An Irish Airman Foresees His Death
Poetry
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William Butler Yeats
An Irish Airman Foresees His Death Full Poem
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 men, nor cheering crowds,
A lonely impulse of delight
Drove to this tumult in the c...
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An Irish Airman Foresees His Death Key Facts
Key Facts
Poet: William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)
Original Title: An Irish Airman Foresees His Death
Written Time: Around 1918 (during World War I)
First Published: 1919, in the collection The Wild Swans at Coole
Form: Dramatic Monologue / Lyric Poem
Genre: War Poetry, Philosophical Poetry, and Elegy
Tone: Calm, Reflective, Stoic, and Fatalistic
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCD EFEFGHGH (reg...
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An Irish Airman Foresees his Death Theme
Themes
Balance Between Life and Death: The main theme of this poem is the calm acceptance of life and death. The airman knows that he will meet his fate among the clouds, “I know that I shall meet my fate / Somewhere among the clouds above.” Yet he feels neither fear nor regret. He realizes that both the future and the past are meaningless, “A waste of breath the years behind, / In balance with...
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An Irish Airman Foresees His Death Summary
Summary
Stanza 1 – Foreseeing Death with Calm Acceptance: In the first part of the poem, the brave airman calmly declares that he knows his death will occur somewhere among the clouds, “I know that I shall meet my fate / Somewhere among the clouds above.” Surprisingly, he neither hates his enemies nor loves those he protects. For him, war is not a matter of love or hatred but a cold reality. Yeat...
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