W.

B Yeats
An Irish Airman Foresees his Death
Brief Overview
This poem was inspired by an Irish friend of Yeats, Major Robert Gregory who fought with the British Royal Flying Corps. He flew on many missions against the Germans but he was shot down and killed in 1918. He was 37 years old. The poem is a type of elegy in memory of the dead man although it is structured as a monologue by the dead man.

Poem I know that I shall meet my fate

somewhere among the clouds above; those that I fight I do not hate,

those that I guard I do not love;

my country is Kiltartan Cross,

my countrymen Kiltartans poor,

no likely end could bring them loss

Interpretation This man is aware that his death is imminent. The line is referring to the Irish Airman who knows that he will die in battle. He knows that his plane will be shot down whilst in the sky He has a premonition that he will die in combat but yet he still volunteers to fight. Unlike many of those who sign up to join, he does not volunteer because he hates the Germans. However, he did not volunteer because he loves his nation and wants to protect him from their enemies. This did not inspire him to join. In a war situation, you fight for your country. However, the Irish airman points out that his world is limited to where he lives. He lives in Kiltartan Cross (Galway). He makes it very clear his home place is dear to him. Its what he loves and feels protective towards. This line is also specific and focused. He did not volunteer to help his own people of Kiltarnan, the poor folk in Co Galway. He knows that the result of the war will make no difference to them or the rest of the Irish nation. Major Gregory recognises the irony of their detachment from the war. The ordinary people of his homeland are unlikely to be affected by whatever

Mrs. Shannon

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or leave them happier than before. Nor law, nor duty bade me fight,

nor public men, nor cheering crowds,

a lonely impulse of delight

drove to this tumult in the clouds;

I balanced all, brought all to mind, the years to come seemed waste of breath,

a waste of breath the years behind in balance with this life, this death.

happens on the killing fields. Life for them would go on as before. He did not volunteer out of a sense of duty. As an Irish person, he did not feel it was his moral duty to fight for England. He did not do so by law as he felt he was not legally obliged to join the British Army. He has no time for political leaders. The public men refers to the politicians and tells us that their speeches to inspire people to sign up did not motivate him nor did the cheering crowds that listened to them. He is unmoved by the emotions generated by the patriotic crowd. He finally reveals to us why he joined. He was motivated by a lonely impulse of delight. He takes great pleasure and delight from going on missions, from soaring above the clouds and risking his life in battle. He seems to enjoy being alone in the cockpit of his plane. He wanted to experience the thrill of flying and the excitement of serial combat. He takes delight and pleasure in risking his life. He thought about everything, the pros and the cons. To the airman, life seems pointless. He has a very negative view of life. He thought about his future but it seemed a waste of breath. His view of life is bleak and depressing. He also looked at his past and it too seemed a waste of time. In contrast, the war seems an adventure. He would rather die in a blaze of glory than continue with this meaningless existence. He feels that the glory of his death will balance out or make up for the pointlessness in his life. He has chosen the heroism of a self-sacrificing death. In balance with this life, this death. The war has its own purpose by giving him a splendid opportunity to resolve his own tensions, to live with the utmost intensity and to experience the paradox of life in death. Gregory may also be seen as a representative for all those young men of talent who were cheated of their promise.

Mrs. Shannon

Lough Allen Literacy Hut

Mrs. Shannon

Lough Allen Literacy Hut