The Municipal Gallery Revisited
Poetry
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William Butler Yeats
The Municipal Gallery Revisited Full Poem
I
Around me the images of thirty years;
An ambush; pilgrims at the water-side;
Casement upon trial, half hidden by the bars,
Guarded; Griffith staring in hysterical pride;
Kevin O’Higgins’ countenance that wears
A gentle questioning look that cannot hide
A soul incapable of remorse or rest;
A revolutionary soldier kneeling to be blessed.
II
An Abbot or Archbishop with an upraised hand
Blessing the...
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The Magi full Poem
Now as at all times I can see in the mind's eye,
In their stiff, painted clothes, the pale unsatisfied ones
Appear and disappear in the blue depths of the sky
With all their ancient faces like rain-beaten stones,
And all their helms of silver hovering side by side,
And all their eyes still fixed, hoping to find once more,
Being by Calvary's turbulence unsatisfied,
The uncontrollable mystery on...
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The Municipal Gallery Revisited Key Facts
Key Facts
Poet: William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)
Original Title: The Municipal Gallery Revisited
Written Time: 1937 (Yeats’s late period, near the end of his life)
First Published: 1939, in Last Poems and Plays
Form: Reflective Lyric Poem (with autobiographical and elegiac elements)
Genre: Autobiographical, Historical, and Philosophical Poetry
Tone: Nostalgic, Proud, Mournful, and R...
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The Municipal Gallery Revisited Summary
Summary
Part I – Images of Ireland and National History: At the beginning of the poem, Yeats stands inside Dublin’s Municipal Gallery surrounded by portraits that represent thirty years of Ireland’s history. He observes figures such as Casement on trial, Griffith with proud determination, Kevin O’Higgins with a calm yet restless gaze, and a revolutionary soldier kneeling for a blessing. These por...
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The Municipal Gallery Revisited Theme
Themes
National Memory and Cultural Legacy: The central theme of this poem is the revival of Ireland’s national memory and cultural heritage. When Yeats enters the Municipal Gallery, he sees around him the images of thirty years of Irish history — Casement, Griffith, Kevin O’Higgins, Lady Gregory, Synge, and other heroes and artists. Through these portraits, he realizes that Ireland’s history is n...
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