This blog is written as a task assigned by the head of the Department of English (MKBU), Prof. and Dr. Dilip Barad Sir. Here is the link to the professor's research article for background reading: Click here
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Question: 1. Compare the treatment of war in On Being Asked for a War Poem with other war poems by Wilfred Owen or Siegfried Sassoon.
Answer: The Treatment of War in Yeats' On Being Asked for a War Poem Compared to the Works of Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon
War has been a potent theme in literature, inspiring poets to capture the chaos, sacrifice, and futility of conflict. W.B. Yeats’ On Being Asked for a War Poem offers a perspective that contrasts sharply with the visceral portrayals of war by Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon, two of the most iconic war poets of the 20th century. This blog explores the treatment of war in Yeats’ restrained and philosophical poem and juxtaposes it with the vivid, harrowing depictions found in the works of Owen and Sassoon.
Yeats’ On Being Asked for a War Poem: A Stance of Silence
W.B. Yeats, known for his lyricism and metaphysical concerns, distanced himself from writing about World War I. In On Being Asked for a War Poem, Yeats explains his refusal to engage with the subject:
“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...”
Yeats’ perspective reveals his belief that poetry should transcend politics and warfare. He perceives the act of writing war poetry as futile in influencing political decisions or comforting those engulfed by tragedy. The poem is introspective and understated, emphasizing the role of the poet as an observer rather than a propagandist or chronicler of war’s horrors.
Yeats’ approach is marked by his aversion to graphic descriptions of war. Instead, he focuses on the limitations of art in addressing large-scale human suffering. His detachment from war contrasts significantly with the intense engagement of Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon, who lived through the trenches and used poetry as a medium to critique war and its glorification.
Wilfred Owen: The Pity of War
Wilfred Owen’s poetry immerses the reader in the grim realities of war. Unlike Yeats, Owen does not shy away from portraying its brutality and dehumanization. In his seminal poem Dulce et Decorum Est, Owen exposes the romanticized notion of war as noble and heroic:
“If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs...”
Owen’s graphic imagery and use of sensory detail leave an indelible mark. The poem dismantles the myth of war as “sweet and proper” by showing its grotesque physical and psychological toll. His focus on the pity of war—its futility, waste of life, and the suffering it inflicts—stands in stark contrast to Yeats’ restrained, almost abstract, treatment.
In Anthem for Doomed Youth, Owen underscores the loss of a generation through the metaphor of a funeral, devoid of traditional rites:
“What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?”
The comparison between soldiers and cattle reveals the industrialized slaughter of human lives. Owen’s poetry is steeped in anger and sorrow, aiming to evoke empathy and outrage. Unlike Yeats, he engages directly with the horrors of war, ensuring that its brutality is neither forgotten nor sanitized.
Siegfried Sassoon: The Voice of Protest
Siegfried Sassoon complements Owen’s vision but adds an element of satire and anger. His works often critique the institutions and individuals responsible for perpetuating war. In The General, Sassoon mocks the incompetence of military leadership:
“‘He’s a cheery old card,’ grunted Harry to Jack
As they slogged up to Arras with rifle and pack.”
The juxtaposition of the general’s cheeriness with the soldiers’ suffering highlights the disconnect between those in power and those bearing the brunt of their decisions. Sassoon’s sharp wit and scathing tone are absent in Yeats’ contemplative stance.
In Suicide in the Trenches, Sassoon paints a tragic picture of a young soldier who succumbs to despair:
“You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye
Who cheer when soldier lads march by...”
Sassoon’s anger is not only directed at the war but also at the public’s ignorance and complicity. His poetry is a call to action, demanding accountability and awareness. While Yeats views poetry as a realm removed from the chaos of war, Sassoon uses it as a weapon to confront the very forces Yeats avoids engaging.
Points of Divergence
1. Role of the Poet:
Yeats emphasizes the poet’s role as separate from political commentary, whereas Owen and Sassoon see poetry as a moral and social responsibility to expose the truth.
2. Tone and Imagery:
Yeats’ tone is contemplative and philosophical, avoiding graphic descriptions. In contrast, Owen and Sassoon employ vivid, shocking imagery to capture the horrors of war.
3. Purpose:
Yeats aims for a timeless, universal message about the limitations of art. Owen and Sassoon focus on the immediate, aiming to challenge public perceptions and inspire change.
4. Engagement with War:
Yeats maintains an outsider’s perspective, while Owen and Sassoon write as participants and witnesses, imbuing their works with authenticity and urgency.
Conclusion
The treatment of war in poetry is shaped by the poet’s context, perspective, and purpose. W.B. Yeats’ On Being Asked for a War Poem reflects a detached, philosophical approach, emphasizing the futility of artistic intervention in times of crisis. In contrast, Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon confront the horrors of war head-on, using poetry as a medium to critique, memorialize, and protest.
While Yeats’ stance raises important questions about the limits of poetry, the works of Owen and Sassoon remind us of its power to bear witness and demand accountability. Together, these
poets offer a multifaceted exploration of war, enriching our understanding of its impact on humanity.
Question: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].
Answer:
Modernist poetry, characterized by its fragmented structure, symbolic imagery, and introspection, offers a potent framework for exploring contemporary global crises. Drawing inspiration from W.B. Yeats’ themes of chaos, cyclical history, and the role of art, this blog delves into a modernist-inspired poem addressing climate change—a pressing global concern.
This reflective piece emulates Yeats’ techniques and themes, offering a poetic meditation on the ecological and existential anxieties of our age.
The Poem: A Cracked Horizon
A Cracked Horizon
The sea recoils, retreating from burnt shores,
A mirror cracked, its shards laced with tar.
Trees gasp in their stillness—roots severed
From the whispering soil of yesteryears.
“This is the way,” they said,
“Progress marches with engines,
And rivers of black oil feed our future.”
But the air, once velvet with song,
Chokes on its own forgetting.
A falcon spirals, shadow in the smog,
Circling a sun veiled in ash—
The gyres collapse inward.
What rough beast, starved and unyielding,
Slouches toward a drowned tomorrow?
In the cities, light flickers on glass towers,
Towers that reach for heavens
Now scorched and silent.
Poets scrawl elegies on walls
As tides rise to claim their ink.
Will the artist’s brush, the poet’s pen
Mend the broken skin of this earth?
Or is the wound too deep,
Too vast for words or art to heal?
Analysis: Drawing on Yeats’ Techniques
1. Thematic Parallels: Chaos and Cyclical History
The poem reflects Yeats’ recurrent theme of cyclical destruction, as seen in The Second Coming. The “gyres collapse inward” directly references Yeats’ theory of history as a series of spiraling cycles, with each collapse marking a shift toward chaos.
Yeats’ Influence: In The Second Coming, Yeats envisions a world unraveling:
“Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.”
Similarly, A Cracked Horizon portrays a world where ecological destruction signals the collapse of natural and societal orders.
Contemporary Relevance: The poem aligns Yeats’ vision with the modern crisis of climate change, where humanity’s relentless pursuit of progress disrupts natural cycles and threatens global stability.
2. Symbolism and Imagery
Yeats’ poetry is rich in symbolism, blending mythological and natural elements. A Cracked Horizon employs similar techniques:
The Falcon: Echoing The Second Coming, the falcon represents a loss of control and harmony. In the modern context, it becomes a shadowy figure, trapped in a polluted world.
The Cracked Mirror and Burnt Shores: These images symbolize environmental degradation and the fracturing of humanity’s relationship with nature.
The Rough Beast: Borrowed from Yeats’ apocalyptic vision, the beast in this poem becomes a symbol of unchecked industrialization and ecological neglect.
3. Ambiguity and Philosophical Reflection
Yeats often leaves his poems open-ended, inviting readers to ponder existential questions. In A Cracked Horizon, the closing lines ask whether art can heal the wounds inflicted on the earth.
Yeats’ Ambiguity: In Lapis Lazuli, Yeats muses on the resilience of art amid destruction:
“All things fall and are built again,
And those that build them again are gay.”
Similarly, this poem questions the role of art in addressing modern crises but remains uncertain of its efficacy.
4. Modernist Techniques: Fragmentation and Tone
The fragmented structure and shifts in tone mirror modernist aesthetics:
Fragmentation: The poem moves from the natural world to urban landscapes, reflecting the disjointed experience of living in a climate crisis.
Tone: The poem balances elegiac sorrow with restrained hope, mirroring Yeats’ own oscillation between despair and faith in art’s enduring power.
Climate Change as the Modern “Rough Beast”
In writing this poem, the intention was to position climate change as the modern equivalent of Yeats’ “rough beast.” The ecological crisis mirrors the apocalyptic undertones of Yeats’ works, with the planet’s rising temperatures, melting ice caps, and species extinction serving as harbingers of a world spiraling toward collapse.
Progress as Destruction: The poem critiques the paradox of human progress, where technological advancement often comes at the cost of environmental degradation. The “rivers of black oil” symbolize the lifeblood of industrialization, now suffocating the earth.
Nature’s Voice: The imagery of trees and seas mourning their lost vitality underscores the disconnect between humanity and the natural world, a recurring concern in Yeats’ poetry.
The Role of the Poet in Crisis
Following Yeats’ meditations in On Being Asked for a War Poem, the poem grapples with the poet’s role in addressing global crises. Can poetry, art, or any form of creative expression effect real change, or is it merely a tool for documenting loss?
Yeats’ Skepticism: In On Being Asked for a War Poem, Yeats refrains from addressing war directly, doubting poetry’s ability to “set a statesman right.” This skepticism is echoed in A Cracked Horizon, where the poet questions whether words can mend the earth’s wounds.
Art as Witness: Despite its doubts, the poem affirms the importance of bearing witness. The “poets scrawl elegies on walls” becomes a metaphor for the act of documenting and resisting destruction, even when the outcome is uncertain.
Conclusion
“A Cracked Horizon” draws heavily on W.B. Yeats’ themes and techniques to explore the existential dread of climate change. Like Yeats, it blends myth, symbolism, and philosophical inquiry to confront a world in flux.
While Yeats’ poetry often suggests that history and destruction are inevitable, it also gestures toward the resilience of art. This modernist-inspired poem carries forward that duality, urging readers to reflect on their role in a crisis that transcends borders, while questioning whether art can offer solace or solutions in an age of ecological collapse.
In the spirit of modernist poetry, the piece leaves its questions unanswered, inviting contemplation rather than closure. As Yeats himself once wrote:
“Man can embody truth, but he cannot know it.”
Question: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?
Answer:
W.B. Yeats, one of the foremost poets of the 20th century, expressed in On Being Asked for a War Poem that poetry should remain detached from political events. His belief, articulated during World War I, reflects a view that poetry’s purpose transcends the political realm and addresses universal truths rather than immediate crises. But in a world shaped by social upheavals and global crises, is Yeats’ assertion still relevant? Should poetry remain apolitical, or does it have a responsibility to engage with the pressing issues of its time?
This blog critically examines Yeats’ stance, considers counterarguments, and explores the evolving role of poetry in the modern age.
Yeats’ View: The Case for Apolitical Poetry
In On Being Asked for a War Poem, Yeats explains his reluctance to write about World War I:
“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...”
1. The Poet’s Role as Transcendent Observer
Yeats saw poetry as a means to explore timeless truths and spiritual insights rather than temporary political concerns. For him, art was a vessel for beauty, imagination, and metaphysical reflection, not propaganda or activism. He believed that poetry rooted in immediate political contexts risked losing its universality and aesthetic value.
Yeats’ Artistic Philosophy: Yeats was deeply influenced by his fascination with myth, symbolism, and esotericism, which often took precedence over political matters. His poetry, such as The Tower and The Wild Swans at Coole, demonstrates this focus on themes of mortality, personal struggle, and cyclical history.
2. The Limitations of Poetry in Political Change
Yeats’ claim that poets lack “the gift to set a statesman right” reveals his skepticism about poetry’s ability to effect tangible change in political systems. He viewed political action as a realm of pragmatism, while poetry thrived in the imaginative and symbolic.
Counterarguments: The Case for Political Poetry
While Yeats’ perspective has merit, many poets throughout history have demonstrated the power of political poetry. The following arguments challenge Yeats’ assertion that poetry should remain apolitical:
1. Poetry as a Tool for Protest and Advocacy
From the war poets of World War I to contemporary voices addressing climate change, poetry has served as a platform for resistance and awareness. Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon, Yeats’ contemporaries, directly challenged the glorification of war through their harrowing depictions of its horrors.
Wilfred Owen’s Dulce et Decorum Est: This iconic poem dismantles the myth of war’s nobility:
“The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.”
Owen’s work demonstrates how poetry can confront propaganda and provoke critical thinking about political narratives.
2. The Universal in the Political
While political events are specific to time and place, their impact often carries universal resonance. Wars, revolutions, and social movements shape collective human experiences, making them fertile ground for poetic exploration.
Examples from History:
Pablo Neruda’s Canto General captures the struggles of Latin America, blending political critique with lyrical beauty.
Langston Hughes used poetry to address racism and inequality in the United States, influencing the civil rights movement.
3. The Poet’s Responsibility to Engage
In times of crisis, silence can be complicit. Poets, as members of society, have a moral obligation to respond to injustice and suffering. Poetry’s emotional power can inspire action, empathy, and solidarity, bridging the gap between art and activism.
Adrienne Rich’s Perspective: Rich believed that art must confront social and political realities:
“Poetry is not a luxury. It is a vital necessity of our existence.”
Modern Perspectives on the Role of Poetry
The debate about poetry’s political role is ongoing, shaped by the complexities of the modern world.
1. Contemporary Political Poets
Many contemporary poets reject Yeats’ apolitical stance, using their craft to address urgent global issues such as climate change, racial inequality, and human rights. For instance:
Amanda Gorman: Her poem The Hill We Climb, delivered at Joe Biden’s inauguration, embodies poetry’s ability to inspire hope and unity in politically charged times.
Margaret Atwood: Through her poetry and prose, Atwood tackles feminist and ecological themes, illustrating how art can critique power structures.
2. Poetry in the Digital Age
The rise of social media has amplified the reach of political poetry. Short, impactful verses addressing current events now resonate with global audiences, proving that poetry can adapt to and influence modern political discourse.
Reconciling Yeats’ View with Modern Realities
Yeats’ assertion that poetry should remain apolitical can be understood in the context of his time. He sought to protect the aesthetic and philosophical purity of poetry, fearing that overt political engagement might compromise its artistic integrity. However, his perspective need not exclude the possibility of poetry addressing universal human concerns through political themes.
A Balanced Approach:
Artistic Autonomy: Poetry should not be reduced to propaganda but can incorporate political themes without losing its aesthetic value.
Universal Resonance: By framing political issues in broader, humanistic terms, poets can achieve both relevance and timelessness.
Diverse Roles: Poets, like all artists, should have the freedom to choose their level of engagement with political matters.
Conclusion
Yeats’ view in On Being Asked for a War Poem raises important questions about the purpose of poetry and the poet’s role in society. While his emphasis on transcendence and universality remains valuable, the power of political poetry to challenge injustice and foster empathy cannot be dismissed.
In a world grappling with climate change, social inequality, and global conflicts, poetry’s ability to give voice to the voiceless and inspire change is more vital than ever. Ultimately, whether a poet chooses to remain apolitical or politically engaged, the value of their work lies in its ability to resonate with the complexities of the human experience.
As Yeats himself wrote in The Second Coming:
“Surely some revelation is
at hand...”
Perhaps that revelation lies in poetry’s capacity to both transcend and transform the world it inhabits.
Question:4.How does Yeats use imagery to convey a sense of disintegration in 'The Second Coming'?
Answer:
W.B. Yeats’ The Second Coming is a seminal modernist poem that captures the spiritual, political, and social disintegration of the post-World War I era. With its apocalyptic tone and vivid imagery, Yeats portrays a world unraveling, its moral and societal structures collapsing. The poem’s rich symbolic framework and evocative language serve to communicate a sense of chaos, despair, and inevitable transformation.
In this blog, we will explore how Yeats employs imagery to convey this pervasive sense of disintegration, linking his vision to the historical and philosophical context of the poem.
The Historical Context: A World Falling Apart
Written in 1919, The Second Coming reflects Yeats’ response to the devastation of World War I, the Russian Revolution, and the Irish War of Independence. These events symbolized, for Yeats, a collapse of the established order, ushering in a new, uncertain epoch. The poem’s imagery is rooted in this historical context, reflecting a world spiraling out of control.
Yeats’ use of the gyre as a central metaphor illustrates his belief in cyclical history, drawn from his esoteric philosophy detailed in A Vision. According to Yeats, human history progresses in 2,000-year cycles, each ending in chaos and giving way to a new, often darker, age. The imagery in The Second Coming encapsulates this transition, portraying a civilization disintegrating as it approaches the end of its cycle.
Key Imagery of Disintegration
1. The Falcon and the Falconer: The Loss of Control
“Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer...”
The image of the falcon flying beyond the falconer’s call symbolizes a loss of control and the breakdown of communication between authority and subject, tradition and innovation, humanity and its guiding principles.
Symbolism of the Gyre: The “widening gyre” represents the unraveling of established systems, suggesting that humanity has drifted too far from its moral and spiritual center.
Disconnection and Fragmentation: The falcon’s separation from the falconer epitomizes the disintegration of coherence and harmony in society, echoing Yeats’ broader concerns about the dissolution of tradition.
2. The Image of Anarchy: The Collapse of Order
“Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world...”
These lines encapsulate the essence of the poem’s apocalyptic vision. The image of the “centre” collapsing conveys the dissolution of societal structures, values, and stability.
Anarchy as a Visual Force: Yeats uses the term “mere anarchy” not to diminish its impact but to emphasize its raw, uncontainable nature. The phrase evokes an image of chaos flooding the world, overwhelming humanity’s attempts to maintain order.
Universality of Disintegration: By leaving the imagery open-ended, Yeats allows readers to project their own visions of collapse, whether political, spiritual, or cultural.
3. The Blood-Dimmed Tide: Violence and Chaos
“The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned...”
The “blood-dimmed tide” is a powerful visual metaphor for the violence, destruction, and moral decay engulfing the world.
Imagery of Drowning: The drowning of innocence suggests the overwhelming force of corruption and the obliteration of purity and ideals.
Global Despair: This image transcends specific events, presenting a universal vision of human suffering and the inevitability of collective downfall.
4. The Rough Beast: The Birth of a New Age
“And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?”
The “rough beast” is one of Yeats’ most enigmatic and haunting images, symbolizing the arrival of a new, monstrous age.
Ambiguity and Terror: The beast’s undefined nature heightens its menace, representing an era of uncertainty, brutality, and moral inversion.
Bethlehem as a Symbol: By referencing Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, Yeats juxtaposes the birth of a savior with the arrival of an apocalyptic figure, suggesting the cyclical nature of history and the duality of creation and destruction.
Techniques Enhancing the Imagery
1. Symbolism
Yeats’ imagery is deeply symbolic, drawing on mythology, religion, and his own esoteric beliefs. The falcon, the gyre, and the rough beast are not just descriptive elements but metaphors for larger historical and spiritual forces.
2. Contrast
Yeats contrasts images of collapse (the blood-dimmed tide, drowning innocence) with images of rebirth (the rough beast), emphasizing the cyclical nature of disintegration and renewal.
3. Ambiguity
The vagueness of certain images, such as the rough beast, allows for multiple interpretations, making the poem’s vision of disintegration both personal and universal.
4. Sound and Rhythm
The poem’s incantatory rhythm and repetition (“Turning and turning,” “Surely some revelation is at hand”) create a sense of inevitability, reinforcing the relentless motion of the gyre and the disintegration it brings.
Conclusion: The Power of Imagery in Conveying Disintegration
Through The Second Coming, Yeats masterfully uses imagery to depict a world on the brink of collapse. The falcon, the blood-dimmed tide, and the rough beast are more than just visual elements; they are symbols of humanity’s fractured state and the inexorable march of history.
By combining symbolic imagery with universal themes, Yeats transcends his historical moment, creating a poem that remains relevant in today’s world of political turmoil, social unrest, and ecological crises. The sense of disintegration in The Second Coming is not confined to the early 20th century but speaks to the timeless cycles of chaos and renewal that define human existence.
As we face our own modern “rough beasts,” Yeats’ imagery serves as a powerful reminder of both the fragility and resilience of civilization.
References :
Barad, Dilip. “W.B. Yeats Poems.” Dilip Barad | Teacher Blog, 20 May 2021, blog.dilipbarad.com/2021/05/whauden-poems.html.
---. “W.B. Yeats’s Poems: The Second Coming - and - On Being Asked for a War Poem.” ResearchGate, Jan. 2025, dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.17299.18720.
Yeats, William Butler. “On being asked for a War Poem.” Poetry Foundation, 1916, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/57313/on-being-asked-for-a-war-poem.
---. “The Second Coming.” Poetry Foundation, 1920, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43290/the-second-coming.
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