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Easter 1916

Easter 1916. By W.B.Yeats. What happened?. Dublin, 24 April, 1916 ( Easter Monday ), dubbed The Easter Rising

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Easter 1916

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  1. Easter 1916 By W.B.Yeats

  2. What happened? • Dublin, 24 April, 1916 ( Easter Monday), dubbed The Easter Rising • A small group of radicals belonging to the Irish Volunteers (a splinter group of the IRB), led by Patrick Pearse, took over Dublin’s Post Office and other strategic buildings and declared a Free Republic • From the Post Office building Pearse proclaimed the Irish Free Republic • Britain sent in troops and on 3rd May executions of the rebels began, Pearse was the first to die.

  3. Who was there? Rebels belonging to the Irish Volunteers, a splinter group of the IRB (Irish republican Brotherhood) • Yeats’ friend, Constance Gore-Booth (Countess Markiewicz) “This woman…” • Patrick Pearse–leader of the group and first to be executed “This man…” • Thomas McDonagh “his helper and friend…” • John MacBride-married to Maud Gonne, whom Yeats was besotted with “drunken, vainglorious lout” • James Connolly

  4. Structure • 4 verses: verses 1 and 3 (16 lines) Verses 2 and 4 (24 lines) Creates a regularity and symmetry as Yeats guides us through his reflections on the uprising • Verse 1 sets the scene and establishes Yeats’ ambivalence towards the rebels • Verse 2 creates an impression of each of the named individuals • Verse 3 reflects upon the effect of the rebels actions and the immovability/centrality of them as a group • Verse 4 reflects on whether the rebellion was necessary or desirable-resulted in many deaths and “For England may keep faith” foreshadows the agreement of the Irish Free State in 1922

  5. The Refrain • At the end of verses 1, 2 and 4 the poet uses a rhythmically powerful refrain, like a chorus in a song, to reinforce the sense of tragedy Yeats feels at the loss of life, although he recognises the “beauty” of their commitment and sacrifice. Their actions have caused Ireland to be “changed, changed utterly…transformed”. • Note the use of the term song in “yet I number him in this song”- a celebration or lament for lost lives?

  6. Important Images • vivid faces • where motley is worn • rode our winged horse • a drunken, vainglorious lout • casual comedy • Enchanted to a stone To trouble the living stream

  7. Important images cont. • A shadow of cloud on the stream Changes minute by minute • The stone’s in the midst of it all • To murmur name upon name As a mother names her child When sleep at last has come On limbs that had run wild • Wherever green is worn

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