An Irish Airman foresees his Death Essay Questions

Discuss the poem's meter.

This poem is written in iambic tetrameter, meaning that each line consists of eight syllables. These eight syllables can be divided into four two-syllable units, in which stress falls on the latter of the two syllables: these units are called iambs. Iambs mimic conversational human speech, to the degree that any uniform pattern of meter can sound naturalistic and conversational. However, the eight-syllable lines that make up the poem are slightly short and clipped. This makes the speaker sound urgent, straightforward, and even a little impatient. Overall, the meter contributes to a sense of informality blended with disarming bluntness.

How are metaphor and simile used in this work?

This poem uses notably little figurative language. By opting not to use metaphors or similes, Yeats creates a feeling of inescapability and unrelentingness. Figurative language, by linguistically substituting or comparing one object or concept with another object or concept, evokes a certain flexibility. By refusing this flexibility, Yeats reminds us of the cruel rigidity of the speaker's circumstances. The speaker's life is exactly as it appears, without much room for the fanciful, imaginative, or unexpected.