William butler yeats easter 1916 summary. Easter, 1916 Themes 2022-10-19
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"Easter 1916" is a poem written by William Butler Yeats about the Easter Rising in Ireland in 1916. The Easter Rising was a rebellion against British rule in Ireland, in which a group of Irish nationalists declared Irish independence and took over key locations in Dublin. The rebellion was quickly crushed by the British, and many of the leaders were executed.
In "Easter 1916," Yeats reflects on the events of the rebellion and the sacrifices made by the rebels. He begins by describing the peaceful, ordinary life in Dublin before the rebellion, and how the rebels were ordinary people who were moved to action by their desire for independence. Yeats laments the loss of these rebels, who he saw as "transformed" by their passion for their cause.
Despite the failure of the rebellion and the harsh punishment meted out to the rebels, Yeats suggests that their sacrifice was not in vain. He writes that the rebels' "dreams" and "passions" live on, and that their legacy will inspire future generations to fight for Irish independence.
Overall, "Easter 1916" is a tribute to the rebels of the Easter Rising, and a reflection on the power of sacrifice and the enduring spirit of independence. It is a poignant and moving tribute to the bravery and conviction of those who fought for Irish freedom.
Easter 1916 by William Butler Yeats : Summary, Analysis and Solved Questions » Smart English Notes
When he writes no no not night but death in the next line, he asks was it meaningless death after all. No, no, not night but death; Was it needless death after all? It could be seen as a condemnation of the actions of the rebels or an immortalizing of the rebels. In this, they are different than the rest of the natural world. Countess Constance Gore-booth Markievic 1868-1927 s who was a daughter of an Aristocrat from Sligo, who had a great respect from Yeats, wrote two poems about her. The material world bent little to his imagination. This event was highly destructive but also helped cause profound change. Yeats celebrates in his poetry, the heroic intensity that Macdonagh and MacBride and Conneley and Pierse had achieved.
The stone symbolizes strength and courage but it is also a symbol of stillness of death. The uprising also failed and ended in bloodshed. However, today "a terrible beauty is born" because verbiage has given rise to action. He continued to crave for Sligo, long after his family moved away. Yeats compares the revolutionary to a stone in the midst of the stream of life. But stones simply exist within the same state.
Finally, this other man John McBride was executed. In a beautiful and gentle image, Yeats compares those who have died to a child falling asleep after great exertion. Patrick Pearse, a leader of the uprising and commandant General of the Irish Republican Army. While nature is in constant movement and changes with the seasons, the stone remains the same. They have sacrificed the other aspects of their lives and are totally committed to the cause. .
However, their forces were defeated by the British army within a week. Some would even say the foremost writer of the Irish Renaissance and a prime supporter of Irish nationalism. He suggests that the violence might have been unnecessary. These people were obsessed with one purpose alone — the liberation of Ireland. Yeats to commemorate the Easter Rising in 1916, in which Irish nationalists led a rebellion to win independence from British rule. No, no, not night but death; Was it needless death after all? On April 21, 1916, Britain became aware of the impending uprising. His initial description of her is not flattery.
The stone symbolizes the firmness of all the purpose of strength and mind of the Patriots. Yeats celebrates in his poetry, the heroic intensity that Macdonagh and Macbride and conneley and Pierse had achieved. While many Irish did not support the rebellion at first, as some 2000 people were killed, opinions changed drastically after the leaders of the rebellion were executed; in fact, those leaders were soon revered as martyrs. This is an allusion to Pegasus-the Greek mythological winged horse and muse of poetry. He missed his cousins and uncle dreadfully and longed for the intangible magic of its wild dark earth and changing skies. He talks about meeting everyday people on the street and having casual conversation with them or just giving a passing "nod of the head.
These four characters who he refers to were not the most obvious figures from the rebellion. The poem begins with a note of self-criticism for Yeats had been guilty of complacent detachment from his fellow Irishmen. The poem can be seen as a tribute to the rebels or an indictment of fanaticism. The stone, causing ripples, reverberated their frustration physically as their verbal passion fell on deaf ears. On the one hand, Yeats admires their steadfast commitment to their purpose of pursuing Ireland's independence; on the other, he questions the extent to which passion, even a passion for what one believes to be right, can misguide and lead to tragedy: Was it needless death after all? During the rebellion, leaders of a political party called the Sinn Feiners meaning 'We Ourselves' in Gaelic , who favored Irish independence, occupied key buildings in Dublin. The refrain, a repeated word, line or phrase within the lines or stanzas of a poem, "A terrible beauty was born" helps shift the tone from objective to personal, filled with sadness at lives that could have been but are no longer, to pride in his countrymen at having done something so beautiful for one's country. He has often met them in the evening; he has often exchanged polite meaningless words with them, sometimes he had made fun of them.
You will notice that a dramatic motif runs throughout the poem starting off as a comedy and transforming into a tragedy as the events unfold. This shows his ability to question himself and the change and to change the way he thinks. On the one hand, Yeats admires their steadfast commitment to their purpose of pursuing Ireland's independence; on the other, he questions the extent to which passion, even a passion for what one believes to be right, can misguide and lead to tragedy: Was it needless death after all? The doubts and misgivings in the poem are characteristically Yeatism. The rebels in Ireland have changed utterly because of the actions of the rebels. During Holy Week in 1916, a group of Irish rebels seized the general post office in Dublin and held it for several days.
He had done most bitter wrong To some who are near my heart, Yet I number him in the song; He, too, has resigned his part In the casual comedy; He, too, has been changed in his turn, Transformed utterly: A terrible beauty is born. Buy Study Guide I have met them at close of day Coming with vivid faces From counter or desk among grey Eighteenth-century houses. Even in losing the battle, we will be remembered for what we stand up for. It talks about the list of leaders of the uprising and describes their pre uprising behaviour. He resigns himself to the loss, and with mingled sympathy and admiration, he calls the Irish people to commemorate them, to 'murmur name upon name. Herewith it is uniting of the past and the present. Due to Sinn Fein's efforts and the threat of a civil war, Britain eventually partitioned off Ireland.
It was the ferocity of the British reaction, an immediacy of the deaths by firing squad of the rebels which turned the tide of public opinion. It was possible that England might keep her promise and give freedom to Ireland but for the Irish, it was enough to know that they dreamed of the liberation of their country and died because of their dreams. Genre The protagonists are the speaker himself as well as Constance Gore-Booth Markievicz, MacDonagh, MacBride, Connolly, and Pearse. What voice more sweet than hers When, young and beautiful, She rode to harriers? Later he was executed on 3rd May 1916. We know their dream; enough To know they dreamed and are dead; And what if excess of love Bewildered them till they died? The speaker had nothing more serious on his mind than a joke because he thought that all of them were just living regular, unimportant lives. Easter, 1916 Poem I have met them at close of day Coming with vivid faces From counter or desk among grey Eighteenth-century houses.
