![]() Then, beginning in the 17th century, Great Britain attempted to assimilate Ireland to the United Kingdom. ![]() Photo by Wikipedia.ĭuring the 12th century, England invaded and established a stronghold on Ireland’s coast. Photograph of William Butler Yeats by Charles Beresford in 1911. The roll call at the close of the poem is an example of Yeats subtly reaching out to his muse Maud Gonne, mentioning her estranged husband in high esteem, praising him for his beautiful transformation. As if to say, “Their vivid faces standout against the back drop of the twilight, like actors on a darkened stage” (Kendall 233). He spends the entire poem delaying his naming of the dead warriors to emphasize their importance. Yeats’ mention of the important figures of the Easter Rebellion suggests that “all Irishmen have the ability and the responsibility to evoke change.” Instead of simply praising these individuals, Yeats “illustrates their humanity and imperfections in order to convey that heroic events are…instigated…by average citizens who passionately pursue change and justice.” Yeats’ poem calls for the common people of Ireland to assume responsibility for the state of their country and to “actively affirm their Irish identity.” () The poem serves as a call to action for all Irish citizens to stop the influence of the British rule.įrom the very beginning of the poem, Yeats presents himself at center stage, imploring his reader to try and make sense of the uprising as he is. Some of these influential individuals are described throughout the poem (Abrams and Greenblatt 2380 – 2382). Many of those rebels, who Yeats allegedly knew on a personal level, were eventually executed by firing squad. Known as the Easter Rebellion, Irish nationalists fought for independence on the streets of Dublin for a week until their efforts proved unsuccessful. Yeats wrote this patriotic poem to serve as a tribute to the Irish men and women who stood up against the British government on Easter Monday of 1916. Photo by TeachNet.Ī terrible beauty is born. O’Connell Street after the Easter Rising, 1916.
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