The Twentieth Century Literature: 1900 to World War II
Home Assignment
Question 1:
Discuss the themes in “The Second Coming.”
Answer:
》Introduction
“The Second Coming” is one of the most famous modern poems of the twentieth century. It presents a powerful vision of a world that is falling into chaos and disorder. Written after the First World War, the poem reflects fear, uncertainty, and the collapse of traditional values. Through strong images and symbols, the poet describes the end of one era and the frightening beginning of another.
》About the Author
W. B. Yeats was a great Irish poet, dramatist, and one of the leading figures of modern literature. He was born in 1865 in Ireland and played an important role in the Irish Literary Revival. Yeats was deeply interested in mysticism, symbolism, and the cyclical theory of history. He believed that history moves in repeating cycles called “gyres.” He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1923. The political unrest in Ireland and the destruction of World War I strongly influenced his poetry, especially “The Second Coming.”
~ Themes in “The Second Coming”
● Apocalypse and Chaos
The main theme of the poem is chaos and destruction. The poem begins with the image of a “widening gyre,” showing that the world is spinning out of control. The line “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold” clearly expresses the breakdown of social, political, and moral order. Violence and anarchy have taken over, and innocence is destroyed by the “blood-dimmed tide.”
● The Cycle of History
Yeats believed that history moves in cycles, and each cycle lasts about two thousand years. According to him, when one cycle ends, another begins. In the poem, the twenty centuries of Christian civilization are coming to an end, and a new and unknown era is about to begin. The widening gyre symbolizes the end of one historical period and the beginning of another.
● Loss of Faith and Morality
The poem also shows a loss of faith in religion and morality. The best people “lack all conviction,” while the worst people are “full of passionate intensity.” This means good people are silent and powerless, while evil people are active and strong. Society has lost its moral balance.
● The Arrival of a New and Terrifying Power
Instead of the return of Christ, the poet sees a “rough beast” with a lion’s body and a man’s head moving toward Bethlehem. This beast symbolizes a new, cruel, and destructive force. Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, suggests that this new birth is the opposite of hope and salvation.
● Prophecy and Vision
The poem has a prophetic and mystical tone. The speaker receives a vision from “Spiritus Mundi,” meaning the world soul or collective consciousness. This makes the poem feel like a warning about the future of humanity.
》Conclusion
In conclusion, “The Second Coming” expresses Yeats’ deep concern about the state of the modern world. Through powerful imagery and symbolism, he presents themes of chaos, historical cycles, moral decline, and the coming of a new and frightening era. The poem remains relevant today because it reflects the fear and uncertainty that appear during times of crisis and change.
Class Assignment
Question 2:
Discuss Yeats’ views about war in “On Being Asked for a War Poem.”
Answer:
Introduction
“On Being Asked for a War Poem” is a short but meaningful poem in which the poet expresses his refusal to write a poem glorifying war. At a time when many poets were writing patriotic war poems, Yeats chose to remain silent. The poem reflects his serious thoughts about war, politics, and the true role of a poet in society.
About the Author
W. B. Yeats was one of the greatest poets of Ireland and a major literary figure of the twentieth century. He was not only a poet but also a dramatist and a senator in the Irish Free State. Although he was interested in politics and Irish nationalism, he believed that poetry should not be used as propaganda. Yeats valued art, imagination, and beauty. His experiences during World War I and the political struggles in Ireland shaped his ideas about war and society.
Yeats’ Views about War in the Poem
Silence of the Poet in Times of War
The poem begins with the idea that “a poet’s mouth be silent” during troubled times. Yeats believes that poets do not have the power to correct political leaders or stop wars. Therefore, it is better for them to remain silent than to pretend they can change political decisions.
->Rejection of War Glorification
Yeats refuses to glorify or romanticize war. Unlike some poets who describe war as heroic, Yeats sees it as destructive and painful. He does not believe war is a noble subject for poetry.
->The Limited Role of Poetry
Yeats suggests that poetry cannot guide statesmen or control political events. A poet’s gift is different. He says that a poet’s role is to bring joy, comfort, and beauty to ordinary people, not to interfere in politics.
-> Value of Art and Simple Pleasures
In the last lines, Yeats mentions pleasing “a young girl” or “an old man upon a winter’s night.” This shows that poetry should focus on personal emotions, love, beauty, and comfort rather than violence and war. He values the emotional and artistic role of poetry.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “On Being Asked for a War Poem” clearly presents Yeats’ belief that poetry should not glorify war or serve political purposes. He emphasizes that the poet’s duty is to create beauty and emotional comfort rather than interfere in state matters. The poem shows his disillusionment with war and his strong belief in the independence and purity of art.
Essay
Question:3
Discuss the themes of gender and identity in Orlando: A Biography.
Answer:
Introduction
Orlando: A Biography is a unique and imaginative novel that explores the ideas of gender, identity, and the passage of time. The novel tells the story of Orlando, a character who lives for more than three centuries and mysteriously changes from a man into a woman. Through this extraordinary life journey, the novel questions traditional ideas about gender roles, identity, and social expectations.
About the Author
Virginia Woolf was one of the most important modernist writers of the twentieth century. She was a novelist, essayist, and feminist thinker who focused on themes such as gender, identity, time, and the inner life of characters. Woolf was a member of the Bloomsbury Group, a circle of intellectuals and artists in England. She is known for her experimental writing style and use of stream of consciousness technique. Orlando: A Biography, published in 1928, was inspired by her close friend Vita Sackville-West and is considered one of Woolf’s most creative and feminist works.
Themes of Gender and Identity in the Novel
->Gender as a Social Construct
One of the central themes of the novel is that gender is not fixed but socially constructed. Orlando begins life as a nobleman in the Elizabethan age but later transforms into a woman. This change happens naturally and without shock, showing that gender is not something permanent or biological only. Woolf suggests that society, rather than nature, defines what it means to be a man or a woman.
->Fluidity of Identity
Orlando’s life across different centuries shows that identity is not stable. Although Orlando changes gender and lives in different historical periods, the inner self remains continuous. Woolf presents identity as flexible and constantly shaped by time, culture, and personal experiences.
->Gender Roles and Social Restrictions
As a man, Orlando enjoys freedom, property rights, and authority. However, after becoming a woman, Orlando faces limitations placed on women by society. She experiences inequality, loss of power, and social expectations related to marriage and behavior. Through this contrast, Woolf criticizes the patriarchal system and highlights the unfair treatment of women.
->Love and Sexuality Beyond Gender
The novel also explores how love and attraction go beyond strict gender boundaries. Orlando’s relationships, especially with Marmaduke Bonthrop Shelmerdine, challenge traditional ideas about masculinity and femininity. Woolf shows that emotions and desires are not limited by gender categories.
->Time and Personal Growth
Orlando lives from the Elizabethan period to the twentieth century, yet remains physically young. This unusual treatment of time allows Woolf to show how society changes while the core of a person may remain the same. The passing centuries highlight shifting attitudes toward gender and identity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Orlando: A Biography is a bold and imaginative exploration of gender and identity. Through Orlando’s transformation and long life, Virginia Woolf challenges traditional beliefs about masculinity and femininity. She presents identity as fluid, shaped by society and history rather than fixed by biology. The novel remains an important feminist work that encourages readers to rethink ideas about gender, selfhood, and freedom.
