For this discussion we’re going to be taking a look at the work of Irish poet W.B. Yeats, specifically “Leda and the Swan” and “The Second Coming.”
“Leda and the Swan” is Yeats’ musing on the infamous rape in Greek Mythology while “The Second Coming” is an apocalyptic vision and probably his most famous poem. They rely on the reader to have a basic understanding of classical mythology in the first and Christianity in the second. How does this need for a wide breadth of knowledge affect how you read the poems? Is Yeats asking to much from his reader or is he aiming his work at a more educated audience? Do all poets aim higher than the lowest common denominator?
Explain what you think of the poems and answer the questions above. Respond to two other posts.
Sample Solution
