Analysis of Yeats’ Poems

William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) was an Irish poet, playwright, and key figure in 20th-century literature. Born in Dublin, Ireland, Yeats grew up amidst the political and cultural turbulence of the late 19th century, which deeply influenced his work. He co-founded the Abbey Theatre in Dublin and played a significant role in the Irish Literary Revival, alongside figures like Lady Gregory and John Millington Synge. Yeats’ poetry is known for its lyrical beauty, rich symbolism, and exploration of Irish folklore, mythology, and national identity. Throughout his prolific career, Yeats wrote some of the most enduring poems in the English language, including “The Lake Isle of Innisfree,” “The Second Coming,” and “Sailing to Byzantium.” He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923 for his “inspired poetry, which in a highly artistic form gives expression to the spirit of a whole nation.” Yeats’ legacy continues to influence poets and writers around the world, and his contributions to literature remain celebrated to this day. This blog is a thinking activity assigned by Barad Sir based on poems of William Butler Yeats. 

On Being Asked a War Poem 

Poem:- 

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; 

He has had enough of meddling who can please 

A young girl in the indolence of her youth, 

Or an old man upon a winter’s night.

You can check out the poem here:- 

Background Information:- 

This poem was written in 6 February 1915 after Yeats was asked by Henry James and Edith Wharton to compose a poem about World War I, which he refused to do. It comes under the genre of political poem. It was initially titled as “To a friend who has asked me to sign his manifesto to the neutral nations”. When the poem was published in 1916, in Edith Wharton’s anthology ‘The Book of the Homeless’, the title was “A Reason for Keeping Silent”. When it was reprinted in 1916, this time in W. B. Yeats’ collection ‘The Wild Swans at Coole’, it was given the title with which we recognise it today. 

(Image generated with the help of Google Gemini)

Analysis:- 

In this short poem, Yeats expresses his view that writers should not write about overly political “war poems”. Yeats gives a reason for this saying that poetry lacks the power to influence or “set right”, the political leaders who have already made their decisions. He says that the poet’s role is to merely entertain someone by capturing the beauty, youth, and the small comforts of domestic life, rather than comment upon global conflicts. This reflects Yeats’ view on separating art and politics. 

Now one must remember that this poem is written in an ironic manner. The main reason for this is because someone is asking Yeats to write a war poetry and while refusing he has the written the poem. This odd act can be considered a “refusal as assent”. Hence, the very act of writing, this poem gives it an air of irony.

Overall, “On Being Asked for a War Poem” is a multifaceted exploration of the relationship between art, politics, and personal conviction. Through irony and nuanced language, Yeats challenges conventional notions of the poet’s role in society while affirming the importance of artistic autonomy and integrity.

For a more detailed analysis, you can check out this video:- 

Words - 568

Images - 2

Videos - 2