Beyond the Verse 'The Second Coming': Yeats and the Apocalypse
In this week’s episode of "Beyond the Verse", brought to you by PoemAnalysis.com and Poetry+, Joe and Maiya take a deep dive into William Butler Yeats’ apocalyptic poem 'The Second Coming'. They explore Yeats’ use of biblical allusions, the recurring themes of societal collapse, and his cyclical view of history, which reflects the chaos and uncertainty of the post-World War I era.
Join the discussion as Joe and Maiya dissect Yeats’ background, his views on revolution and change, and how The Second Coming captures a world on the brink of a new, ominous era. They explore the poem’s opening lines, the metaphor of the falcon and the falconer, and the chilling imagery of the “rough beast” slouching towards Bethlehem.
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Tune in and Discover:
- Yeats’ apocalyptic vision in 'The Second Coming'
- The biblical and classical allusions in the poem
- How Yeats’ personal life and the political landscape shaped his work
- The unsettling relevance of 'The Second Coming' in today’s world
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