William Butler Yeats did not just believe in the apocalypse, he was known for his prophetic insights and imaginative visions of the breakdown of civilization. As the Mesoamerican Long Count Calendar ends on December, 21 in 2012, many people suggest this date marks the end of the world or of human civilization. It is of a certain interest that already in the early twentieth century Yeats was concerned with this kind of apocalyptic worldview.
“The Second Coming” therefore is one of the poems that also represents his understanding of the apocalypse, which is not comparable to those who believe in the prophecy of the Mayan calendar. “For him, the apocalypse is always connected with genuine spiritual revelation [and] with vision,” as it is the literal translation of the Greek word (Howes, Kelly 2006: 52).
With this iconic, prophetic poem, he is not only regarded a public hero but also deviates from established popular beliefs, wherefore he is also named the first iconoclastic Modernist in English writing. The stunning, violent imagery and terrifying ritualistic language makes “The Second Coming” an archetypal poem about the return of history with violence. Likewise, as it was composed in 1919 and published in 1920, it represents Yeats’ immediate reaction to the political instable situation of Ireland, England and Europe after Civil War, Russian Revolution and WWI.
In consequence to that, “The Second Coming” is one the most obscure works of Yeats, hence quite difficult to understand in the first place. For this reason, firstly, this paper concentrates on the historical and political background information, which is fundamental to the poem’s understanding.
Secondly, it is this examination’s method to analyze and interpret the poem’s form, structure and images. At that, not only “The Second Coming” in its structure but also this chapter divides into three parts, from which each displays another phase in the development of the poet’s state of mind. Consequently, each line of “The Second Coming” is examined, both to explain the poet’s development and to prove the central issues of W.B. Yeats’ poem.
Eventually, this paper provides a conclusion, wherein its argumentation is summarized. This summary consequently also states the poem’s effect on the reader.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Background Information on W.B. Yeats and « The Second Coming »
3. « The Second Coming » - Analysis and Interpretation
3.1 Form
3.2 Structure
3.2.1 When Things Fall Apart
3.2.2 When Some Revelation Is At Hand
3.2.3 When A Vast Image Troubles My Sight
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Thematic Focus
This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of W.B. Yeats' iconic poem "The Second Coming," exploring how the author synthesizes historical, political, and personal crises into a prophetic vision of apocalyptic change. By examining the poem's structure, imagery, and philosophical underpinnings, the research investigates how Yeats reflects the instability of the early twentieth century and translates it into a universal meditation on the cyclical nature of history and the birth of new, violent eras.
- Historical and political context of post-WWI Ireland and Europe.
- Yeats' personal philosophical framework, specifically his theory of "gyres."
- Formal analysis of the poem's structure, rhyme, and evolving poetic voice.
- Interpretation of central symbols such as the falcon, the desert, and the "rough beast."
- The connection between Yeats' apocalyptic imagery and contemporary political movements.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2.1 When Things Fall Apart
Within the first part of “The Second Coming” the poet describes the world’s present conditions, which concretely means the political instable situation in Ireland after Civil War and in Europe after WWI. Therefore, he “emphasises [sic!] the generality and absoluteness of the situation” (Mann 2012¹) and consequently creates an exposition wherein he reports on the present circumstances in a controlled, diagnostic and analytic voice.
Beginning with “Turning and turning in the widening gyre” (l.1), the poem’s key term of the “gyre” is introduced. It serves as a central motif in “The Second Coming”, because his concept of interpenetrating spirals reveals William Butler Yeats’ very own comprehension of the turn of history that is central to many of his mature works. The idea that each gyre’s narrowest point is contained inside the widest part of the other, not only embodies his belief in the reversal of history but also expresses his fear of a growing spiral of disruption and chaos in an apocalyptic world. “These double gyres,” as Unterecker further explains their meaning to Yeats, “binding then to now, point toward the destructive birth about to take place” (1973: 165).
However, Yeats also feared anarchy, ongoing violent rebellions and the destruction of the ancient world, which is to an extent developed throughout the “The Second Coming”.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the poem's historical relevance as a prophetic reaction to the turbulence of the early twentieth century and introduces the paper's methodology of analyzing form and structure.
2. Background Information on W.B. Yeats and « The Second Coming »: This section provides essential context regarding Yeats' personal life, his interest in occultism, and the political atmosphere of Ireland and Europe that influenced his apocalyptic worldview.
3. « The Second Coming » - Analysis and Interpretation: This main body chapter examines the poem through its formal and structural elements, tracing the poet’s shifting state of mind across its three distinct parts.
3.1 Form: This section analyzes the poem’s rhyme scheme and irregular iambic pentameter, noting how these formal choices contribute to the poem’s jagged and prophetic effectiveness.
3.2 Structure: This subchapter justifies the division of the poem into three parts based on the poet’s psychological progression from analytical control to bewildered vision.
3.2.1 When Things Fall Apart: This part focuses on the poem's opening, explaining the "gyre" motif and the poet's reaction to the collapse of order in post-war society.
3.2.2 When Some Revelation Is At Hand: This part explores the shift in the poet's voice as he moves from objective observation to subjective prophecy, signaling the transition to a more intense, visionary state.
3.2.3 When A Vast Image Troubles My Sight: This part concludes the analysis by interpreting the haunting imagery of the sphinx-like beast and the final apocalyptic implications of the poem.
4. Conclusion: This chapter summarizes how the accumulation of traditional symbols and the poet's unique philosophy create a profound, lasting impact, establishing Yeats as a pioneering iconoclastic modernist.
Keywords
W.B. Yeats, The Second Coming, Apocalypticism, Gyres, Modernism, Irish Civil War, Symbolism, Prophetic Poetry, Spiritus Mundi, Rough Beast, Historical Cycles, Political Instability, Occultism, Iconoclastic, Literary Analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on an in-depth analysis of W.B. Yeats' poem "The Second Coming," interpreting its apocalyptic themes in light of the historical and personal crises of the author during the early twentieth century.
What are the central thematic fields covered in the work?
The work covers themes of historical cycles (gyres), political turmoil in post-WWI Ireland, the intersection of occult philosophy and literature, and the transformation of traditional symbols into modern, prophetic imagery.
What is the primary research question or objective?
The objective is to explain how Yeats uses the poem's form and structure to mirror his psychological development and to express his apocalyptic vision of a world undergoing a violent, cyclical transition.
Which scientific methodology is applied in the research?
The methodology consists of a close reading and literary analysis, focusing on the historical and political background, followed by an interpretation of the poem’s form, structure, and symbolism.
What does the main body of the paper treat?
The main body breaks down the poem into its three structural phases, analyzing how the poet’s voice changes from analytical to visionary, and interprets specific metaphors like the "falcon," "blood-dimmed tide," and the "rough beast."
Which keywords characterize this research?
Key terms include W.B. Yeats, The Second Coming, Apocalypticism, Gyres, Modernism, and Symbolism.
How does Yeats' personal interest in the occult influence the poem?
His occult interests, particularly his "philosophy of gyres," provide the structural foundation for his understanding of history as a series of repeating cycles, which is central to the poem's prediction of a new era.
Why does the author consider the last lines of the poem to be a question?
The final lines are seen as a rhetorical question that captures the uncertainty of the future and the confusion felt by the poet, mirroring the unanswerable dilemmas of contemporary Irish politics and Yeats' personal life.
- Quote paper
- B.A. Anna Stumpe (Author), 2012, W.B. Yeats "The Second Coming". Analysis of an Apocalyptic Poem, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/306268
