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Prompt 01

Easter 1916 by W. B. Yeats

AP LiteratureIB Language & LiteratureAQALeaving Cert

In "Easter 1916," W. B. Yeats uses the line "A terrible beauty is born" to illustrate the paradoxical essence of the Irish Easter Rising. In a well-organized essay, discuss how Yeats employs poetic devices — including imagery, repetition, and tone — to express the complex and conflicting emotions linked to political martyrdom and national change. Your essay should present a clear argument regarding Yeats's ultimate message: does revolutionary sacrifice uplift, corrupt, or fundamentally change the human spirit?

Requirements

  • Formulate a clear, arguable thesis that takes a stance on Yeats's central theme about sacrifice and transformation.
  • Incorporate at least three specific quotations from the poem as textual support.
  • Analyze at least two poetic devices and clarify how they enhance the poem's meaning.
  • Reflect on the historical context of the 1916 Easter Rising and how it informs Yeats's ambivalence.
  • Conclude by contemplating the poem's lasting significance regarding the connection between political violence and national identity.

Suggested length

4–6 paragraphs (approximately 600–900 words)

Prompt 02

Easter 1916 by W. B. Yeats

AP LiteratureIB Language & LiteratureAQALeaving Cert English

In "Easter 1916," W. B. Yeats repeats the phrase "A terrible beauty is born" to express the paradoxical nature of sacrifice in revolution. Write a well-organized essay arguing how Yeats uses poetic devices—like imagery, repetition, and tone—to explore the complex and contradictory emotions tied to the Irish Easter Rising. Your essay should present a clear claim about what Yeats ultimately conveys regarding the connection between political martyrdom and human transformation.

Pre-writing Guidance

  • Reflect on how the poem's tone changes between stanzas. What is Yeats's perspective towards the rebels at the beginning compared to the end?
  • Analyze the central paradox in the phrase "terrible beauty." How do both elements hold equal significance?
  • Investigate the extended metaphor of the stone in the third stanza. What does it imply about the price of unwavering political devotion?
  • Consider the names Yeats mentions in the final stanza. What is the rhetorical and emotional impact of listing the deceased?

Requirements

  • Minimum 5 paragraphs (introduction, three body paragraphs, conclusion)
  • Include at least three direct quotations from the poem
  • Address at least two poetic devices with textual evidence
  • Maintain a formal, analytical tone throughout

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