The Second Coming and Night

Modernism and Poetry

"The Second Coming" and Night

"The Second Coming" by W.B. Yeats and Night by Elie Wiesel both depict disillusionment, chaos, and loss of faith during times of crisis. Yeats’ poem uses a "rough beast" to symbolize the dread after World War I, while Wiesel’s memoir recounts the Holocaust’s suffering and moral collapse. Together, they explore the darkness of human experience and the struggle for meaning amid despair.

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The Connection

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Learning about the Poem

Match

Match the quote to the theme.

• "Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."

• "The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned."

• "And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?"

• "The widening gyre, the falcon cannot hear the falconer."

The Collapse of Civilization

Chaos and Disorder

Apocalyptic Transformation

Chaos and Disorder

• The Collapse of Civilization

• Chaos and Disorder

• Apocalyptic Transformation

• Chaos and Disorder

Multiple Choice

How does the imagery used in the first stanza differ from that in the second stanza in terms of tone and focus?

• The first stanza has a peaceful tone and focuses on harmony, while the second stanza uses violent imagery to depict chaos.

• The first stanza employs dynamic and violent imagery to convey chaos, while the second stanza shifts to more prophetic and mythological imagery focused on transformation.

• Both stanzas use similar imagery of nature, emphasizing tranquility and beauty.

• The first stanza describes a future filled with hope, while the second stanza reflects on past events.

Categorize

Options (5)

• The Gyre

• The Falcon and Falconer

• The Blood-Dimmed Tide

• The Rough Beast

• Bethlehem

Classify the following symbols from "The Second Coming" by William Butler Yeats into the appropriate categories.

Chaos

Transformation

Multiple Choice

How effective is the structure of the poem in conveying its themes of chaos and prophecy?

• The poem's symmetrical structure reinforces a sense of order and stability, which contrasts with its chaotic themes.

• The asymmetrical structure, with unequal stanzas, reflects the disorder and imbalance of the world, effectively enhancing its themes of chaos and prophecy.

• The use of a rigid rhyme scheme helps to emphasize the chaotic nature of the poem's content.

• The poem's structure is irrelevant to its themes, as the imagery alone conveys the intended messages.

Multiple Choice

How does Yeats's message in "The Second Coming" relate to the themes presented in Elie Wiesel's memoir Night, and what conclusions can we draw about its relevance to today's world?

• Both works highlight the triumph of the human spirit over adversity, suggesting that hope prevails in all circumstances.

• Yeats's focus on chaos and transformation parallels Wiesel's depiction of the horrors of the Holocaust, emphasizing the fragility of civilization in times of crisis.

• Both texts emphasize the importance of tradition and stability, arguing that society should return to past values to avoid chaos.

• Yeats's poem and Wiesel's memoir are unrelated, as they address completely different themes and contexts.