W.B. Yeats - Poems

This blog is part of Thinking Activity. Given by Dr. Dilip Barad sir to explore war poems of w. B. Yeats. 

Introduction

W.B. Yeats’ poetry reflects a deep engagement with themes of disintegration, chaos, and the poet’s role in turbulent times. From his deliberate detachment in On Being Asked for a War Poem to his vivid apocalyptic imagery in The Second Coming, Yeats explores the tension between art’s timeless purpose and the immediate realities of societal collapse. His works provoke a reflection on whether poetry should remain apolitical or confront the crises of its time, offering a nuanced perspective on the power and limits of art.

1. Compare the treatment of war in On Being Asked for a War Poem with other war poems by Wilfred Owen or Siegfried Sassoon.

The treatment of war in W.B. Yeats’ On Being Asked for a War Poem is very different from how Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon write about war. Each poet has a unique way of looking at the topic, influenced by their own perspectives and goals. Here’s a simpler comparison:

1. Yeats: Detached and Non-Glorified Approach

In On Being Asked for a War Poem, Yeats adopts a stance of deliberate detachment from war. His refusal to glorify or romanticize conflict is evident in the lines:

“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.”

Tone: The poem is contemplative and restrained, suggesting that poetry has no place in influencing political or military decisions.

Theme: Yeats views poetry as a medium for personal or timeless concerns rather than as a tool for propaganda or commentary on temporal events.

2. Wilfred Owen: The Brutality of War

Wilfred Owen's war poems, such as Dulce et Decorum Est and Anthem for Doomed Youth, present a stark and harrowing portrayal of war’s brutality. Owen’s works challenge the patriotic glorification of war, exposing its devastating physical and psychological toll on soldiers.

Tone: Owen’s tone is often bitter and mournful, filled with vivid and disturbing imagery. For example, in Dulce et Decorum Est:

“If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood

Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs...”

Theme: His poetry emphasizes the futility of war, condemning the lies of nationalism that lead young men to their deaths.

3. Siegfried Sassoon: Satirical and Critical Approach

Sassoon, in poems like The General and They, takes a critical stance against the senselessness of war and the incompetence of military leadership.

Tone: His tone is often biting and sarcastic, using irony to critique the disparity between the public perception of war and the grim realities faced by soldiers. For example, in The General:

“Good morning; good morning!” the General said

...But he did for them both by his plan of attack.”

Theme: Sassoon's works criticize the hypocrisy of those in power, who remain detached from the suffering of soldiers.

Key Contrasts:

Purpose: While Yeats rejects engaging with war in poetry, Owen and Sassoon use their works as powerful instruments to critique and document its horrors.

Imagery: Yeats avoids graphic imagery entirely, favoring philosophical abstraction, whereas Owen and Sassoon employ vivid and often grotesque descriptions to confront readers with war's realities.

Audience: Yeats writes for a general readership, advocating silence and reflection, whereas Owen and Sassoon directly address a society complicit in perpetuating war.

2. Write a modernist-inspired poem reflecting on a contemporary global crisis, drawing on Yeats’s themes and techniques. [Generate with the help of Gen AIlike ChatGPT or Google Gemini or Meta WhatsApp or Microsoft Co-pilot]

We stand on shards of broken glass,

Reflected skies, a splintered mass.

The earth, her voice, a muted hum,

Beneath the weight of what we’ve done.

Once, the seas sang lullabies,

Now, plastic waves meet oil-drenched skies.

Forests whisper in charred refrain,

While progress marches—profit's gain.

The poet’s role, a shadow’s trace,

A quiet plea, a fleeting face.

What power has rhyme in this abyss,

To halt the storm, restore what’s missed?

But still, I write in fleeting hope,

A thread, a stitch, a fragile rope.

If verse might spark the smallest flame,

Then silence is the greater shame.

This poem and image are generated by ChatGPT. 

3.Do you agree with Yeats’s assertion in 'On Being Asked for a War Poem' that poetry should remain apolitical? Why or why not?

I believe that poetry should not always remain apolitical because it has the power to confront societal issues, inspire change, and provide solace or solidarity during crises. However, the decision ultimately depends on the poet's intent and the purpose of their art.

Poetry should not limit itself to being apolitical or political—it should be what the poet feels compelled to create. When the world demands action, political poetry can be a powerful force. But when the moment calls for introspection, apolitical poetry has its place too. What matters is that poetry remains honest, purposeful, and true to the poet’s vision.

4. How does Yeats use imagery to convey a sense of disintegration in 'The Second Coming'?

In The Second Coming, W.B. Yeats employs vivid and apocalyptic imagery to convey a sense of disintegration and chaos, reflecting his vision of a collapsing world order. Each image is carefully chosen to evoke a feeling of instability, destruction, and inevitable transformation. Below is an analysis of how Yeats uses imagery to achieve this effect:

1. The Falcon and the Falconer

“Turning and turning in the widening gyre

The falcon cannot hear the falconer.”

This conveys the idea that humanity has become disconnected from its guiding principles, leading to societal disintegration.

2. The Anarchy of the Present

“Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.”

These images create a sense of inevitability, as if the destruction of the current order is unstoppable.

3. The Blood-Dimmed Tide

“The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere

The ceremony of innocence is drowned.”

This imagery amplifies the sense of horror, portraying a world overtaken by violence and despair.

4. The Beast and 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 beast represents the birth of a new, destructive force, emphasizing the cyclical nature of history and the disintegration of the old world to make way for the new.

5. The Vision of the Second Coming

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

Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?”

This final image reinforces the disintegration of traditional values, as the poem leaves the reader with a sense of dread about the future.

Conclusion

Yeats masterfully uses symbolism and imagery to portray the fragmentation of his world, creating poetry that resonates across ages. While he often advocates for poetic detachment, his works demonstrate the power of art to encapsulate universal truths amidst chaos. Ultimately, Yeats’ legacy lies in his ability to balance timeless themes with the pressing concerns of his era, challenging readers to reflect on the role of poetry in a disintegrating world.