The Second Coming
Poetry
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William Butler Yeats
The Second Coming Full Poem
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at han...
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The Second Coming Key Facts
Key Facts
Full Title: The Second Coming
Author: William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)
Title of the Author: The Last Romantic Poet & Irish National Poet
Prize: Nobel Prize in Literature (1923)
Source: Inspired by the aftermath of World War I, the Russian Revolution, and Yeats's belief in historical cycles based on his mystical theory of the gyres
Written Time: January 1919 (shortly afte...
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The Second Coming Summary
Summary
Stanza 1 – A Terrible Picture of Chaos: In this stanza, the poet shows that the world is going through strange chaos. Everything seems to have gone out of control. The poet says a falcon is no longer listening to its master. This is used as a symbol. It means people no longer follow any rules. Order in society has broken down. Then the poet says that the good people remain silent. They do...
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The Second Coming Literary Devices
Figures of Speech
Metaphor: The poem says, “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold.” Here, “centre” means order and control. It is not a real centre, but a metaphor for stability in life. So, this line shows how everything is breaking down.
Personification: The poem describes a “rough beast” that “slouches towards Bethlehem to be born.” The beast is given human qualities like walking and s...
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The Second Coming Quotations
Quotes
“Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold.”
Explanation: The poet says that the world is breaking down. The centre of life—like order, truth, and peace—is lost. Chaos is everywhere.
“The falcon cannot hear the falconer;”
Explanation: The poet says that control is lost. The falcon (bird) flies too far and cannot hear its master. This means people are not listening to rules or leaders. E...
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The Second Coming Theme
Themes
Chaos and Disorder: The world is no longer under control. People have lost direction. Good people stay quiet, and bad people become powerful. The poet says, “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold.” This means the center of life—truth, law, order—is broken. Everything is full of confusion and fear.
Fear of the Future: Yeats feels that something strange and dangerous is coming. It is...
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Notes
Explore 9 detailed notes related to The Second Coming. Each note provides in-depth analysis, explanations, and critical insights.