Elyse Popplewell

AN IRISH AIRMAN FORESEES HIS DEATH

Context:

Yeats did not agree with war

He was asked by Lady Gregory to write a poem in memory of her son, Robert.
Purpose:

Not to make his muse a victim of war

Not to glorify war
To meet the request of Lady Gregory.

The Title:
Establishes the foresight of the foreman, removing the victimisation of the scenario.
One Stanza:

Quote Technique Effect/Explanation

I know that I shall meet my fate. 1. Iambic Stress
2. Monosyllabic
sentence
Somewhere among the clouds Indefinite word choice and
above; contrast to the first line.
Those that I fight I do not hate 1. Parallel Structure
Those that I guard I do not love; 2. Anaphora
Repetition
3. Enjambment
1. Creates the certainty and
accepting tone.
2. A calm and clear
acceptance is highlighted.
In a romantic sphere, the
unclassified location creates
uncertainty, in direct contrast to
the above certainty.
Highlights the difference
in the two.
As above
Creates a flow to
highlight the nonsensical
nature of both sentences
combined and the reason
for Roberts war
participation.

My country is Kiltarton Cross, Polyptoton Repetition Aligning himself with the country
My countrymen Kiltartans poor. side and the people.
Nor law, nor duty bade me fight, Negation, emphasises in Highlight futility of his joining.
Nor public man, nor cheering crowds anaphora of nor

Form:
This short sixteen-line poem has a very simple structure: lines metered in iambic tetrameter, and four
grouped quatrains of alternating rhymes: ABABCDCDEFEFGHGH, or four repetitions of the basic ABAB
scheme utilising different rhymes.
Writing this poem constituted an awkward task for the poet. James Pethica