When we explore Yeats, there are prominent political and personal elements within his poems that prompt the emotion of the audience. This enables his literature to be appreciated thoroughly by a wide audience throughout time. His poetry contrasts and compares his personal views with the political situations, as well as the beliefs and thoughts within the historical era. Two such literary compositions that contain these notions are, 'Easter 1916' and 'Among School Children'.
Among School Children explores Yeats' political visit as a senator to a Montessori school in which he undergoes a reverie about the true essence of life. His surroundings impend deeply on his thoughts as his continuous encounters with the youthful children remind him of his deteriorating self and unrequited love for Maude Gonne.
Easter 1916 on the other hand, is a Eulogy written about the Irish Activists of their heroic deeds in the Easter Uprising. It's a political poem that highlights the tensions of the Irish/English conflict through Yeats' personal response to the events.
In Easter 1916, Yeats expresses his personal relationships with the political leaders, especially stressing on his personal conflict with Macbride. The tension is evident within his personal perception of the political situation.
Yeats was a renowned poet, playwright and a senator and this elevated social position of his is shown throughout the 1st stanza of Easter 1916. "I have met them" begins the poem and immediately evokes a personal tone through the use of a personal pronoun. This emphasises on his personal relationships with the leaders of The Rebellion, and creates a more personal connection towards the event. Yeats expresses disinterest and a lack of recognition towards the rebels prior to their sacrifice in this line. It uses a contrast within the anaphora to heighten this ignorant attitude of his, even going to the extent of indirectly mocking their motives.
