'The Second Coming' by William Butler Yeats (Poetry Analysis Video)

This video contains a close Analysis of William Butler Yeats', 'The Second Coming', with a discussion of the poem's historical context, major themes, and Yeats' use of poetic techniques.

'The Second Coming' is a video in the 'Poetry Analysis Series' from Litpoetry and is designed for students of poetry at both the beginner and advanced levels.

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This work is copyrighted, © James Laidler (Litpoetry)
Litpoetry Script writer & Presenter: James Laidler

Litpoetry Video editor and Designer: James Laidler


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[seancurran]

He wrote it in 1919 so in addition to WW1, a man made monster, he was also addressing the chaos wrought by the flu pandemic, an event outside mans control, in which more died than in the preceding conflict. Also, on a more personal level for Yeats, this year witnessed the start of the Irish War of Independence, a bloody and divisive war.

[winstonwatson]

Came just to listen the poem however the analysis kept me intrigued. Took me back to high school this is so much deeper than I had imagined st that age

[isha]

This helped me out a lot!! Thank you so much for putting up such a good explanation. Hope you can add more videos for the modern/post modern poets as well.

[rastafari]

Thank you so very much my brother, a brilliant analysis of a poem relevant for our time.

[thomasxu]

a delicate interpretation of history by biblical stories! What a relevance

[catsnmi]

An excellent analysis, thanks a lot! How very pertinent this poem is to the state of the current world!

[cactuslog]

I appreciate the analysis and your sharing of it.

[theobyard]

Hi James, , Just used part of this video with my Year 12s as we revise the novel Things Fall Apart for the VCE English exam in a coule of weeks, Thanks!

[nathanhassallpoetry]

Lovely analysis. One of my favorite poems of Yeat's, alongside Sailing to Byzantium. Will enjoy making some of my own videos on Yeats. Cheers.

[gwickle]

Thank you. I have always had a gut feeling about this poem. That is, I felt it inside more than I could describe. Though I disagreed with you on some of the more subtle images, you have given me a better structure of the poem, and so, a better grasp. Thank you

[celiaosborne]

The commentary is incredible, many thanks

[rockspydre]

Brilliant poetry, and brilliant analysis.

[riajani]

hi, i love your videos, they have actually helped me in school a lot. I was just wondering where you got the cool gifs in the background

[rehamsalem]

That really helped me alot, thank you 💜

[aidanpelly]

‘Collective unconscience’ [sic] 😆 Though lots of interesting perspectives on construction.
Is there perhaps occult reference to Horus when mentioning the falcon? With Yeats such an enthusiastic member of the Golden Dawn, it’s quite striking that this always seems to be ignored when people analyse his poems.

[anthonyjulianelle]

I have read that the Pandemic of 1918 - 1919 was also an influence of Yeats. His wife was quite ill at the time of the writing of the poem.

[williamwallace-mv]

To me this is the ultimate apocalyptic poem

[drywaller]

James, a good interpretation. Yeats was from Anglo Irish ascendancy stock and in 1919 their world looked shaky as the native Irish were putting pressure on the English government to grant Home rule. !919 was the midpoint of our war of independance.. It took until 1921 to get our 26 counties back. Many of Yeat's friends were terrified of what awaited them. To his credit he put his shoulder to the wheel of the Irish Free State and he deserved his cheque from the Swedish Academy. Thank you for the analysis.

[thestandingoak]

We, the falcon, really have lost sight of our Falconer. High time we listened for his call and return to his steady arm and guidance.

[oluwanifemikim]

Thank you, this helped preparing for my exams
A's in JESUS NAME