"The Second Coming" is actually a poem written by W.B. Yeats, not Keats.

It was written in 1919 and

1. "Turning and turning in the widening gyre" - This line introduces the idea of a gyre, a spiral or circular
motion, which Yeats uses as a metaphor for historical cycles or epochs. The gyre is widening, suggesting
a sense of chaos and instability.

2. "The falcon cannot hear the falconer" - This metaphor suggests a breakdown in communication or
control. The falcon represents society or civilization, while the falconer symbolizes authority or order.
The fact that the falcon cannot hear the falconer implies a loss of direction or connection.

3. "Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold" - This famous line reflects the idea of societal collapse. The
center, representing order or stability, is unable to maintain control, leading to a breakdown of society.

4. "Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world" - The breakdown of order has led to widespread chaos and
lawlessness.

5. "The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere" - This imagery suggests violence and conflict
spreading uncontrollably, likening it to a tide of blood.

6. "The ceremony of innocence is drowned" - Innocence and purity are overwhelmed or destroyed by
the chaos and violence.

7. "The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity" - This line highlights a
moral decay, where those who should uphold values and principles lack the conviction to do so, while
those with destructive intentions are fervently committed to their cause.

8. "Surely some revelation is at hand" - Despite the chaos, there's a sense of anticipation or expectation
for some significant event or revelation.

9. "Surely the Second Coming is at hand" - This refers to the Christian concept of the Second Coming of
Christ, but in Yeats' poem, it's not necessarily a literal religious event but rather a metaphorical
representation of a dramatic change or intervention.
10. "The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out" - The speaker seems to interrupt himself,
suggesting a sudden realization or epiphany.

11. "When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi" - Spiritus Mundi refers to the collective unconscious or
shared spirit of humanity, and the "vast image" suggests a powerful vision or symbol emerging from this
collective consciousness.

12. "Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert" - The speaker sees a troubling vision, perhaps
symbolizing a new force or ideology arising from the desolation or emptiness of the desert.

13. "A shape with lion body and the head of a man" - This image evokes the sphinx, a mythological
creature often associated with riddles and enigma.

14. "A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun" - The gaze of this figure is described as empty and merciless,
like the unyielding power of the sun.

15. "Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it" - The figure is described as moving slowly, suggesting a
creeping or inexorable advance.

16. "Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds" - The desert birds cast shadows as they fly around the
figure, adding to the sense of foreboding and mystery.

17. "The darkness drops again; but now I know" - The darkness refers to a sense of ignorance or
uncertainty, but despite this, the speaker claims to have gained some understanding or insight.

18. "That twenty centuries of stony sleep" - This refers to the 2000 years since the birth of Christ, which
the speaker characterizes as a period of dormancy or stagnation.

19. "Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle" - The idea is that the long period of history since
Christ's birth has been disturbed or troubled, akin to a nightmare caused by the rocking motion of a
cradle.
 20. "And what rough beast, its hour come round at last" - The poem concludes with the speaker
pondering the emergence of a monstrous or malevolent force, symbolizing the culmination of historical
cycles and the arrival of a new era.

Line-by-Line Analysis of "The Second Coming" by W.B. Yeats

Stanza 1
 Line 1: "Turning and turning in the widening gyre"
o Image: A gyre is a spiral or widening circle. This line establishes a sense of continuous
movement and change. The world is in a state of flux.
o Meaning: It suggests a cyclical pattern of history, with things repeating but also
potentially expanding or changing course.
 Line 2: "The falcon cannot hear the falconer; things fall apart"
o Image: A falcon is a hunting bird trained by a falconer. Here, the falcon represents
order and control, while the falconer symbolizes authority or a guiding force.
o Meaning: The line suggests a breakdown in communication and a loss of control. The
established order is failing.
o Allusion: This line might allude to the Roman poet Virgil's "The Aeneid," where the fall
of Troy is described as "chaos come again."
 Line 3: "Centre cannot hold"
o Image: The "center" can be interpreted as the core or unifying principle that holds
society together.
o Meaning: This line emphasizes the disintegration of societal structures and values.
Stanza 2
 Line 4: "Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world"
o Meaning: Here, anarchy refers to a state of lawlessness and disorder. The breakdown
of the previous order has led to chaos.
 Line 5: "The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere"
o Image: A blood-dimmed tide evokes violence and destruction.
o Meaning: This line suggests widespread violence and bloodshed.
 Line 6: "The ceremony of innocence is drowned"
o Image: "Ceremony of innocence" can symbolize established traditions, beliefs, or ideals
associated with purity and goodness.
o Meaning: This line implies the destruction of traditional values and a sense of lost
innocence.
Stanza 3
 Line 7: "The best lack all conviction, while the worst"
o Meaning: This line suggests a loss of faith and purpose among those who were
previously considered good or upstanding. In contrast, the "worst" are described as:
 Line 8: "Are full of passionate intensity"
o Meaning: Here, "passionate intensity" can be interpreted as fanaticism, extremism, or
blind belief. This line creates a sense of unease, as those driven by negative forces
seem to have more conviction than the forces of good.
Stanza 4
 Line 9: "Surely some revelation is at hand"
o Meaning: The speaker wonders if this chaos might be a precursor to a significant event,
perhaps a religious revelation.
 Line 10: "The Second Coming! Is it at hand?"
o Image: The "Second Coming" refers to the Christian belief in the return of Jesus Christ.
o Meaning: The speaker contemplates the possibility of a divine intervention to restore
order.
Stanza 5 (Lines 11-19)
 Lines 11-12: These lines describe a monstrous creature with a human head on a lion
body, emerging from the desert and
 Lines 13-14: ...moving stealthily towards Europe.
 Lines 15-17: The creature's gaze is blank, and it is surrounded by desert birds,
suggesting a lack of empathy and a sense of impending doom.
 Lines 18-19: The speaker reflects on a 2000-year cycle (possibly referring to the
Christian era) that has become twisted and nightmarish with the arrival of this creature.
Overall Tone and Themes

The poem is filled with a sense of anxiety, despair, and foreboding. It depicts a world in
chaos, with traditional values and structures crumbling. The imagery of the monstrous
creature symbolizes the potential for violence and destruction. However, the poem also
leaves a glimmer of hope with the question of the "Second Coming."

Possible Interpretations

The poem can be interpreted in various ways:

 Historical Context: Written after World War I, the poem reflects the disillusionment and
anxieties of the time. The "gyre" could represent the cyclical nature of war and violence.
 Symbolic Interpretation: The poem can be seen as a commentary on the breakdown
of social order and the potential for barbarity within humanity.


In summary, "The Second Coming" is a deeply symbolic and apocalyptic poem that reflects Yeats'
anxieties about the state of the world and the potential for radical change or upheaval. It explores
themes of chaos, collapse, and the search for meaning in a turbulent and uncertain world.