Explore an in-depth analysis of ‘The Second Coming By W B Yeats’ including the text, Analysis, explanation, paraphrase, and summary. Dive into critical appreciation, scholars’ comments, and FAQs to comprehensively understand this classic poem.”
The Second Coming By W.B. Yeats: Text, Analysis, Notes, Explanation, Summary, Paraphrase, Appreciation, FAQS
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The Second Coming By W.B. Yeats: Text
The Second Coming
By W.B. Yeats
”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? 0 0 0
The Second Coming By W.B. Yeats: Analysis
Introduction
Written in 1919, “The Second Coming” by W.B. Yeats reflects the poet’s disillusionment with the modern world, particularly after the destruction caused by World War I. It encapsulates his belief that history operates in cycles, with moments of chaos giving rise to new and often terrifying realities. The poem draws heavily from Christian imagery and esoteric concepts like ‘Spiritus Mundi’ (the collective unconscious). Yeats speculates on the collapse of civilization, suggesting that something ominous and monstrous will replace the crumbling old order.
Thematic Analysis
Chaos and Destruction: The opening lines express the idea that human systems have lost control: “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold.” Yeats suggests that the structure of society has broken down, ushering in ‘anarchy’. This reflects his anxiety about the collapse of social order in the aftermath of war and political upheavals.
The Cyclical Nature of History: Yeats believed that history moves in cycles, represented in the poem by the image of the ‘gyre’—a spiral or vortex. As the old cycle ends, a new one begins, but the new order is not necessarily better. The reference to the “rough beast” points to the birth of something terrifying in this new era.
Loss of Morality: The line “The ceremony of innocence is drowned” symbolizes the decay of traditional values. Yeats laments that ‘the good lack conviction’, while the ‘wicked act with passion’. This theme reflects the moral ambiguity and loss of direction in the modern world.
Revelation and Transformation: The poem’s title and the mention of “The Second Coming” evoke religious prophecy, alluding to the ‘apocalypse’. However, instead of the return of Christ, Yeats envisions a ‘monstrous being’ emerging, suggesting that the new era may bring destruction instead of redemption.
Stylistic Analysis
Structure and Form: The poem is written in ‘free verse’, without a rigid rhyme scheme or meter, reflecting the chaotic theme. The lack of structure mirrors the disorder that Yeats portrays.
Tone and Mood: The tone of the poem is ‘ominous’ and ‘foreboding’. Yeats uses unsettling imagery and language that evoke a sense of unease, creating a dark and pessimistic mood.
Symbolism
The falcon and the falconer: Symbolizes the loss of control and the disconnection between humanity and order.
The blood-dimmed tide: Represents widespread violence and chaos.
The rough beast: A symbol of the destructive force that will rise in the new era.
Literary Device Analysis
Allusion: The poem alludes to ‘Christian eschatology’ (prophecies about the end times), but Yeats subverts the expectation of salvation by presenting the arrival of a monstrous being instead of Christ.
Imagery: Yeats paints vivid, often disturbing images, such as “a gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,” to suggest the cruelty of the coming era. The desert setting further enhances the sense of desolation.
Paradox: Yeats uses paradox to highlight the moral ambiguity of the modern world: “The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.” This juxtaposition suggests that the decay of society is not due to evil alone but also the inaction of the good.
Personification: Abstract concepts like ‘innocence’ and ”anarchy’ are given human qualities, making them feel more immediate and terrifying. For example, “the ceremony of innocence is drowned” personifies innocence as if it were a fragile ritual destroyed by chaos.
Enjambment: The use of ‘enjambment’—where sentences run over multiple lines without a pause—reflects the overwhelming nature of the poem’s ideas and mirrors the relentless flow of history.
Conclusion
In “The Second Coming,” W.B. Yeats explores themes of chaos, moral decay, and the cyclical nature of history. The poem’s pessimistic tone reflects Yeats’s anxiety about the collapse of civilization and the uncertain future awaiting humanity. Through vivid imagery, biblical allusions, and powerful symbols, Yeats warns that the end of one era brings not salvation, but the rise of something monstrous. The poem remains profoundly relevant in modern times, as it captures the fear and uncertainty that accompany periods of social upheaval and transformation. 0 0 0
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The Second Coming By W.B. Yeats: Word Notes
1. Gyre
Meaning: A spiral or vortex; circular movement or a widening spiral.
Context: Refers to Yeats’s concept of historical cycles—widening spirals that represent societal change.
Sentence Use: The falcon flies away in a widening gyre, losing contact with the falconer.
2. Falconer
Meaning: A person who trains and controls a falcon.
Context: Symbolizes authority or control over something (such as societal structures).
Sentence Use: The falcon no longer obeys the falconer, symbolizing chaos.
3. Anarchy
Meaning: Absence of government and order; lawlessness.
Context: Refers to the breakdown of civilization and societal structures.
Sentence Use: Mere anarchy has taken over the world, leaving it in disorder.
4. Blood-dimmed tide
Meaning: A wave of violence or conflict that obscures clarity and overwhelms innocence
Context: Symbolizes the widespread bloodshed caused by war.
Sentence Use: The blood-dimmed tide sweeps away the purity of the world.
5. Ceremony of Innocence
Meaning: Rituals or values that represent purity and morality.
Context: Suggests that moral and societal values are destroyed.
Sentence Use: The ceremony of innocence is drowned by the chaos of the times.
6. Conviction
Meaning: A strong belief or opinion.
Context: Yeats laments that good people no longer act with conviction.
Sentence Use: The best lack all conviction, leaving them powerless in the face of change.
7. Passionate intensity
Meaning: Strong, fervent emotion or enthusiasm.
Context: Refers to how dangerous people act with misguided passion.
Sentence Use: The worst are full of passionate intensity, driving the world towards ruin.
8. Revelation
Meaning: A sudden realization or divine truth.
Context: Refers to a prophecy that hints at the arrival of a new, terrifying age.
Sentence Use: Surely, some revelation is at hand.
9. Spiritus Mundi
Meaning: Latin for “world spirit”; a concept Yeats used to describe a collective unconscious that contains archetypes or universal symbols.
Context: Yeats suggests that this vision arises from the collective imagination of the world.
Sentence Use: A vast image out of Spiritus Mundi troubles my sight.
10. Sands of the desert
Meaning: An arid, lifeless landscape symbolizing desolation and spiritual barrenness.
Context: Refers to the vision of the beast rising from the desert.
Sentence Use: Somewhere in the sands of the desert, a shape emerges.
11. Pitiless
Meaning: Without compassion or mercy.
Context: Describes the gaze of the monstrous creature, which shows no emotion or kindness.
Sentence Use: A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun.
12. Indignant
Meaning: Feeling or showing anger at something unjust.
Context: Refers to the birds of the desert, possibly disturbed by the presence of the beast.
Sentence Use: Indignant desert birds circle around the strange beast.
13. Darkness drops
Meaning: The arrival of night or a symbolic descent into ignorance or fear.
Context: Refers to the closing moment when the ominous prophecy is complete.
Sentence Use: The darkness drops again, signaling the end of an age.
14. Stony sleep
Meaning: A long, deep slumber, suggesting stagnation or inaction.
Context: Implies that humanity has been asleep for centuries, unaware of what is coming.
Sentence Use: Twenty centuries of stony sleep were vexed by the rocking cradle.
15. Vexed
Meaning: Disturbed, troubled, or agitated.
Context: Refers to the way ancient, dormant forces have been awakened.
Sentence Use: The world was vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle.
16. Rough beast
Meaning: A monstrous, primitive creature symbolizing the coming of a terrifying new era.
Context: Represents the unknown, dangerous force rising to replace the old order.
Sentence Use: What rough beast slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
17. Slouches
Meaning: Moves slowly and lazily, with a drooping posture.
Context: Describes the ominous and reluctant movement of the beast toward its destination.
Sentence Use: The beast slouches towards Bethlehem, heralding the birth of a new age. 0 0 0
The Second Coming By W.B. Yeats: Explanation of Challenging Lines
Here is a detailed analysis of the challenging lines from “The Second Coming” by W.B. Yeats:
1. “Turning and turning in the widening gyre / The falcon cannot hear the falconer.”
Superficial Meaning: A falcon, trained to follow the falconer’s commands, flies in an increasingly large spiral (gyre) until it can no longer hear or obey the falconer.
Deeper Meaning: The falcon symbolizes humanity or civilization, while the falconer represents control or order. This suggests that the guiding forces of society (moral, political, or spiritual leadership) have lost their influence. Humanity is spinning out of control, moving further from the stability that once kept it together.
Context in the Poem: This line reflects the ‘disintegration of social and moral structures’, implying a chaotic world where order can no longer maintain control.
2. “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; / Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.”
Superficial Meaning: Society or structure is collapsing, and the central force that held everything together is no longer strong enough.
Deeper Meaning: Yeats suggests that the collapse of foundational institutions (like religion, government, or tradition) leads to ‘anarchy’, where rules no longer apply.
Historical Context: Written after World War I, these lines reflect Yeats’s fear that civilization had lost its stability, resulting in disorder. This line continues to resonate today during times of political upheaval or social breakdown.
Poetic Impact: These lines are among the most quoted from Yeats, as they convey a ‘universal fear of chaos’ when established norms disintegrate.
3. “The best lack all conviction, while the worst / Are full of passionate intensity.”
Superficial Meaning: Those who are good or righteous are indecisive and passive, while those with evil intentions are filled with fervor and energy.
Deeper Meaning: Yeats points to ‘moral paralysis’, where virtuous individuals fail to act decisively, while dangerous forces move with confidence and passion. This reflects a world in which dangerous ideologies or actions dominate because the good remain silent.
Modern Relevance: These lines are often cited to explain political situations where ‘extremist ideologies’ or leaders gain power because of the apathy or inaction of others.
Irony: There is a tragic irony in how goodness becomes ineffective due to passivity, while harmful actions thrive through intensity.
4. “A vast image out of Spiritus Mundi / Troubles my sight.”
Superficial Meaning: The speaker sees a powerful and troubling vision emerging from the ‘Spiritus Mundi’, the collective unconscious of humanity.
Deeper Meaning: ‘Spiritus Mundi’, a concept Yeats developed, refers to the ‘shared world spirit or memory’ that carries archetypes and ancient symbols. This vision, inspired by that unconscious reservoir, represents a foreboding sense of ‘an ominous transformation’.
Symbolic Impact: The image evokes the idea that the collective imagination of humanity is haunted by ‘nightmarish predictions’, forewarning a monstrous change in history.
Visionary Tone: This moment marks the shift in the poem towards prophecy, as the speaker sees a mysterious, terrifying force that embodies the future.
5. “A shape with lion body and the head of a man, / A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun.”
Superficial Meaning: A frightening beast with a lion’s body and a human head appears with a cold, emotionless gaze.
Deeper Meaning: The ‘beast is a symbol of destructive power’, perhaps representing a new era of tyranny or barbarism. The ‘sun-like gaze’ suggests an indifferent, remorseless force—just as the sun shines without regard for life beneath it.
Mythological Allusion: This creature resembles ancient sphinxes or mythical monsters, often associated with riddles and destruction. The combination of human intelligence and animal strength implies a dangerous and ‘unpredictable force’.
Contextual Meaning: Yeats hints that the coming era will not be governed by compassion or reason, but by ‘brute power and indifference’.
6. “The darkness drops again; but now I know / That twenty centuries of stony sleep / Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle.”
Superficial Meaning: After a moment of vision, the darkness returns, and the speaker realizes that 2,000 years of stagnation are now disturbed by the birth of something terrifying.
Historical Context: Yeats refers to the ‘2,000 years since the birth of Christ’, suggesting that civilization has remained relatively dormant but is now being awakened by a monstrous new force.
Symbolism of the Rocking Cradle: Instead of a hopeful birth (as with the Christ child), this cradle hints at the arrival of something ominous. This unsettling awakening disturbs the peaceful sleep of centuries, symbolizing an imminent and dangerous transformation.
Philosophical Insight: Yeats presents the idea that the ‘next cycle of history’ will be terrifying, unlike the previous age associated with Christianity. The nightmare of the new era is inevitable and unstoppable.
7. “And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, / Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?”
Superficial Meaning: A monstrous, unknown creature slowly makes its way toward Bethlehem to mark a new beginning.
Deeper Meaning: Instead of the return of Christ (as foretold in Christian eschatology), Yeats imagines the birth of a beast—a symbol of a destructive new age. This indicates that the future will not bring salvation but rather ‘a monstrous force’ that will reshape the world.
Symbolism of Bethlehem: Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, traditionally symbolizes ‘hope and renewal’. However, in this poem, it becomes the birthplace of a ‘beast’, hinting at a twisted inversion of prophecy.
The Image of Slouching: The word “slouches” evokes laziness, reluctance, or inevitability—suggesting that this terrifying change is moving slowly but inevitably. It implies that ‘the future is both monstrous and unstoppable’.
The challenging lines of “The Second Coming” offer profound insights into Yeats’s vision of chaos, societal collapse, and an ominous future. Each line is rich with symbolism, historical allusion, and philosophical depth, conveying Yeats’s belief in the cyclical nature of history and his fear of what the future holds. Through disturbing imagery like the “rough beast” and the falcon spinning out of control, Yeats paints a grim picture of a world on the brink of transformation—but not one of redemption. These challenging lines continue to resonate in modern times, reflecting universal fears of disorder and destructive change. 0 0 0
The Second Coming By W.B. Yeats: Prose Paraphrase
Here is a prose translation (paraphrase) of “The Second Coming” by W.B. Yeats, simplifying the poem’s meaning line by line into everyday language.
Stanza 1:
Things are spinning out of control, like a falcon flying in wider and wider circles, moving so far away that it can no longer hear the falconer who trained it. The stability of the world is breaking down, and nothing that held everything together seems to work anymore. Disorder is spreading everywhere. Chaos, like a flood of blood, has overwhelmed the world, wiping away all innocence. The people who are good and decent seem uncertain and lack determination, while those with bad intentions are full of passion and energy.
Stanza 2:
Surely, a major revelation is about to happen, a turning point that will mark the end of one era and the beginning of another. Some vision, coming from the world’s shared imagination (Spiritus Mundi), troubles my mind. I see a disturbing image: a strange beast with the body of a lion and the head of a man, its gaze cold and merciless, like the burning sun. It moves slowly across the desert sands while birds circle around it angrily.
This vision makes me realize that the peaceful order we have known for the past two thousand years, ever since the birth of Christ, is coming to an end. The long sleep of those centuries is being disturbed, as if the world has woken up into a nightmare caused by the rocking of a cradle. And now, what rough and monstrous creature, having waited for its time to arrive, slowly makes its way towards Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, to begin its reign?
Conclusion:
This prose version captures the essence of the poem, highlighting Yeats’s sense of impending change, societal breakdown, and the arrival of a frightening new era. Instead of hope and renewal, Yeats’s vision suggests that the future will be dark and unsettling, ruled by a powerful and indifferent force. 0 0 0
The Second Coming By W.B. Yeats: Summary
W.B. Yeats’s “The Second Coming” explores the breakdown of societal order and the unsettling arrival of a new era. The poem begins with the image of a falcon flying in widening spirals, unable to hear the falconer, symbolizing a loss of control and the disintegration of traditional values. The collapse of stability releases chaos into the world, drowning innocence. Good people lack conviction, while those with malicious intent act with dangerous passion, indicating a world in moral decline.
Yeats then shifts to a prophetic vision of the future. Drawing from the collective imagination (Spiritus Mundi), the poet sees a terrifying beast with a lion’s body and a human head emerging from the desert. This monstrous figure, with a cold, merciless gaze, symbolizes the rise of a new force—something primitive and destructive. Yeats reflects on how the two thousand years since Christ’s birth (an era marked by order and hope) are coming to an end. Now, instead of the return of a savior, a monstrous creature moves toward Bethlehem, suggesting the birth of a new, ominous age.
The poem captures a sense of apocalyptic change, emphasizing the inevitability of transformation, but not one of redemption. Instead of salvation, Yeats foresees an unsettling future dominated by chaos and disorder. 0 0 0
The Second Coming By W.B. Yeats: Critical Appreciation
W.B. Yeats’s “The Second Coming” is a profound and unsettling poem that explores the collapse of traditional order and the dawn of a chaotic new era. Written in 1919, in the aftermath of World War I, the poem reflects the poet’s anxiety about the destruction of old societal structures and the unpredictability of the future. Through symbolic imagery and visionary language, Yeats warns of an impending transformation that brings not hope but terror.
The poem begins with a vivid metaphor: a falcon flying in widening spirals, unable to hear the falconer. This powerful image suggests the breakdown of control, both individually and socially, hinting that human civilization is spiraling into chaos. The line “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold” conveys the fragility of human systems—whether political, moral, or spiritual. Yeats’s use of opposites, where “the best lack all conviction” and “the worst are full of passionate intensity,” reveals his deep concern that dangerous forces thrive while the good remain inactive.
The poem’s symbolism is one of its greatest strengths. Yeats introduces ‘Spiritus Mundi’, a concept that refers to a shared world spirit or collective unconscious. From this source, he envisions a monstrous creature with a lion’s body and a human head, rising from the desert. This beast embodies the destruction of the familiar order and the birth of a new, terrifying age. The reference to Bethlehem, traditionally associated with Christ’s birth, is used ironically—here, it signals the arrival of something monstrous rather than redemptive. The poem’s tone remains dark and prophetic throughout, reflecting Yeats’s belief in the cyclical nature of history, where each cycle ends with destruction and renewal.
Yeats employs free verse with irregular rhythm, avoiding strict rhyme schemes, which enhances the poem’s ominous tone. The lack of predictable meter mirrors the chaotic theme of the poem, reinforcing the idea that the old order has collapsed. The poem’s diction is elevated and evocative, with expressions like “blood-dimmed tide,” “pitiless as the sun,” and “rough beast,” creating vivid, unsettling imagery.
Thematically, “The Second Coming” examines apocalyptic change and the inevitability of transformation. Yeats believed in historical cycles and predicted that the Christian era was drawing to a close, to be replaced by an age dominated by something far more primitive and uncontrollable. This idea resonates across cultures and time periods, making the poem relevant even today, especially during times of political, social, or spiritual crisis.
In conclusion, “The Second Coming” is a masterpiece that combines rich symbolism, philosophical insight, and poetic brilliance. Yeats’s prophetic vision of a world teetering on the edge of chaos continues to captivate readers with its timeless relevance. The poem offers a haunting meditation on the fragility of human civilization and the unsettling truth that the future may not always bring salvation but, instead, unimaginable change. 0 0 0
The Second Coming By W.B. Yeats: FAQs
1. What is the main theme of “The Second Coming”?
The central theme of “The Second Coming” is the ‘collapse of order’ and the ‘arrival of a chaotic new era’. Yeats reflects on the breakdown of traditional societal structures, the moral paralysis of good people, and the rise of dangerous, passionate forces. The poem explores the idea that ‘history is cyclical’, with every period of stability giving way to destruction and renewal.
2. What does the ‘falcon’ and ‘falconer’ symbolize?
The ‘falcon’ symbolizes humanity or civilization spinning out of control, while the ‘falconer’ represents leadership, order, or guiding principles (such as religion or morality). Their separation suggests that society has lost its sense of direction and control, leading to chaos.
3. What is ‘Spiritus Mundi’ in the poem?
‘Spiritus Mundi’ refers to the ‘world spirit or collective unconscious’—a reservoir of archetypal images and symbols shared by all humanity. Yeats believed that certain visions and ideas emerge from this collective imagination. In the poem, the terrifying image of the beast comes from this source, representing a glimpse of the dark forces that will shape the new era.
4. What is the significance of the ‘rough beast’ slouching toward Bethlehem?
The ‘rough beast’ is a symbol of a ‘new, ominous age’ that will replace the old Christian era. It combines elements of brute strength and human intelligence, implying that the future will be dominated by an indifferent, destructive force. The beast slouching toward Bethlehem suggests that instead of the return of Christ or salvation, something monstrous is about to be born.
5. Why does Yeats mention ‘Bethlehem’ in the poem?
Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, traditionally symbolizes ‘hope, renewal, and salvation’. Yeats uses the reference ironically, implying that the birth heralded by this new era will not bring peace but rather ‘terror and chaos’. The allusion emphasizes the reversal of expectations—something monstrous is coming instead of a savior.
6. How does Yeats portray the idea of moral paralysis?
Yeats conveys moral paralysis in the line, “The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.” This suggests that those with good intentions are passive and indecisive, while dangerous individuals act with confidence and fervor. The poem reflects Yeats’s concern that ‘evil thrives when good people do nothing’.
7. What is the significance of ‘widening gyre’ in the poem?
The ‘widening gyre’ is a metaphor for the ‘cyclical nature of history’. It suggests that each period of history moves outward like a spiral until it breaks apart and gives way to a new era. The widening spiral in the poem represents how ‘control and stability disintegrate’ over time, leading to chaos and transformation.
8. What tone and mood does the poem convey?
The poem has a ‘dark, ominous, and prophetic tone’. The mood is ‘unsettling and foreboding’, as Yeats envisions the collapse of familiar structures and the rise of a monstrous new force. The language creates a sense of inevitable doom, reflecting both ‘fear and awe’ at the coming changes.
9. What literary devices does Yeats use in “The Second Coming”?
Yeats employs various literary devices, including:
- Symbolism: The falcon, rough beast, and gyre all symbolize broader ideas about chaos and historical cycles.
- Imagery: Vivid descriptions like “blood-dimmed tide” and “pitiless as the sun” create powerful mental pictures.
- Allusion: References to Bethlehem and Christian ideas suggest a reversal of religious prophecy.
- Irony: The hopeful associations with Bethlehem are subverted, implying terror instead of redemption.
10. What is the historical context of the poem?
“The Second Coming” was written in ‘1919’, shortly after World War I. The destruction and chaos of the war deeply influenced Yeats, who saw the war as a sign of ‘society’s collapse’. The poem reflects his belief that the ‘Christian era’ was ending and that the future would be shaped by dark and unpredictable forces.
11. Why is “The Second Coming” relevant today?
The poem remains relevant because it addresses ‘universal fears about societal collapse, chaos, and moral decay’. It resonates during times of political turmoil, social unrest, or cultural shifts, reminding readers of the ‘fragility of civilization’ and the unpredictable nature of history.
12. What is Yeats’s view of history in the poem?
Yeats believed in a ‘cyclical theory of history’, where every civilization or era goes through a cycle of growth, stability, and decline. In “The Second Coming”, he suggests that the ‘Christian era’ is ending and will be replaced by a dark, primitive force. The poem reflects his idea that ‘each era is destroyed to make way for a new one’, often accompanied by upheaval and chaos. 0 0 0
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