An Irish Airman Foresees His Death by William Butler Yeats I know that I shall meet my fate

1. Tone: measured/matter-of-fact/ unemotional • “I know” (line 1) aviator/pilot Context: about an Irish fighter pilot in WWI fighting for Britain against Germany An Irish Airman Foresees His Death by William Butler Yeats 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 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. • “Nor…nor…nor…nor” (lines 9–10) acceptance – shows no fear, death is likely as he is a WWI fighter pilot Speaker  • use of CHIASMUS • “balanced all” (line 13) and “In balance with” (line 16) PARADOX: obvious contradiction – WHY fight? Not forced to war by law/duty/politicians or patriotism  WHY? • Theme: futility of war • element of anti-war sentiment BUT not as strong as other WWI poets (lines 7–8 indicate this clearly) place in Ireland clarifies his Irish-ness EMPHASIZES not identifying with either side in war considers the POINTLESSNESS of war commanded/made IMPORTANT: explains WHY he is fighting  pleasure of being alone in flight/of flying CHAOS: refers to ‘dogfights’ airborne battles between fighter pilots • lines 14–15: CHIASMUS • structural balancing of lines lines 13–16: show a considered/well thought out decision “balanced” LIFE vs. DEATH  particularly a life without flying EMPHASIS on “this” life, “this” death  acceptance of likelihood of death in war compared with a life without flying

2. Tone: measured/matter-of-fact/ unemotional • “I know” (line 1) aviator/pilot Context: about an Irish fighter pilot in WWI fighting for Britain against Germany An Irish Airman Foresees His Death by William Butler Yeats 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 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. • “Nor…nor…nor…nor” (lines 9–10) acceptance – shows no fear, death is likely as he is a WWI fighter pilot Speaker  • use of CHIASMUS • “balanced all” (line 13) and “In balance with” (line 16) PARADOX: obvious contradiction – WHY fight? Not forced to war by law/duty/politicians or patriotism  WHY? • Theme: futility of war • element of anti-war sentiment BUT not as strong as other WWI poets (lines 7–8 indicate this clearly) place in Ireland clarifies his Irish-ness EMPHASIZES not identifying with either side in war considers the POINTLESSNESS of war commanded/made IMPORTANT: explains WHY he is fighting  pleasure of being alone in flight/of flying CHAOS: refers to ‘dogfights’ airborne battles between fighter pilots • lines 14–15: CHIASMUS • structural balancing of lines lines 13–16: show a considered/well thought out decision “balanced” LIFE vs. DEATH  particularly a life without flying EMPHASIS on “this” life, “this” death  acceptance of likelihood of death in war compared with a life without flying