No Second Troy
Poetry
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William Butler Yeats
No Second Troy Full Poem
Why should I blame her that she filled my days
With misery, or that she would of late
Have taught to ignorant men most violent ways,
Or hurled the little streets upon the great,
Had they but courage equal to desire?
What could have made her peaceful with a mind
That nobleness made simple as a fire,
With beauty like a tightened bow, a kind
That is not natural in an age like this,
Being high and sol...
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No Second Troy Summary
Summary
Poet’s Sorrow and Question: In this poem, W. B. Yeats expresses his mixed feelings toward his beloved Maud Gonne. He asks, “Why should I blame her?” She brought sorrow into his life, but not intentionally. Maud Gonne was a passionate, brave, and nationalist woman who inspired uneducated people to rebel in the name of freedom. Yeats realizes that she acted this way because her spirit was f...
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No Second Troy Theme
Themes
Love and Destruction: The central theme of this poem is the conflict between love and destruction. Yeats loved Maud Gonne deeply, but that love never brought him peace — instead, it brought him sorrow. Maud Gonne’s beauty and ideals were like fire — they gave light, yet they also burned. She inspired the poet, but also caused him deep pain. Yeats suggests that true beauty and power are n...
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No Second Troy Quotations
Quotes
“Why should I blame her that she filled my days / With misery?”
Explanation: The poet questions why he should blame Maud Gonne for his sorrow. His pain came from love, not from her cruelty. It shows Yeats’s deep love mixed with sadness and understanding.
“That nobleness made simple as a fire.”
Explanation: Yeats describes Maud Gonne’s soul as noble and pure like fire. Her greatness is n...
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Notes
Explore 2 detailed notes related to No Second Troy. Each note provides in-depth analysis, explanations, and critical insights.