Name:___________________________ Date:____________________

Ms. Aloia English 10R

Swbat….analyze the imagery and themes in “The Second Coming” and compare them to Things Fall Apart

The Second Coming – William Butler Yeats

1. Turning and turning in the widening gyre 1

2. The falcon cannot hear the falconer2;
3. Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
4. Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

STOP AND JOT: Please summarize the action of what is happening in your own words here-do it line by line.
Just worry about the LITERAL meaning right now – you don’t need to try to interpret it. Think about the phrase
“Things Fall Apart” and connect it to the novel.

5. The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere

6. The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
7. The best lack all conviction, while the worst
8. Are full of passionate intensity.

STOP AND JOT: What has been “loosed”, or let out, in the world? Who seems to have lost control of the world,
and who is in control?

9. Surely some revelation is at hand;

10. Surely the Second Coming 3is at hand.
11. The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
12. When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi 4
13. Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
14. A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
15. A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
16. Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
17. Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.

00
STOP AND JOT: What “creature” does the narrator see coming from his sight? Please describe it physically here.
Would you call it a monster? Why/why not?

1
Gyre= giant spiral
2
Falconer=a person who keeps, trains, or hunts with falcons, hawks, or other birds of prey
3
The Second Coming is the literal return of Jesus Christ to earth as King in power and glory to rule for a thousand
years (Revelation 20:1-6).
4
The “universal spirit” of the world that inspires poets
 18. The darkness drops again; but now I know
19. That twenty centuries of stony sleep
20. Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
21. And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
22. Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

STOP AND JOT: What does the narrator think is coming for society? What creature? What has woken this
creature?

This poem is quite figurative – don’t try to interpret it literally! It’s about visions, feelings, and prophesies. It evokes
powerful imagery to convey a theme….what is that theme?
 In your groups, you will be assigned one stanza to break down and interpret for the class. You will put your findings
on a piece of paper and present to the class. We will take notes on your presentation and ask questions.

“The Second PARAPHASE – PUT THE IMAGERY/SYMBOLISM IN OUR THE MEANING OF OUR STANZA
Coming” STANZA IN OUR OWN WORDS STANZA
STANZA 1 – LINES 1-4

STANZA 2- LINES 5-8

STANZA 3 – LINES 9-
17

STANZA 4- LINES 18-

22
QUESTIONS BASED ON THE POEM:

1) Why did Achebe take the title of his book from this poem? What does it refer to?

Based on your understanding of the poem, why do you think Chinua Achebe took the name for his book from a
line here? How does the poem relate to the themes in Things Fall Apart? Please discuss with your group, and be
prepared to share your answer with the class. You must write something down and provide textual evidence in
your response – either direct quotes or paraphrases of direct quotes.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________