An Irish Airman foresees his Death

William Butler Yeats1917

(Irish Nationalist)

Background• WW I (1914-18) coincides with Irish War of

Independence. Ireland was still a part of the U.K.• U.K. promised Home Rule after the war, if the Irish

would fight with them.• Irish Nationalism; Easter Rising 1916 .The

Nationalists used German weapons against the British :

“The enemy of your enemy was your friend” • Life expectancy of new pilots in 1917 was

approximately 11 days

Form

• One stanza, 16 lines• Crossed Rhyme (ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGH)• Run-on-lines : 1, 7, 15

Content

• Line 1 and 2 : statement made by the poet ; a pilot

• Line 3 refers to the Germans• Line 4 refers to the English• Line 5 & 6 explain he is Irish• Line 7 & 8 explain that whatever happens either

to him or to the outcome of the war won’t make any difference to his poor country men

Lord Kitchener

Content• In lines 9 & 10 the poet explains he was not

obliged, not drafted, not influenced by politics ‘We want you’ or crowds of cheering women

• Repetition ‘nor’ = emphasis free will• Lines 11 & 12 explain why : the excitement of

flying, something he loved, living among the clouds

• In lines 13 – 16 he reasons on : his future and his past were not worth living (again emphasis repetition ‘ a waste of breath’ )

•

Airmen first world war

Content

• Airmen then were volunteers. Rather live short in the air (life expectancy of new pilots in 1917 was 11 days) than live longer on the ground = trenches. No delight there in dying.

• Last line : Balance life / death also refers to flying : in order to fly the forces of lift and gravitation have to be in balance. Uplifting forces are love, happiness,life. Gravitational forces are hate, loss, death