historical Background:-

1. Post-World War I Context:-

 Yeats wrote "The Second Coming" in the aftermath of World War I, a period marked by widespread disillusionment, social unrest, and a loss of faith in traditional institutions and values. The war had shattered Europe, leaving a sense of chaos and uncertainty in its wake.

2. Irish Nationalism:-

 Yeats was deeply involved in the Irish nationalist movement and the struggle for Irish independence. The poem reflects his anxieties about the future of Ireland and the world in the face of political upheaval.

3. Theosophy and Occultism:-

 Yeats was influenced by various esoteric and occult philosophies, including Theosophy. His interest in mysticism and the occult is evident in the mystical undertones of the poem.

4. Rise of Fascism and Totalitarianism:-

 The interwar period saw the rise of fascist and totalitarian regimes across Europe. Yeats' imagery of a "rough beast" slouching towards Bethlehem can be interpreted as a commentary on the rise of totalitarianism and the erosion of democratic values.

5. Spiritual Crisis:-

"The Second Coming" reflects Yeats' belief in the cyclical nature of history and his sense of a spiritual crisis facing humanity. The poem explores themes of chaos, destruction, and the search for meaning in a world seemingly devoid of order or purpose.

Overall, "The Second Coming" is a complex and multi-layered poem that continues to resonate with readers due to its exploration of timeless themes such as the cyclical nature of history, the fragility of civilization, and the eternal struggle between order and chaos.

4. Symbols of the poem:-

1. The Second Coming:-

 The title itself refers to the Christian concept of the return of Jesus Christ to Earth, as prophesied in the New Testament. However, Yeats employs this motif to symbolize a broader idea of a cataclysmic event or moment of reckoning in history, where old systems collapse and new ones emerge.

2. Historical Cycles:-

 The poem suggests a cyclical view of history, where periods of order and stability are followed by chaos and destruction, only to be followed by another cycle. This cyclical pattern is captured in the lines "Turning and turning in the widening gyre" which depict a spiraling motion, symbolizing the repetitive nature of historical events.

3. The Gyre:-

The gyre, or spiral, is a central symbol in the poem representing this cyclical movement of history. It symbolizes the dual forces of order and chaos, tradition and change, which are in constant tension and conflict with each other.

4. Anarchy and Chaos:-

 Yeats vividly portrays a sense of chaos and disintegration in the poem, with images of "anarchy" and "blood-dimmed tide" suggesting a breakdown of societal order and values.

5. The Sphinx:- 

The image of the Sphinx in the poem represents mystery, enigma, and the unknown future. It evokes a sense of foreboding and uncertainty, as humanity grapples with the complexities of the modern world.

6. Beast:-

 The "rough beast" mentioned in the poem is often interpreted as a symbol of primal or malevolent forces unleashed upon the world. It represents the destructive power of human nature when unchecked by reason or morality.

7. Vision and Prophecy:-

 Throughout the poem, there is a sense of prophetic vision, as Yeats reflects on the signs of the times and anticipates the coming upheaval. This theme underscores the poet's role as a seer or interpreter of historical events.

8. Spiritual Crisis:-

 The poem reflects a profound sense of spiritual disillusionment and existential angst, as traditional religious and moral certainties are called into question. This crisis of faith is captured in the line "The best lack all conviction, while the worst / Are full of passionate intensity."

CLICK HERE FOR THEMATICAL INFORMATION OF THE POEM

5. Critical Perspective of the poem:-

CLICK HERE FOR CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES OF W.B. YEATS (REFER THIS ARTICAL FOR INTRESTING INFORMATION)

# VIDEO RESOURCES:-

2. 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.

 # DESCRIPTION OF THE POEM "ON BEING ASKED FOR A WAR POEM":-

 # Central meaning of the poem:-

   W.B. Yeats' poem "On being asked for a War Poem" is a profound reflection on the role of the poet during times of conflict and turmoil. At its core, the poem explores the idea that poetry, with its lyrical beauty and artistic expression, is inadequate in addressing the harsh realities of war and political strife. 

   The central meaning of the poem revolves around the poet's recognition of the limitations of his art in influencing political affairs. Yeats suggests that while poetry has the power to please individuals in moments of personal contemplation or leisure (as exemplified by the imagery of the young girl and the old man), it lacks the ability to effectively engage with the complex issues of war and governance. 

    By asserting that "in times like these / A poet's mouth be silent," Yeats underscores the futility of attempting to convey the horrors of war through verse. Instead, he implies that it is the responsibility of statesmen and leaders to address such matters, as poets lack the practical solutions needed to navigate through the challenges of conflict.

  Overall, the poem serves as a poignant commentary on the limitations of art in confronting the harsh realities of the world, urging poets to acknowledge their boundaries and refrain from attempting to intervene in matters beyond their expertise.

 

  2. Analysis of the poem:-

    W.B. Yeats: Yeats is one of the giants of Twentieth century poetry, and this accounts for the number of poems by him featured in the anthology. He was a modernist poet and proud Irish Republican at a time when Irish Nationalism was at its height in Ireland. A Protestant Christian, he was also a mystic and spiritualist. Like many of the modernists he was artistically radical but politically conservative, believing that politics, art and war did not easily mix. Yeats disliked Owen’s poetry, for example, saying “I consider [him] unworthy of the poets’ corner of a country newspaper… [he was] a revered sandwich-board Man of the revolution … He is all blood, dirt & sucked sugar stick” (for the reasoning behind this startling opinion, see a previous entry, on Rupert Brooke). Nonetheless, Yeats wrote a number of poems concerned with the rebellion in Ireland during the First World War– he was a committed Irish nationalist.

‘On Being Asked For a War Poem’: This poem was written after Yeats was asked to write a war poem. It is a meditation on whether poets can write war poetry. It also considers an old question: what is the role of the poet in society, and what is the function of poetry? Shelley, a great Romantic poet, once called poets “the unacknowledged legislators of the world” (meaning that poets create a culture or spirit of an age that molds its thinkers and even politicians, an “influence that moves not, but moves”: you can read a contemporary poet’s take on the role of poetry in the Guardian, here). An ancient philosopher, Plato, even thought that poetry should be banned as corrupting to society. Yeats here enters this long-standing argument in the modern age.

“I think it better…a poet’s mouth be silent”: The opening statement is forthright and conversational about “times like these”, or times of war- the enjambment, or running over the end of line, mimics everyday speech. When the poet writes of “a poet’s mouth” being silent, he is using a technique called metonymy. Like metaphor, metonymy substitutes one thing for another. Metaphor does this by contrasting different things (“He was an animal”) but in metonymy, something closely related to something else is substituted. For example: “the crown” may refer to the Queen or royalty, or “the press” may to refer to the newspapers. Both are closely connected. Here, the “poet’s mouth” represents (because it speaks) his poetry.

“We have no gift to set a statesman right;” A statesman is a political leader. Here, it is asserted that poets have no “gift”, or ability, to tell statesman how they should make decisions. This seems to say that poetry has no place in intervening in politics, and the poet no role in making big statements about wars and what causes them. Note the semi-colon: this opening statement about the world in the macrocosm ends here.

“Meddling”: Another word for interfering. This key word in the poem gives us a hint of the poet’s attitude to those who try and write activist or political poems: they are ‘meddlers’, troublesome interferers. The tone is obviously negative. “Meddling” in the lives of old men and young girls carries a lighter and happier tone however- a sense of play.

“He… can please a young girl in the indolence of her youth”: A quick change in imagery and reference point, from the macrocosm to the microcosm, from the world of politics to the world of intimate acquaintances. The new scene is lazy (“indolence”), relaxed, one of beauty (“youth”) and innocence.

“An old man on a winter’s night”: this completes the scope of the poet’s influence. Does this mean that poetry is suited to everyday lessons and life? That the poet’s role is to appeal to beauty and wisdom, youth and age? These certainly seem narrower limits to the role of poetry than ‘setting statesmen right’. Yeats, however, would surely argue that poetry’s concerns are higher than political contingency.

"Structure": This poem is a sextet, with a rhyme scheme ABC, ABC. The first three lines refer to the poet’s attitude to writing about war; the next three lines write on the self-imposed limits of the poet’s interventions in the world.

"Themes": The major theme of "On being asked for a war poem" by William Butler Yeats revolves around the poet's contemplation on the role of art, particularly poetry, in times of war. Yeats grapples with the expectation or demand for him to write a poem glorifying or justifying war, as was common during the period of World War I. However, rather than conforming to this expectation, Yeats reflects on the inadequacy of poetry to capture the true horrors and complexities of war. He suggests that poetry should not serve as propaganda or a tool for nationalist fervor, but rather as a medium for deeper truths and universal human experiences. The poem explores the tension between art's ability to transcend and its limitations in representing the brutality of war.

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