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Poem
An Irish Airman Foresees His Death
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 county 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 clouds;
I balanced all, brought all to mind,
The years to come seemed waste of breath,
A waste of breath the years behind
In balance with this life, this death.
— William Butler Yeats
Analysis of ‘An Irish Airman Foresees His Death’
Background
‘An Irish Airman Foresees His Death’ is a poem situated in the backdrop of war, where death and destruction are inevitable outcomes. The poet, W. B. Yeats, depicts the archetypal soldier, whether in the air, on land, or at sea, as a mechanical figure merely following orders. This soldier takes lives without hatred and protects them without love, his personal emotions compartmentalized from his official duties.
There is a pervasive sense of gloom in the poem. And despondency hangs in the air. These are hallmarks of any wartime scenario. The poet’s premonition of his impending demise mirrors the experience of a combatant engaged in a conflict where the odds of killing or being killed stand equally balanced.
The poet, W. B. Yeats, depicts the archetypal soldier, whether in the air, on land, or at sea, as a mechanical figure merely following orders. This soldier takes lives without hatred and protects them without love, his personal emotions compartmentalized from his official duties.
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Structure of ‘An Irish Airman Foresees His Death’
‘An Irish Airman Foresees His Death’ is structurally a poem of sixteen lines. While it deviates from the conventional fourteen-line sonnet, it however maintains a clear sonnet-like structure, organized into four continuous quatrains.
Each quatrain consists of four lines and follows an alternating rhyme scheme of ‘abab.’ Consequently, the entire sonnet adheres to the rhyme scheme pattern ‘abab cdcd, efef, ghgh.’ These quatrains each explore distinct facets of the poem’s theme.
In terms of meter, the poem employs a rhythmic pattern of eight syllables per line, which amounts to four metrical feet, known as ‘iambic tetrameter.’ This metric scheme significantly influences the poem’s overall rhythmic quality.
The poem assumes the form of contemplation, evoking an intense lyrical tone. The poet engages in profound personal reflection concerning his destructive military career, the squandered years of his life, and the looming specter of his impending death.
Summary of ‘An Irish Airman Foresees His Death’
In ‘An Irish Airman Foresees His Death,’ an Irish airman reflects on his role in a civil war that seems futile and unlikely to benefit anyone, even his own people. Constantly facing danger during air raids, he senses his impending death “among the clouds.” He looks critically at his military career, revealing that he joined out of curiosity, “a lonely impulse of delight” (line 11).
He concludes that both the past and the future are meaningless in the face of his imminent demise.
(a) Lines 1-4: The poet acknowledges his destined death in active service, motivated neither by patriotism nor hatred for his foes, nor love for those he protects; he offers impartial military service.
(b) Lines 5-8: He identifies his origins at Kiltartan Cross and laments that the ongoing war holds no real benefits or happiness for the ordinary people of Kiltartan.
(c) Lines 9-12: Here, the poet reveals his reason for joining the air force, which is not out of obligation, duty, patriotism, or fame, but solely for the thrill and curiosity, “a lonely impulse of delight” (line 11). He did not enlist out of national commitment.
(d) Lines 13-16: In the concluding quatrain, the poet reflects on his entire career, considering the past, future, and present in the context of his imminent death, concluding that everything is a futile waste, “a waste of breath” (lines 14 and 15).
Tone
The prevailing tone of W. B. Yeats’ “An Irish Airman Foresees His Death” is one of apathy, disillusionment, and despair. The airman speaks with a sense of indifference and disillusionment about his role in the war and his impending death. There’s a lack of emotional involvement or passion in his words, which contributes to the overall tone of detachment and stoicism.
Mood
The mood of “An Irish Airman Foresees His Death” is somber and melancholic. The airman’s reflections on the futility of war and his impending death contribute to the mood of sadness and hopelessness.
Figures of Speech
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