Poem Analyzation

 This blog is a part of thinking activity assigned by Dilip Barad Sir in I am going to write about the Interpretations of the poem by W.B.Yeats.

 Poems by W. B. Yeats (1865-1939)

The Poem The Second Coming Analyzing

The Second Coming

Turning and turning in the widening gyre

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere

The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

The best lack all conviction, while the worst

Are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand;

Surely the Second Coming is at hand.

The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out

When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi

Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of 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 darkness drops again; but now I know

That twenty centuries of stony sleep

Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,

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

Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

Analyzed the Poem :

"The Second Coming" by W.B. Yeats is a complex and enigmatic poem that delves into themes of chaos, collapse, and the anticipation of a profound transformation in human history. Structured in two stanzas, the poem employs vivid imagery and symbolic language to evoke a sense of impending doom and spiritual crisis.

The opening lines set the tone for the poem, with the image of a falcon losing its connection to its falconer, symbolizing the breakdown of order and control. This imagery of disintegration is reinforced by the phrase "things fall apart," which echoes the title of Chinua Achebe's novel and suggests a world in turmoil. The reference to "mere anarchy" and the "blood-dimmed tide" further emphasize the pervasive chaos and violence that has engulfed society.

The second stanza introduces the idea of a "Second Coming," echoing the Christian belief in the return of Jesus Christ. However, Yeats presents a more ominous interpretation of this event, suggesting that it will not bring salvation but rather unleash a terrifying force upon the world. The image of a monstrous creature with a "lion body and the head of a man" evokes a sense of primal terror and impending destruction. This creature, described with a "gaze blank and pitiless as the sun," embodies the relentless and merciless nature of the forces driving humanity towards its fate.

The reference to "twenty centuries of stony sleep" suggests a long period of dormancy or stagnation, during which humanity has been lulled into a false sense of security. However, this period of slumber has been disturbed by the stirring of dark forces, symbolized by the "rocking cradle" that has vexed humanity with nightmares. Now, with its "hour come round at last," the ominous entity "slouches towards Bethlehem to be born," invoking biblical imagery and suggesting the imminent arrival of a malevolent force that will disrupt the natural order.

Yeats's use of symbolism and allegory in "The Second Coming" invites multiple interpretations, ranging from a commentary on the political upheavals of his time to a broader meditation on the cyclical nature of history and the human condition. The poem captures the anxieties and uncertainties of an era marked by global conflict and social upheaval, while also tapping into deeper existential questions about the nature of existence and the possibility of redemption in the face of chaos.

 conclusion :

 "The Second Coming" is a powerful and haunting exploration of the themes of chaos, collapse, and the search for meaning in a turbulent world. Through its evocative imagery and symbolic language, the poem captures the sense of foreboding and existential dread that characterized the early 20th century and continues to resonate with readers today.

Reference : Chatgpt.com

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Poems by W. B. Yeats (1865-1939)