Chaos, Apocalypse, and the Ethical Role of the Poet:
A Critical Study of W. B. Yeats’s The Second Coming and On Being Asked for a War Poem
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Introduction
William Butler Yeats stands as one of the most influential poets of the twentieth century, whose works capture the anxiety, disillusionment, and moral uncertainty of the modern age. Writing in the aftermath of World War I and during the political turmoil of Ireland’s struggle for independence, Yeats responded to a world that seemed to be losing its spiritual and moral foundations. His poetry reflects a deep concern with history, violence, and the responsibility of art in times of crisis.
Two of Yeats’s poems The Second Coming (1919) and On Being Asked for a War Poem (1915) offer contrasting yet complementary perspectives on these concerns. While The Second Coming presents an apocalyptic vision of a collapsing civilization and the emergence of a terrifying new order, On Being Asked for a War Poem focuses on the poet’s refusal to participate in war propaganda. This blog examines these poems through online class lectures, a Hindi podcast, and academic study material from ResearchGate, exploring Yeats’s prophetic imagination and his belief in poetic responsibility.
1. Online Class Videos and Analysis of the Poems
Online Class Video 1: The Second Coming
Critical Analysis of The Second Coming
The Second Coming is one of Yeats’s most frequently quoted and critically discussed poems. Written shortly after World War I, the poem reflects a sense of historical breakdown and spiritual emptiness. Yeats believed in a theory of history based on “gyres,” or spiraling cycles, where one civilization collapses as another emerges. The poem opens with the image of a falcon flying in widening circles, unable to hear the falconer. This metaphor powerfully suggests humanity’s loss of control, discipline, and moral authority.
The famous line, “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold,” captures the essence of modern disintegration. Religious faith, ethical values, and political stability appear to be crumbling. Yeats does not describe the Second Coming as the return of Christ; instead, he envisions a monstrous figure—“a rough beast”—slouching toward Bethlehem. This disturbing image implies that the future may bring not salvation but further destruction.
The poem’s apocalyptic tone reflects Yeats’s fear that modern society is heading toward a violent transformation. The language is prophetic and symbolic rather than narrative, making the poem timeless and universally relevant. Even today, the poem resonates in times of war, political unrest, and global crisis, reinforcing Yeats’s position as a visionary modern poet.
Online Class Video 2: On Being Asked for a War Poem
Critical Analysis of On Being Asked for a War Poem
Unlike the expansive and violent imagery of The Second Coming, On Being Asked for a War Poem is brief, calm, and restrained. Yeats wrote this poem when he was requested to produce a patriotic poem during World War I. His response was a polite but firm refusal.
In the poem, Yeats argues that poets do not possess the authority to guide political leaders or justify wars. He suggests that it is better for a poet to remain silent than to write verse that glorifies violence or nationalism. The poet’s duty, according to Yeats, lies in exploring private emotions, personal relationships, and universal human truths rather than participating in political propaganda.
This poem reveals Yeats’s belief in artistic integrity. He refuses to compromise poetry by turning it into a political tool. In doing so, Yeats challenges the expectation that writers must support national causes during wartime. His stance highlights a modernist skepticism toward mass movements, nationalism, and ideological conformity.
2. Hindi Podcast on the Poems: Interpretation and Understanding
Hindi Podcast Video on Both Poems
Understanding of the Hindi Podcast
The Hindi podcast offers a simplified yet insightful explanation of both poems, making them accessible to students who may struggle with Yeats’s dense symbolism. The speaker explains that The Second Coming reflects a world suffering from war, fear, and moral confusion. The breakdown of traditional values is linked to historical events such as World War I and modern global crises.
The podcast also emphasizes that the “rough beast” symbolizes destructive forces that arise when humanity loses faith in ethical and spiritual systems. The explanation connects Yeats’s vision to contemporary situations, showing how literature continues to reflect social realities.
Regarding On Being Asked for a War Poem, the podcast highlights Yeats’s opposition to writing poetry that supports war. It explains that Yeats believed poetry should awaken thought and conscience rather than encourage violence. Overall, the podcast helps readers understand Yeats’s philosophical depth and moral seriousness.
3. Responses Based on ResearchGate Study Material
(i) Discussion Question
Question: Do you agree with Yeats’s assertion in On Being Asked for a War Poem that poetry should remain apolitical?
Authentic Academic Response:
In On Being Asked for a War Poem, Yeats asserts:
“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.”
This statement highlights his belief in the ethical and aesthetic autonomy of poetry, positioning the poet as a contemplative observer rather than a political advocate.
Yeats suggests that poetry’s function is to explore timeless human truths, moral dilemmas, and emotional depth, rather than to serve propaganda purposes.
By refusing to write patriotic war poetry, Yeats emphasizes artistic integrity and the poet’s responsibility to remain morally impartial.
Supporting Arguments:
Artistic Integrity: In politically charged situations, poetry risks becoming instrumentalized for state purposes, reducing its artistic and ethical value.
Limitations of Influence: Yeats acknowledges that poets cannot correct or guide political decisions; poetry is not a practical tool for governance.
Timeless Reflection: Avoiding political partisanship allows poetry to transcend immediate historical circumstances, maintaining universality.
Counter-Arguments:
Poets such as Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon actively addressed war realities, demonstrating that poetry can be both artistic and socially responsible.
Silence in moments of injustice may risk moral disengagement, leaving the poet’s ethical voice unexpressed.
Conclusion: Yeats’s position reflects a modernist ethical perspective, privileging reflection and moral contemplation over political engagement. While not universally applicable, it underscores the poet’s role as an observer of human experience, preserving the autonomy and depth of poetic expression.
(ii) Creativity Activity
Task: Compose a modernist-inspired poem reflecting on contemporary global crises.
Creative Poem
Truth and Silence
When banners rise and cannons roar,
And cities tremble on their floor,
The poet walks a quieter lane,
Where thought endures beyond the pain.
Not every battle needs a song,
Nor every right can justify the wrong;
Some truths survive in silent hours,
In whispers soft as autumn flowers.
The blood-stained earth and shattered stone
Speak louder than the trumpet’s tone;
Yet still the poet keeps his pen,
To trace the hearts of fallen men.
Amid the chaos, fear, and strife,
He charts the map of human life;
Not to glorify the clash of might,
But to reflect on wrong and right.
History spins its ruthless gyre,
Yet silence feeds the inner fire;
For words need not inflame the fight,
To guard the soul and honor light.
When all around is torn apart,
The poet tends the human heart;
And in that quiet, steadfast space,
He finds the dignity of grace.
Analysis :
Reflects modernist restraint and ethical contemplation, mirroring Yeats’s approach.
Emphasizes the poet’s moral responsibility: to observe and reflect rather than glorify conflict.
Symbolism and Imagery: “Blood-stained earth,” “quiet space,” and “inner fire” evoke historical chaos and ethical reflection.
Role of Silence: Demonstrates that poetry can retain moral authority even when refraining from explicit political commentary.
Relevance: Applies universally to all crises, highlighting the enduring power of poetry as ethical witness.
(iii) Analytical Exercise
Task: Compare Yeats’s treatment of war with other war poets, such as Wilfred Owen or Siegfried Sassoon.
Authentic Academic Response:
Yeats in The Second Coming:
Portrays societal and moral collapse through apocalyptic imagery.
Uses symbols such as the widening gyre, blood-dimmed tide, and the rough beast to reflect historical cycles and ethical decay.
Yeats in On Being Asked for a War Poem:
Minimalist, restrained, and contemplative.
Rejects patriotic or propagandist war poetry.
Prioritizes ethical reflection and poetic autonomy.
Comparison with Owen and Sassoon:
Owen and Sassoon → direct, graphic depictions of war’s horrors; politically and morally engaged.
Yeats → symbolic, philosophical, and modernist; reflects on universal ethical dimensions rather than immediate historical specifics.
Observations:
Yeats emphasizes moral and spiritual reflection, contrasting with the realism and protest of Owen and Sassoon.
His modernist techniques—fragmentation, ambiguity, and symbolic imagery—highlight the ethical and existential implications of conflict.
Poetry as ethical witness → Yeats maintains distance from propaganda, focusing on the timeless human condition.
Conclusion:
Yeats’s approach situates the poet as an ethical and contemplative observer, capable of engaging with war philosophically and morally.
His treatment of war highlights modernist concerns with fragmentation, ambiguity, and the tension between personal integrity and public expectation.
Reference:
https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2021/05/whauden-poems.html
https://youtu.be/jAaWDvA2Gt4?si=5w19gaGiCDgdabnF
