W.B. Yeats – An Irish Airman Foresees His Death Date: Objectives: Introduce and annotate the poem Explore the theme of Lost Love and Nature. The following poem is about an Irishman who volunteered to fight with the British in WW1. Warm-up: Respond to the image and statement above.

Context for Yeats William Butler Yeats, as well as being a poet, was a Politician and theatre manager. Around 1900, and with several other important figures, he promoted the importance of Ireland’s cultural heritage. There was the fear we were becoming too English and he believed we should have a clear Irish identity. We look at his in two ways: a fierce Nationalist here and a helpless romantic in the next poem.

Context for this poem – note this A friend of the poet had an Irish son who volunteered to fight for the British in WW1. He died – shot down by an ally by mistake. This poem is about that man, Robert Gregory, what men were thinking about at the time and about the nature of heroism.

An Irish Airman Foresees His Death by W.B. Yeats I KNOW that I shall meet my fate Somewhere among the clouds above; Those that I fight I do not hate Those that I guard I do not love; My country is Kiltartan Cross, My countrymen Kiltartan’s poor, No likely end could bring them loss Or leave them happier than before. Nor law, nor duty bade me fight, Nor public man, nor cheering crowds, A lonely impulse of delight Drove to this tumult in the clouds; I balanced all, brought all to mind, The years to come seemed waste of breath, A waste of breath the years behind In balance with this life, this death.

Notes– Form Iambic Tetrameter – four stresses per line. Simple, regular, direct language – poem described as balanced and with poise. It can be split up into two sentences, eight lines each. Every four lines there is a semi-colon (;) and there are four ‘arguments’

Notes – line 1-8 The speaker has a premonition of his own death. He considers his position in the war. He does not hate his enemy, nor love the country he is fighting for. His loyalty is to his homeland. The result of the war won’t affect them.

Notes – Lines 9-16 The speaker is considering his reasons for fighting. He has not been forced to, it is not his duty and no politician talked him into it. His motivation is personal, emotional and joyful. He speaks of ‘balance’. His death shall balance a life where nothing had or would have happened. Rather than fear or horror, there is a calm acceptance of his fate. (Balance a pen on one finger, his death is the middle)

Notes – Final note Yeats saw artists (poets) as being soldiers. They fought to protect our heritage and what it means to be Irish. The poem asks what is a hero? What is patriotism? What is sacrifice?

Questions: Remember “quotes”. What do we learn about the speaker and what motivates him? Do you think this is a political poem? Why or why not? Which would you describe as the tone of the poem: defeatist, heroic or joyful?