The Second Coming

Imagery & Tone: Yeats begins with the image of a falcon that "cannot hear the falconer." What does this image imply about the relationship between order and chaos in the poem? How does the tone evolve as the poem unfolds?

The Gyre: Yeats employs the concept of the "gyre" (a widening spiral) as a key metaphor. What do you think the gyre signifies — historically, politically, or spiritually? How does this image mirror the world Yeats inhabited after World War I?

"The centre cannot hold": This is one of the poem's most well-known lines. What "centre" do you think Yeats is alluding to? Can you relate this idea to any historical, social, or personal contexts — either past or present?

The Rough Beast: Yeats portrays a mysterious creature — "its hour come round at last" — slouching toward Bethlehem. What do you believe this beast symbolizes? Why might Yeats have chosen intentionally vague, unsettling imagery instead of naming the threat directly?

The "Second Coming" Allusion: The poem's title alludes to the Christian notion of Christ's return. How does Yeats challenge or complicate this religious expectation? What impact does this have on the reader?

Relevance Today: "The Second Coming" is one of the most often quoted poems during times of political or social upheaval. Why do you think its language remains impactful? Can you identify a current event or situation that the poem might relate to?

Imagery & Tone: Yeats begins with the image of a falcon that "cannot hear the falconer." What does this image imply about the relationship between order and chaos? How does the tone evolve as the poem unfolds?

The "rough beast": At the poem's conclusion, Yeats depicts a "rough beast" slouching toward Bethlehem. What do you believe this creature represents? What feelings or concepts does Yeats want the reader to connect with it?

Historical Context: Yeats wrote this poem in 1919, right after World War I and during the Irish War of Independence. How might this chaotic historical context have influenced the poem's central vision of societal breakdown?

The Gyre: Yeats had a cyclical view of history that he termed "the gyre." How do the poem's structure and imagery reflect this idea that civilizations rise, decline, and are succeeded by something new—and possibly frightening?

The Title: The term "the Second Coming" typically refers to the return of Christ in Christian theology. How does Yeats challenge or complicate this expectation? What impact does this challenge have on the reader?

Relevance Today: The lines "The best lack all conviction, while the worst / Are full of passionate intensity" are often quoted in today's political discourse. Do you think this observation remains valid now? Can you think of current examples?