ipl-logo

No Second Troy Essay

1643 Words7 Pages

“No Second Troy” is a poem by William Butler Yeats who was one of the greatest poets of the 20th century. The poem is written in 1912 and it is considered one of the greatest poems of the 20th century. This literary piece is mainly about the author’s love with a woman of unusual beauty but also about the author’s homeland struggling for independence. The essay is divided into two sections with the first part of the essay providing information about crucial aspects required for an in-depth understanding of the poem and analysis of it whereas the second part of the essay will focus on a contemporary adaptation of the Yeats’ work, specifically on the comparison to the Sinead O’Connor song “Troy”. Before analyzing “No second Troy”, it is important to be aware of three crucial aspects that relate to the poem. The first important element for a better understanding of this poem is the Trojan War and the events …show more content…

Further on in the song, the line reads “there is no other Troy for me to burn.” (italicized for emphasis) Numerous interpretations can be made of this change. The one stated here is that this indicates Sinead O’ Connor’s mental problems which she suffered after the abuse by her mother. The first line can be associated with her mother, interpreting her as being the one who has burned down Troy, or in other words destroyed Sinead’s life, and now there is nothing left to ruin. Subsequently, Sinead became destructive towards herself and her surroundings after the abuse (Britton 2017) and this is why the second line can be interpreted as being about her, since she felt so empty and thought there was nothing left to appreciate and do. In this regard, borrowing from Yeats, given the state he was left in after numerous rejections, seems very

Show More
Related

  • Historical Accuracy Of The Movie Troy

    1493 Words  | 6 Pages

    The age gap brought speculation into whether or not the Iliad had precise information, it had been a prolonged time since the war occurred. There were many similarities between both the movie and the Iliad. Such as, the reason of the war, the famous notion of Odysseus, and the gifted warrior that helped Agamemnon and Menelaus defeat the Trojans. The main reason that caused the Trojan War, according to Homer, was

    Read More

  • Warriors Don T Cry Poem Analysis

    513 Words  | 3 Pages

    Have you ever faced a life-changing experience that impacted you, your family, or your country? Melba Pattillo Beals, Jackie Robinson, and Feng Ru faced life-changing experiences and made decisions that impacted their lives, their family’s lives, and their countries’ lives. In the story Warriors Don’t Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals, Melba integrated an all white school so blacks can get an equal education as whites. In the story I Never Had It Made by Jackie Robinson, Jackie was the first African American to play in the Major Leagues. Finally, in the story “Father of Chinese Aviation” by Rebecca Maksel, Feng Ru, became the first Chinese aviator to build planes of his own design.

    Read More

  • Confucianism In The Iliad

    2121 Words  | 9 Pages

    The Iliad by Homer The Iliad was a really good representation of the chaotic war-torn times of the area surrounding the Mediterranean Sea; this includes the countries Rome and Greece. It was a time where nations were trying to expand their power and influence and warriors were claiming their spoils of war. I mean the beginning of book I of The Iliad, Achilles and Agamemnon are arguing over the rewards and the spoils of war. Agamemnon didn’t want to give up his prize girl Chryses in order to please the God Apollo and stop the plague and the rain of arrow falling from Olympus.

    Read More

  • Odysseus And Greed In Homer's The Odyssey

    1277 Words  | 6 Pages

    “Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.” -Erich Fromm ‘The Odyssey’ by Homer, follows the story of Odysseus, a great Greek hero. It tells of his venture to Troy, to lead his army in the Trojan War, and his separation from loved ones and his kingdom for twenty years. However, the novel mainly focuses on the story of his homecoming and all he, and many others, had to endure while he was returning from abroad.

    Read More

  • History Lesson Poem Analysis

    792 Words  | 4 Pages

    Poetry Analysis Once the poem “History Lesson” was written numerous poetry foundations celebrated it for many reasons. “History Lesson” not only makes an impact on literature today it has also impacted people also. This poem inspires people and moves them to the point to where they can find a personal connection to the poem itself and to the writer. Not only does it hold emotional value for those who were victimized and those whose family were victimized by the laws of segregation, but the poem is also celebrated for its complexity. The poem uses many techniques to appeal to the reader.

    Read More

  • The Borderlands Poem Analysis

    544 Words  | 3 Pages

    The poem fully develops the idea of the limited of privileges that some might have according to the their races and the racial division. The “borderlands” is the division of a place, but in the eyes of Gloria she makes the character grow up in a place where there is a racial division. The character is in the middle of how of her race is important as her cultural ways get in the way of trying to practice each one of them. The poet writes in both english and spanish to explain how she speaks to the different races she carries. As you read the poem you can feel how the tone changes as the author is speaking of the different events that she goes through in her life.

    Read More

  • Poem Analysis: Clarence Hervey

    758 Words  | 4 Pages

    Love causes people to do strange things. People either love the idea of love, or desire to run as far away from it as possible. Clarence Hervey is a character that has good intentions to be liked by others and to find this love; however, he is arrogant and easily swayed, causing him to lack moral values and turn away from his true self. This is evident through Edgeworth’s use of contrasting diction, capricious syntax and deceptive imagery. Edgeworth often uses contrasting diction in this excerpt as to reflect the contrast that Hervey feels within himself.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Heroic Code In The Iliad

    1570 Words  | 7 Pages

    In the epic poem, the Iliad written by Homer, several characters taking part in the warfare between the Achaeans and the Trojans are portrayed as embodying the heroic code of courage, physical strength, leadership, arete of value of honour, and the acceptance of fate. The heroic code is illustrated by the actions of the Trojan prince, Hector and the Achaeans strongest warrior, Achilles. Both of these characters display the Greek’s image of a hero, and can also let the reader discern what the society admires, looks up to and aspires to in its heroes. There are also characters who fail to be heroic, such as the Trojan “vivid and beautiful” prince, Paris. These characters in the Iliad illustrate the qualities that Ancient Greek society values.

    Read More

  • Ambiguity In To Autumn And La Belle Dame Sanns Merci

    1170 Words  | 5 Pages

    Besides the author and the reader, there is the ‘I’ of the lyrical hero or of the fictitious storyteller and the ‘you’ or ‘thou’ of the alleged addressee of dramatic monologues, supplications and epistles. Empson said that: „The machinations of ambiguity are among the very roots of poetry”(Surdulescu, Stefanescu, 30). The ambiguous intellectual attitude deconstructs both the heroic commitement to a cause in tragedy and the didactic confinement to a class in comedy; its unstable allegiance permits Keats’s exemplary poet (the „camelion poet”, more of an ideal projection than a description of Keats actual practice) to derive equal delight conceiving a lago or an Imogen. This perplexing situation is achieved through a histrionic strategy of „showing how”, rather than „telling about it” (Stefanescu, 173 ).

    Read More

  • Importance Of Heroic Code In The Iliad

    1785 Words  | 8 Pages

    The epic poem, The Iliad written by Homer shows the conflicts and events that occurred between the Greeks and Trojans during the Trojan War. Among both sides there are warriors who follow a distinct code, known as the heroic code. This Heroic code helps portray the characteristics of the warriors and their perspective on war. This distinct code is composed of many elements such as arete, acceptance of fate, honour, excellence in war, leadership, courage and power. These traits are shown within the main warriors, Hector and Achilles throughout the epic war poem and helps to guide their decisions.

    Read More

  • The Poet's Obligation Poem Analysis

    1442 Words  | 6 Pages

    Rina Morooka Mr Valera Language Arts Compare and Contrast essay on “The poet’s obligation”, “When I have fears that I may cease to be”, and “In my craft of sullen art” The three poems, “The poet’s obligation” by Neruda, “when I have fears that I may cease to be” by Keats, and “In my craft of sullen art” by Thomas, all share the similarity that they describe poets’ relationships with their poems. However, the three speakers in the three poems shared different views on their poetry; the speaker in Neruda’s poem believes that his poems which were born out of him stored creativity to people who lead busy and tiring life, and are in need of creativity, while the speaker in Keats’ poem believes that his poems are like tools to write down what

    Read More

  • Characteristics Of Greek Values In The Iliad

    1395 Words  | 6 Pages

    The Ancient Greeks value specific qualities in a person, however they did not value other. Ancient Greeks valued these qualities based on certain achievements or on a performances in war or even inside the city walls making substantial decisions. The Iliad is an epic novel by the Greek poet Homer. The Iliad is based off of the Trojan war between the Achaeans led by King Agamemnon and the Trojans led by King Priam of Troy. This novel focuses on the actions of several characters and how the disparate gods interfered with the war to help one or the other side have a chance to win.

    Read More

  • The Theme Of Tragedy In August Wilson's Fences

    897 Words  | 4 Pages

    When reading the play “Fences” by August Wilson, one may say that it is a tragedy, and that the protagonist, Troy Maxson, has tragic flaws that leads him through a path of false judgement. Troy is seen as a stubborn man and wants everything to go his way or the highway. However, in actuality, he is not a bad guy, Troy is just a father who wants to keep his family out of harm’s way. This led me to three journalists with similar judgments of Troy Maxson.

    Read More

  • American Literature: Literature Changed Over Time

    1749 Words  | 7 Pages

    In this poem Henry Longfellow describes a seaside scene in which dawn overcomes darkness, thus relating to the rising of society after the hardships of battle. The reader can also see feelings, emotions, and imagination take priority over logic and facts. Bridging the Romantic Era and the Realism Era is the Transcendental Era. This era is unusual due to it’s overlapping of both the Romantic and Realism Era. Due to its coexistence in two eras, this division serves as a platform for authors to attempt to establish a new literary culture aside from the rest of the world.

    Read More

  • The Characteristics Of Achilles: The Hero Of Iliad

    1512 Words  | 7 Pages

    Iliad is recognized as one of the most famous ancient monuments of literature. The full understanding of this epic poem is hardly possible without thorough analysis of its main characters. Among all the episodes of the Trojan War, Homer chooses the moment of Achilles’ wrath and thus creates a poem in which he becomes the central figure. From the Ancient Greeks’ point of view, Achilles represents the ideal of manliness and pure heroism, for he is brave and fights for heroics, not profits. Today, one can agree with this interpretation, yet Achilles is probably the most controversial character because he combines various personality traits and acts in accordance with his ambiguous nature.

    Read More

More about No Second Troy Essay

Open Document