W.B. Yeats's Poems : The Second Coming -& - On Being Asked for a War poem."

This blog is based on W.B. Yeats porms " The second coming " and " On being asked for a War poem" and this task was assigned by Dilip Barad sir.

1. Compare the Treatment of War in "On Being Asked for a War Poem" with Other War Poems by Wilfred Owen or Siegfried Sassoon

In "On Being Asked for a War Poem," W.B. Yeats presents a deliberate rejection of glorifying war, creating a stark contrast with the works of Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon. While Owen and Sassoon focus on the grim realities of warfare, with their vivid depictions of suffering and trauma (for example, Owen’s "Dulce et Decorum Est"), Yeats’s approach is more detached and critical of those who ask for poetry about war at all. Yeats critiques the idea of writing a conventional, patriotic war poem for the masses, illustrating his disillusionment with the way war is often romanticized or instrumentalized.

Owen and Sassoon’s works, heavily shaped by their direct experiences in World War I, portray war as a brutal and dehumanizing force. The horrors of war in their poems—such as gas attacks, dying soldiers, and the deep psychological wounds of battle—are laid bare with unapologetic realism. Sassoon’s "Suicide in the Trenches," for example, offers a brutal commentary on the futility of war and the disillusionment soldiers feel.

In contrast, Yeats’s "On Being Asked for a War Poem" reflects a sense of detachment from the lived experience of warfare. His critique is not directly about the violence of war but the way war is often treated by those far removed from its actual consequences. Yeats dismisses the romanticized idea of war poetry and underscores the poet’s role in challenging, not glorifying, societal ideals. This makes his treatment of war in this poem fundamentally different from that of Owen and Sassoon, who aim to expose and condemn the brutal realities of conflict.

2. Write a Modernist-Inspired Poem Reflecting on a Contemporary Global Crisis, Drawing on Yeats’s Themes and Techniques ( ChatGPT )

"A Shattered Horizon"

The seas rise, but no ships return,

The cities crack, their towers burn.

In the ruins, the people sleep,

A dreamless hush, a promise deep.

The leaders speak of endless wars,

While ash falls softly through closed doors.

A scattered crowd, a world unmade,

Echoes of choices that never stayed.

Is there a Phoenix in the ash?

A whispering wind, a sudden flash?

Or are we caught, as shadows fall,

In a world that waits for none at all?

In this fractured world of broken rhyme,

Where every hour is out of time,

Who will stand to heal the break,

And who will leave the earth to ache?

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?

Yeats’s assertion in "On Being Asked for a War Poem" that poetry should remain apolitical is a deeply debatable position, and I find it somewhat problematic. While Yeats is critical of poetry being used for political propaganda or as a tool for nationalistic sentiment, I believe poetry, by its very nature, is political. Art is a reflection of the world, and poets, whether intentionally or not, inevitably comment on the socio-political context in which they live.

War poetry, such as the works of Owen and Sassoon, is inherently political because it challenges the values that drive nations to conflict and questions are of authority and power. By rejecting political engagement, Yeats risks detaching art from the urgency of its time. Poetry has the potential to not only reflect political realities but also to influence them. History shows that writers and poets have been at the forefront of social movements, from the Harlem Renaissance to the anti-Vietnam War poetry of the 1960s.

Thus, I would argue that while poetry can retain artistic integrity and avoid blatant propaganda, it should never be entirely apolitical. To deny the political dimension of poetry is to deny the poet’s role in speaking truth to power and grappling with the complexities of human experience in a world rife with political conflict.

4. How Does Yeats Use Imagery to Convey a Sense of Disintegration in 'The Second Coming'?

In "The Second Coming," Yeats uses vivid and unsettling imagery to convey a sense of disintegration, both of society and of the natural order. The poem opens with the image of a falcon flying "out of control," symbolizing the loss of direction and the collapse of traditional structures. This disintegration is mirrored in the chaotic scene of the "blood-dimmed tide" and the "rough beast" emerging, representing the potential for violence and upheaval in a world that seems to be unraveling.

The image of the "second coming" itself, once a symbol of hope and renewal, becomes something ominous and destructive in Yeats’s portrayal. The "lion body" of the creature that emerges in the final stanza is a terrifying figure of destruction rather than salvation, suggesting that the future holds something darker than any redemption. The contrast between the spiritual and the savage in this imagery reflects Yeats’s deep anxiety about the disintegration of the old world order and the terrifying uncertainty of what might replace it.

Through these striking images, Yeats creates a sense of impending doom and the breakdown of both societal and cosmic stability. The poem’s powerful imagery of a world in flux forces readers to confront the terrifying possibility of a new and unrecognizable future.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Yeats’s work, especially in "On Being Asked for a War Poem" and "The Second Coming," offers a complex meditation on war, societal disintegration, and the role of art. His use of imagery and apolitical stance, while understandable within his historical context, leaves much to be desired in a world where art is often one of the few voices able to address the injustices and crises of its time. The works of poets like Owen and Sassoon remind us that poetry, while potentially apolitical in some instances, can be an essential means of confronting the realities of human suffering and war.

References :

Barad, Dilip. “ W.B. Yeats's Poems : The Second Coming -& - On Being Asked for a War poem." Dilip Barad | Teacher Blog, January  2025,  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/387659837_WB_Yeats's_Poems_The_Second_Coming_-_-_On_Being_Asked_for_a_War_Poem Accessed 10 January  2025.

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