Essay

Brutal Imagery and Subtle Allegory in a Period of Crisis

5 views 0 purchase

Course
ENG258

Institution
Cape Breton University (CBU )

Brutal Imagery and Subtle Allegory in a Period of Crisis Butler Yeats wrote two of his poems Easter 1916 and The Second Coming during the era of Irish political instability and agitation for freedom from Britain (Yoon 467). In his poem he gives an allusion to the people who fought for the independ...

[Show more]

Preview 2 out of 7 pages

View example

Uploaded on May 3, 2021
Number of pages 7
Written in 2019/2020
Type Essay
Professor(s) Unknown
Grade A

CA$11.34

Add to cart

Add to wishlist

100% satisfaction guarantee
Immediately available after payment
Both online and in PDF
No strings attached

Surname 1

Name

Course

Tutor

Date

Brutal Imagery and Subtle Allegory in a Period of Crisis

Butler Yeats wrote two of his poems Easter 1916 and The Second Coming during the

era of Irish political instability and agitation for freedom from Britain (Yoon 467). In his

poem he gives an allusion to the people who fought for the independence of the country

from the British rule. Butler through his poems, states that the British used manipulation

to ensure that they maintained their power over the Irish people (Chang 57). The British

system used politicians who had a sweet tongue to ensure that the people did not cause

unrest but remained in check for rule by the colonial government (Yoon 470).

Apparently, in most societies, Politicians are held in high esteem. This is due to some

factors. One of the factors is the kind words towards the citizenry when they talked in

public.

Both poems offer strong political commentary through symbolism and allegory

which create a clear image of the Ireland of that era in the eyes of the author. The

brutality of the imagery employed by Yeats and simplified allegory creates a lens for

readers to observe the political tribulations of his era. This enables the readers to

, Surname 2

understand why there was need for the Irish people to fight back against a regime that

oppressed them.

The theme of the two poems is confusing in the beginning but it becomes clear as the

poem proceeds. The two points seem totally different at the beginning of the two poems

but end up forming a single subject at the end of the two poems. In the second coming

poem, he talks of the level of lawlessness and political chaos that he observes in Ireland.

This is evident from one of the lines in the poem, “Mere Anarchy is loosed upon the

world. “On the other hand in the Easter 1916 poem, he speaks of suffering that the Irish

people undergo under the hands of their British masters. Butler says in line one of the

first stanza, “The Falcon cannot hear the Falconer.” When Butler speaks of the Falcon he

is communicating a lot about the British regime which feels that nothing can move it due

to its massive power and force.

A combination of the two poems gives them fresh meaning and reinforces Yeats

ability to use literal devices to assert a political theme. Yeats speaks of the poor sight that

is characteristic of him in the desert and the fear that he feels when he sees the spirit of

Mundi (Chang 57). Apparently, there are many explanations that one can draw from both

poems when read individually. However, a combination of them gives the reader a new

understanding of each. Indeed some readers might even find it difficult to understand

each poem in isolation. “Second coming one of Yeats’ most renown poems it is also one

of the most thematically obscure and difficult to understand” (Yoon 2).

The two poems address political nationalism and gender relations. Therefore,

political allegory occupies a central position. The British ought to have given the Irish a

The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:

Guaranteed quality through customer reviews

Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.

Quick and easy check-out

You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.

Focus on what matters

Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!

Frequently asked questions

What do I get when I buy this document?

You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.

Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?

Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.

Who am I buying these notes from?

Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller klausspader. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.

Will I be stuck with a subscription?

No, you only buy these notes for CA$11.34. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.

Can Stuvia be trusted?

4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)

56326 documents were sold in the last 30 days

Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now

Start selling