This blog is a part of an Hackathon activity by Cyber Club Digital India Cell, MKBU. In which I have to create a content on the topic Safe Online Spaces for Childrenand upload on social media as part of this activity.
4 Surprising Truths About Your Child's Digital Safety
We are raising our children in a new reality: the digital childhood. For parents, navigating this landscape brings a sense of concern about keeping them safe online. This article moves beyond fear, revealing some of the most important and surprising developments in online child safety to empower you with knowledge. With 46% of teenagers in the US now online "almost constantly," understanding these new rules is more urgent than ever.
The Financial Stakes for Breaking a Child's Trust Are Now Massive:
Governments worldwide are getting serious about protecting children's data, creating what can be thought of as "digital guard rails" through strict regulations like the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) in the US and GDPR-K in Europe. At the heart of these laws is a non-negotiable principle: Verifiable Parental Consent (VPC). This means platforms must prove they have a parent's permission before collecting a child's data.
Gone are the days of a simple email check. Modern technology is making this consent process far more robust, with methods like matching a photo with a government ID or confirming identity via a text message. This ensures parents have real control over how their child's information is used.
These aren't just suggestions; they have serious teeth. Upcoming changes to COPPA in 2025 will impose a staggering fine on companies that violate the rules: nearly $52,000 per child, per violation. While these changes are coming in 2025, companies have until 2026 to fully comply. This monumental figure signals a fundamental shift: protecting children's data is no longer a matter of corporate goodwill but a high-stakes legal and financial imperative.
But these massive fines aren't just about data privacy; they're a response to an increasingly complex and dangerous digital landscape, now accelerated by new technology.
AI Isn't a Future Threat—It's Here:
According to the child safety organization Thorn, the threats are no longer hypothetical. Artificial Intelligence is acting as a powerful accelerant for online dangers, making them more sophisticated and accessible than ever before. These are not distant possibilities; they are tangible risks that parents and platforms must confront today. Key AI-powered threats include:
Realistic deepfake videos
Easily created AI-generated audio and video
AI-assisted sextortion and other serious crimes
The Gold Standard is "Safety by Design":
The most effective approach to online safety is known as "Safety by Design." This philosophy means safety isn't an afterthought or an added feature; it is built into the fundamental architecture of a platform from the very beginning, incorporating elements like human content moderation, strict privacy rules, and age-appropriate design. Two platforms exemplify this principle:
Zigazoo: A children's social network focused on creativity, Zigazoo's most powerful safety feature is 100% human moderation. Every single video is reviewed by a person before it can go live, eliminating the risk of algorithmic errors and ensuring a much safer environment.
LEGO Life: This platform provides a safe space for children to share their LEGO creations. Its multi-layered safety approach includes checking all content before it's posted, prohibiting the sharing of any personal information, and restricting comments to pre-approved emojis and phrases to eliminate negativity and bullying.
Your Conversation is the Ultimate Safety Shield:
While parental controls and safety settings are useful, they cannot replace direct communication with your child. The most effective protection you can offer is knowledge and an open line of communication.
The real safety shield for children is providing them with the right information about the digital world and talking to them openly.
Practical tools are a valuable component of a family's safety toolkit. For parents choosing a platform, understanding the differences is key.
YouTube Kids
YouTube Supervised Mode
Best for Younger Children. Provides the highest level of control, as parents can approve the specific channels and videos their child is allowed to watch.
A transition tool for Older Children. Offers a more controlled version of the main YouTube platform, filtering out mature content but providing broader access than YouTube Kids.
Finally, UNICEF provides a simple but vital checklist for all parents:
Always keep devices updated.
Regularly check app permissions.
Most importantly, maintain an open and continuous conversation with children about their online lives.
Beyond Protection to Citizenship:
The conversation around online safety is shifting from simple protection to proactive empowerment. As we implement tools and have conversations, we must consider a deeper question: Is our goal simply to protect children from online dangers, or is it also to raise them to be responsible and good digital citizens? This is a shared responsibility for all of us.
Ernest Hemingway was one of the most influential American writers of the twentieth century, renowned for his distinctive minimalist prose and exploration of themes such as courage, masculinity, loss, and war. Born in 1899, Hemingway’s experiences as a journalist and war correspondent deeply shaped his fiction, lending it a sense of realism and emotional restraint. His writing style marked by simplicity, understatement, and the “iceberg theory” revolutionized modern literature. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954, Hemingway left a lasting legacy through works that examine the human condition under extreme circumstances.
For Whom the Bell Tolls, published in 1940, is one of Ernest Hemingway’s most acclaimed novels and is set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War. The story follows Robert Jordan, an American dynamiter fighting for the Republican forces, who is assigned to destroy a strategic bridge. Over the course of a few intense days, the novel delves into themes of love, duty, sacrifice, and the moral complexities of war. Drawing its title from John Donne’s meditation on human interconnectedness, the novel emphasizes the shared nature of suffering and death, offering a profound reflection on the personal and psychological costs of conflict.
Q | 1.Critical Analysis of the end of the novel "For Whom the Bell Tolls".
Ernest Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls has stood as a towering classic of war literature, its conclusion widely remembered as one of the most tragic in the American canon. The image of the wounded hero, Robert Jordan, awaiting his certain death on a Spanish hillside is an unforgettable portrait of loss and the brutal finality of conflict.
But to see this ending as merely tragic is to miss the deeper, more complex layers Hemingway reveals through his minimalist yet emotionally resonant style. The novel’s final pages are not simply about defeat; they are a profound meditation on the nature of sacrifice, the power of love, and the quiet dignity of defiance. This post explores five impactful and surprising takeaways from the novel's conclusion, revealing a more nuanced understanding of one of literature's most famous endings.
1. It’s a Pragmatic Choice, Not a Grand Heroic Gesture:
Robert Jordan's decision to stay behind is not presented as a moment of glorious, self-aggrandizing heroism. Instead, Hemingway frames it as a calculated, necessary choice dictated by the brutal realities of his situation. With his leg shattered after blowing the bridge, Jordan understands that he would only slow down his comrades and ensure their capture or death.
His decision is rooted in a profound understanding of duty and responsibility. His primary goal is to guarantee the survival of the others, especially Maria. He weighs the options and concludes that his sacrifice offers the greatest chance for their escape. This cool-headed acceptance of fate strips the act of sentimentality, grounding it in the grim logic of warfare.
...an act of self-sacrifice is not portrayed as a grand, heroic gesture, but rather as a pragmatic and necessary choice dictated by the harsh realities of war.
2. His Sacrifice is Ultimately an Act of Love:
While Jordan's choice is tactically pragmatic, it is animated by a profound love for Maria. Their relationship, forged in the crucible of war, serves as a "beacon of hope and humanity" amidst the surrounding chaos. This love gives the cold logic of his duty a deeply human purpose.
His final decision, therefore, is in part a powerful act of love. In choosing to stay, he is not just fulfilling a soldier’s obligation; he is ensuring that Maria can escape to safety and build a future. By giving up his own life, he buys her a chance at that future, transforming a military choice into a selfless expression of his connection to her.
3. The Natural World Offers a Final, Powerful Solace:
A surprisingly poignant element of the novel's final scenes is Hemingway's use of vivid sensory detail to ground the reader in the Spanish landscape. As Robert Jordan lies wounded, he becomes acutely aware of the forest around him the feel of the pine needles on the ground, the sounds of the woods, the light filtering through the trees.
But the forest is not merely a serene escape from the conflict; it is a symbolic representation of the war itself both beautiful and dangerous, life-giving and destructive. Jordan draws a final measure of strength and solace from its enduring presence, accepting this duality as a reflection of his own reality. This contrast between the quiet indifference of nature and the inhumanity of combat adds a layer of profound reflection to his last moments.
4. His Final Act is About Defiance, Not Vengeance:
As he prepares for his final stand, Robert Jordan is not driven by hatred or a desire for revenge. His reflections are not sentimental or self-pitying; instead, they are characterized by a stoic acceptance of his fate. His mindset is one of clear purpose and resolve, focused on his duty and his love for Maria.
His final action waiting to ambush the enemy officer to delay the pursuit is best understood as a refusal to surrender to the forces of oppression. He will not be captured, and he will not give in. It is a last, conscious act of resistance.
His final act is not one of vengeance, but rather one of defiance, a refusal to surrender to the forces of oppression.
5. We Don’t Actually See the End—And That’s the Point:
Hemingway deliberately ends the novel just as Jordan is about to act, never showing the reader whether he succeeds in his final mission or is killed. The narrative cuts off, leaving his ultimate fate unresolved.
This ambiguity is precisely what makes the ending so effective. By refusing to provide a neat conclusion, Hemingway issues an invitation to reflect on the meaning of Jordan's sacrifice. Is it a noble act of selflessness, or a tragic waste? This open-ended conclusion mirrors the complex and often unresolved nature of war itself, where tidy victories and clear meanings are rare.
Revisiting the conclusion of For Whom the Bell Tolls reveals that it is much more than a simple tragedy. It is a profound meditation on the human condition, where a pragmatic choice is also an act of love, and a final moment of violence is rooted in defiance rather than hate. The ending finds solace in nature, power in ambiguity, and deep meaning in sacrifice.
The novel's conclusion is therefore both tragic in its immense loss and deeply affirming in its celebration of purpose and the enduring power of the human spirit. We see this spirit embodied not only in Jordan but in characters like Pilar, whose strength and wisdom remind us of the importance of community in the face of adversity. The ending is not simply a conclusion to a story; it is a testament to the enduring bonds that connect us all, leaving us with a final, lingering question: How can an act of individual sacrifice in a lost cause still hold a powerful, affirming meaning?
Q | 2. In what ways the flashback technique used in "For Whom the Bell Tolls?
Introduction:
This analysis explores how Ernest Hemingway masterfully employs the flashback technique in "For Whom the Bell Tolls" to enrich the narrative, develop characters, and deepen the thematic resonance of the novel. By interweaving past experiences with the present-day action, Hemingway provides crucial insights into the motivations, fears, and inner lives of his characters, particularly Robert Jordan, thereby enhancing the reader's understanding of their actions and the profound impact of the Spanish Civil War on their psyches.
Hemingway's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" is not simply a war story; it's a profound exploration of human nature, love, loss, and the complexities of political ideology. One of the key literary devices Hemingway uses to achieve this depth is the flashback. These glimpses into the past are not mere digressions; they are integral to understanding the characters' motivations, their relationships, and the overarching themes of the novel.
Unveiling Robert Jordan's Psyche:
The most prominent use of flashbacks centers around Robert Jordan, the American protagonist. Through these glimpses into his past, we gain a comprehensive understanding of his character.
1. The Shadow of His Father:
Several flashbacks revolve around Jordan's relationship with his father, who committed suicide. These memories reveal a complex mix of love, respect, and a lingering sense of shame. The suicide haunts Jordan, shaping his views on courage, honor, and the burden of responsibility. He constantly grapples with the fear of succumbing to the same despair that consumed his father. These flashbacks provide a crucial context for understanding Jordan's stoicism and his determination to fulfill his mission, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
2. The Wisdom of Golz:
Jordan's memories of his mentor, the Russian General Golz, offer insights into his understanding of war and strategy. Golz's pragmatic and often cynical views on the conflict challenge Jordan's idealism, forcing him to confront the brutal realities of war. These flashbacks serve as a counterpoint to the romanticized notions of war that Jordan initially held, highlighting the moral ambiguities and the devastating consequences of political violence.
3. The Pain of Loss:
Flashbacks also reveal Jordan's past relationships, particularly a failed love affair. These memories expose his vulnerability and his capacity for deep emotional connection. They underscore the importance of his newfound love for Maria, emphasizing the transformative power of human connection in the face of death and destruction. The contrast between his past disappointments and his present happiness with Maria heightens the emotional stakes of the narrative.
Expanding the Narrative Landscape:
Beyond Robert Jordan, flashbacks are used to illuminate the backgrounds and motivations of other key characters.
1. Pilar's Story:
Pilar's vivid recollections of her past, particularly her experiences with bullfighting and her involvement in revolutionary activities, provide a crucial historical and cultural context for the novel. Her stories offer a glimpse into the passionate and often violent world of pre-war Spain, highlighting the deep-seated social and political tensions that ultimately led to the Civil War. Pilar's flashbacks also reveal her strength, resilience, and her profound understanding of human nature.
2. Maria's Trauma:
Maria's flashbacks, though often fragmented and traumatic, reveal the horrors she endured at the hands of the Fascists. These memories expose the brutality of the war and the devastating impact it had on innocent civilians. Maria's trauma serves as a powerful indictment of the violence and inhumanity of the conflict. Her flashbacks also highlight her vulnerability and her need for love and protection, making her relationship with Jordan all the more poignant.
Thematic Significance:
The use of flashbacks in "For Whom the Bell Tolls" is not merely a stylistic choice; it serves several important thematic purposes.
1. The Weight of the Past:
The flashbacks underscore the idea that the past is always present, shaping the characters' actions and influencing their destinies. The characters are haunted by their memories, both good and bad, and these memories inform their decisions and their relationships. The novel suggests that we cannot escape the past, but we can learn from it and use it to shape a better future.
2. The Universality of Human Experience:
By delving into the characters' pasts, Hemingway reveals the common threads that connect them, despite their different backgrounds and experiences. The flashbacks highlight the universal human experiences of love, loss, fear, and hope. They suggest that even in the midst of war and political turmoil, the fundamental aspects of human nature remain constant.
3. The Fragility of Memory:
The fragmented and often unreliable nature of the flashbacks underscores the fragility of memory. Memories can be distorted by trauma, emotion, and the passage of time. The novel suggests that our understanding of the past is always incomplete and subjective.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the flashback technique in "For Whom the Bell Tolls" is a powerful tool that Hemingway uses to enrich the narrative, develop characters, and deepen the thematic resonance of the novel. By interweaving past experiences with the present-day action, Hemingway provides crucial insights into the motivations, fears, and inner lives of his characters, thereby enhancing the reader's understanding of their actions and the profound impact of the Spanish Civil War on their psyches. The flashbacks are not mere digressions; they are integral to the novel's exploration of human nature, love, loss, and the complexities of political ideology. They serve as a reminder that the past is always present, shaping our actions and influencing our destinies.
Q | 3. Explain: Robert Jordan as a Typical Hemingway Hero.
Introduction :
The "Hemingway Hero" is a literary archetype defined by a profound stoicism, a personal code of honor, professional competence, and a complex relationship with life's pleasures and pains. This character navigates a chaotic and often violent world with a controlled grace, guided by an internal moral compass rather than abstract ideals. The quintessential example of this archetype is Robert Jordan, the protagonist of Ernest Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls. As an American explosives expert fighting for the Republican cause in the Spanish Civil War, Jordan's character provides a perfect lens through which to view this iconic figure.
This document will explore the five core traits of the Hemingway Hero, using Robert Jordan's actions, thoughts, and conflicts to illustrate each one clearly for a new learner.
Stoicism in the Face of Chaos:
⬩ Stoicism: Grace Under Pressure:
For a Hemingway Hero, stoicism is not a lack of emotion but rather the conscious control of feelings to maintain effectiveness. Faced with constant danger and uncertainty, the hero understands that being overwhelmed by fear or despair is a self-indulgence that compromises the mission. It is a willed composure, a decision to focus on the task at hand despite internal turmoil or external chaos.
Robert Jordan exemplifies this trait perfectly through his conduct in the war:
He maintains a calm exterior and focuses on his mission of destroying a bridge, even when confronted with the high probability of his own death.
He internalizes his struggles, bearing the immense weight of his responsibility without falling into despair or burdening others.
He makes difficult, high-pressure decisions with a composed demeanor, such as meticulously planning the bridge demolition amidst the unpredictable nature of guerrilla warfare.
This internal control is crucial for his survival and his ability to function. In the brutal theater of war, his stoicism allows him to lead, act decisively, and adhere to his principles when others might break. This internal fortitude provides the foundation for the external code of honor that dictates his every action.
A Personal Code of Honor:
⬩A Code of Honor: An Internal Compass:
A Hemingway Hero lives by a strong personal moral code that is not based on abstract societal rules but is forged from a practical understanding of right and wrong shaped by the harsh realities of their world. This code dictates how they interact with others and guides them in making difficult ethical choices. For Robert Jordan, this code is his anchor in the moral ambiguity of war.
The following table illustrates the core tenets of Robert Jordan's personal code:
Values He Respects
Actions He Despises
Courage and Loyalty
Cowardice
Competence and Integrity
Betrayal and Incompetence
Commitment to his cause
This code guides his actions throughout the novel. His loyalty to his comrades in the guerrilla band and his unwavering commitment to the Republican cause drive him to risk his life. His commitment to this code is not blind; he consistently grapples with the moral implications of his actions, questioning the necessity of violence even as he carries out his duty. This unwavering moral compass is what gives purpose to the practical competence he relies on to navigate the battlefield.
Competence in the Face of Death:
⬩ Competence : Mastary amidst Morality :
The Hemingway Hero is not just brave; he is highly skilled, professional, and excellent at his work. This mastery is a form of defiance against a chaotic world. By performing his job with precision and focus, the hero asserts a measure of control over his fate, even when death is an ever-present possibility.
Robert Jordan's key competencies are a defining feature of his character:
Technical Expertise: He is an expert in explosives, approaching his dangerous work with the precision and skill of a dedicated professional.
Leadership Ability: He quickly earns the respect of the seasoned guerrillas through his knowledge, courage, and sound decision-making under extreme pressure.
Calculated Risk-Taking: He is willing to take necessary risks to achieve his objective, but he is never reckless, understanding the line between bravery and foolishness.
This competence is how the hero confronts mortality. He does not ignore the possibility of death; instead, he meets it with focus and professional action, finding meaning and purpose in the masterful execution of his duty. This grim focus on competence, however, exists alongside a deep appreciation for the moments of beauty that make life worth living.
Appreciation for Simple Pleasures
⬩ Simple Pleasures: Finding Life Within War :
Despite the violence and suffering that surround him, the Hemingway Hero finds profound value and solace in life's simple, sensory experiences. These moments serve as a crucial counterpoint to the grim realities of his existence, grounding him and reminding him of what it means to be alive.
Robert Jordan consistently finds refuge in these simple pleasures:
The raw beauty of the Spanish landscape.
The satisfying taste of good food and wine shared with others.
The warmth of camaraderie and genuine human connection.
The profound comfort and emotional refuge he finds in his intense love for Maria.
These moments are not distractions from the war; they are the substance of life itself. They serve as a counterpoint to the violence and suffering, reminding him of the value of life and the importance of human connection. The most significant of these pleasures—love—is also the source of his most profound internal conflict.
A Complex Relationship with Love:
⬩ Love and Duty: A Tragic Conflict:
A central tension for the Hemingway Hero is the clash between personal desire, particularly love, and his unwavering commitment to a greater cause or duty. This conflict highlights the tragic choices that define his existence, forcing him to weigh personal happiness against his responsibilities.
For Robert Jordan, this conflict is embodied in his relationship with Maria. He falls deeply in love with her, and for the first time, he imagines a future beyond the war. This intense desire for a life with her is set against the stark reality of his mission. His choice is not easy; it is a profound internal battle. He grapples with the question of whether it is possible to find lasting happiness in a world consumed by violence and destruction. Aware that his time may be limited, he must reconcile his desire for a future with Maria against the absolute necessity of his duty.
Ultimately, he prioritizes his mission over his personal happiness. In his final moments, his actions are dictated by his commitment to the greater good, a sacrifice that encapsulates the tragic and noble essence of the Hemingway Hero.
Conclusion:
The character of Robert Jordan is built upon five foundational traits that define the Hemingway Hero. These qualities work together to create a complex and compelling figure who strives to live with purpose in a world consumed by chaos.
Stoicism: The control of emotion to maintain effectiveness.
A Code of Honor: An internal, practical moral compass.
Competence: Professional mastery in the face of death.
Appreciation for Simple Pleasures: Finding meaning in sensory experiences.
The Conflict of Love and Duty: The tragic struggle between personal desire and commitment to a cause.
Because he embodies all these traits so completely, Robert Jordan stands as a quintessential Hemingway protagonist. This archetype endures because it explores timeless themes of "courage, loyalty, sacrifice, and the enduring power of the human spirit in the face of adversity."
References :
Barnes, Lois L. “The Helpless Hero of Ernest Hemingway.” Science & Society, vol. 17, no. 1, 1953, pp. 1–25. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40400162.
Eby, Cecil D. “The Real Robert Jordan.” American Literature, vol. 38, no. 3, 1966, pp. 380–86. JSTOR,www.jstor.org/stable/2922910.
ELLIOTT, GARY D. “‘FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS’: REGENERATION OF THE HEMINGWAY HERO.” CEA Critic, vol. 38, no. 4, 1976, pp. 24–28. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/44375989.
Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom the Bell Tolls. Scribner Classics, 1940.
Moynihan, William T. “The Martyrdom of Robert Jordan.” College English, vol. 21, no. 3, 1959, pp. 127–32. JSTOR, doi.org/10.2307/372836.
This blog is written as a task assigned by the head of the Department of English (MKBU), Prof. and Dr. Dilip Barad Sir. Here is the link to the professor's research article for background reading: Click here.
Here is the link to the professor's blog for background reading:Click here .
Introduction:
William Butler Yeats (1865–1939) was one of the greatest poets of the twentieth century and a leading voice of modernism. Born in Dublin into an Anglo-Irish family, he was shaped by both the artistic circles of London and the mythic landscapes of County Sligo, which inspired his lifelong interest in Irish folklore, mysticism, and symbolism. A key figure in the Irish Literary Revival, Yeats co-founded the Abbey Theatre and used literature to promote a distinct Irish cultural identity.
Over his long career, Yeats’s poetry evolved from romantic and symbolist beginnings to a powerful modernist style that confronted political upheaval, spiritual conflict, and the realities of aging. Deeply engaged with Ireland’s struggle for independence and later serving as a Senator of the Irish Free State, he combined personal vision with national history. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923, Yeats remains a poet whose work captures both the soul of Ireland and the anxieties of the modern world.
Q | 1. Watch Hindi podcast on both poems and write brief note on your understanding of this podcast.
After watching the Hindi podcast on W. B. Yeats’s poems “On Being Asked for a War Poem” and “The Second Coming,” my understanding of Yeats as a poet of crisis has deepened significantly. The podcast does not treat these poems as isolated literary works but connects them to historical, political, and personal realities, which makes Yeats’s poetry more meaningful and relevant.
Firstly, the discussion of “On Being Asked for a War Poem” highlights the idea that silence itself can be political. During World War I, writers were expected to support the war through patriotic literature. Yeats’s refusal to do so shows his discomfort with using poetry as propaganda. The podcast clearly explains that Yeats believed poetry should not blindly serve political power. As an Irish nationalist, writing a war poem for the British cause would have meant supporting an empire that controlled and oppressed Ireland. Therefore, his silence was not cowardice but a moral and ideological choice.
The podcast also emphasizes the irony of Yeats expressing silence through a poem. This shows his modernist thinking—he uses art to question the very role of art in times of war. As a student, I found this idea very relevant today, because even now artists, celebrities, and writers are constantly pressured to speak on political and social issues. Yeats’s response teaches us that thoughtful restraint can sometimes be more honest than forced opinions.
Secondly, the analysis of “The Second Coming” presents Yeats as a poet who captures the fear and instability of the modern world. The famous lines “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold” describe a society where traditional values, beliefs, and institutions are collapsing. The podcast explains how World War I, political revolutions, and violence contributed to this feeling of chaos.
What makes the podcast especially insightful is its focus on the Spanish Flu pandemic as a key background to the poem. I learned that Yeats was personally affected by the pandemic when his pregnant wife nearly died. This personal fear adds a new emotional depth to the poem. The violent imagery of blood, drowning, and darkness can be read as reflections of the physical suffering caused by the disease, not just symbolic political disorder. The “rough beast” then becomes a symbol of an unknown, uncontrollable force, much like a virus.
The podcast also explains Yeats’s idea of history as a cycle, where one era ends violently and another begins. This philosophy helps us understand why the poem feels so hopeless and frightening. There is no promise of salvation, only the birth of a new and dangerous age.
In conclusion, the Hindi podcast helped me understand that Yeats’s poetry combines politics, personal experience, philosophy, and modern anxiety. “On Being Asked for a War Poem” shows the power of silence as resistance, while “The Second Coming” expresses a loud, terrifying vision of a world collapsing on all levels—social, political, and biological. As a student, I feel that these poems remain relevant today because we still live in a world facing wars, pandemics, and uncertainty. Yeats’s work reminds us that poetry is not just decoration but a serious response to human crisis.
From Metaphor to Clinical Reality:
With this personal trauma in mind, the poem’s famous lines acquire a new and more horrifying clinical reality. The abstract metaphors for political chaos become visceral descriptions of a disease’s brutal symptoms.
Poetic Line
Traditional Interpretation (Political)
Pandemic Interpretation (Clinical)
"The blood-dimmed tide is loosed"
A metaphor for the bloodshed and violence of war and revolution.
A literal description of a key Spanish Flu symptom: severe hemorrhaging from the nose and mouth as lungs filled with blood, causing patients to drown in it.
"The ceremony of innocence is drowned"
The abstract concept of innocence or goodness being destroyed by anarchy.
A chilling depiction of patients specifically the "innocence" of an unborn child and mother literally drowning as their lungs filled with fluid.
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold"
The collapse of political empires and social order.
The complete breakdown of the social fabric due to the pandemic: schools, theaters, and businesses closed, hospitals overwhelmed, and no one left to bury the dead.
Q | 2. Watch two videos on the poems (online class) and write brief analysis of both the poems.
After watching the online video lecture on “The Second Coming,” I understood that the poem expresses Yeats’s fear about the complete collapse of the modern world. The lecture explains that the poem was written in 1919, just after World War I, when violence, political instability, and social disorder had destroyed people’s faith in traditional values and institutions.
The video begins by explaining the famous opening image of the falcon and the widening gyre. This image suggests that human beings have lost control and direction, and the “centre” that once held society together can no longer function. The line “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold” reflects the breakdown of order, authority, and moral values.
The lecture also explains how Yeats reverses the Christian idea of the Second Coming. Instead of Christ returning as a savior, Yeats imagines a terrifying “rough beast” moving towards Bethlehem. This shows that the new age being born will not bring peace or hope, but violence and destruction. The beast represents a future that is cruel, emotionless, and inhuman.
A very important point discussed in the video is the connection between the poem and the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. The lecture explains that Yeats wrote the poem when his pregnant wife was seriously ill, and this personal fear influenced the poem’s dark and violent imagery. Lines such as “the blood-dimmed tide” and “the ceremony of innocence is drowned” can be understood as descriptions of physical suffering and death caused by disease, not only as symbols of war. Through this interpretation, the “rough beast” can also be seen as an invisible biological threat.
Overall, the video helped me understand that “The Second Coming” is not only a political poem but also a deeply personal and apocalyptic vision. It reflects Yeats’s anxiety about war, disease, and the frightening uncertainty of the modern world, which makes the poem still relevant today.
After watching the video lecture on “On Being Asked for a War Poem,” I understood that this short poem is a powerful example of how silence itself can be political. The poem was written in 1915 during World War I, when Yeats was asked to write a patriotic poem to support the war effort.
The lecture explains that Yeats refused this request and expressed his refusal through a poem. His statement, “I think it better that in times like these / A poet’s mouth be silent,” suggests that poets do not have the power to correct the decisions of politicians. According to Yeats, poetry cannot guide statesmen during war, as political power dominates over artistic truth.
One of the most important points in the video is the irony of the poem. Although Yeats argues that poets should remain silent, he makes this argument by writing and publishing a poem. This irony turns his refusal into a public protest. The lecture calls this a clever and deliberate artistic strategy.
The video also highlights Yeats’s identity as an Irish nationalist. At the time, Ireland was under British rule, and Yeats did not want to support the British war effort. Writing a patriotic war poem would have meant supporting an empire that oppressed his own country. Therefore, his silence becomes an act of resistance rather than indifference.
The lecture concludes by explaining that this poem raises an important question about the role of art in times of conflict. Yeats shows that poetry’s role is not to serve political propaganda but to protect artistic integrity and human truth.
In conclusion, the video helped me understand that “On Being Asked for a War Poem” is not a simple refusal but a deeply political and ironic statement. It shows Yeats’s belief that sometimes refusing to speak is the strongest form of protest.
Q | 3. Refer to the study material - researchgate: Reply in the blog to the (i) Discussion question, (ii) Creativity activity and (iii) Analytical exercise
1) Discussion question :
A) How does Yeats use imagery to convey a sense of disintegration in 'The Second Coming' ?
W. B. Yeats uses striking and often disturbing imagery in “The Second Coming” to portray a civilization on the verge of collapse. The poem begins with the haunting image of “Turning and turning in the widening gyre,” which immediately conveys a sense of uncontrolled motion. This image suggests that history and human society are no longer guided by stable principles; instead, they spiral outward into chaos. The falcon drifting beyond the falconer’s call symbolizes humanity’s loss of connection with moral authority, tradition, and spiritual direction.
As the poem progresses, Yeats intensifies the atmosphere of breakdown through violent and apocalyptic images. The declaration “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold” captures the essence of modern disillusionment, reflecting a world fractured by war, political unrest, and moral confusion. The “blood-dimmed tide” and the drowning of “the ceremony of innocence” vividly suggest that violence has overwhelmed both human compassion and ethical values. Innocence, once protected, is now helpless in the face of brutality.
The most powerful image appears at the end of the poem in the form of the “rough beast” slouching toward Bethlehem. This grotesque figure replaces the hopeful image of Christ’s return with a vision of terror and spiritual emptiness. Through this nightmarish imagery, Yeats expresses his fear that a new age is being born one defined not by redemption, but by destruction. In this way, imagery becomes Yeats’s primary tool for expressing the disintegration of both civilization and human conscience.
B) Do you agree with Yeat's assertion in 'On Being Asked for a War Poem' that poetry should remain a political ? Why or Why not ?
In “On Being Asked for a War Poem,” Yeats presents a quiet but firm refusal to transform poetry into a political weapon. He suggests that during times of war, poetry should avoid public declarations and moral instructions, arguing that “a poet’s mouth be silent.” This stance reflects Yeats’s belief that poetry belongs to the inner world of thought and feeling rather than the noisy realm of political debate.
However, this position is not without its limitations. While Yeats rightly warns against reducing poetry to propaganda, complete silence can also be seen as a form of withdrawal. History shows that poetry has often served as a powerful response to injustice, offering empathy, protest, and truth where political language fails. Poets like Wilfred Owen reveal how verse can expose the horrors of war without glorifying it.
Therefore, Yeats’s argument highlights an important tension between artistic purity and social responsibility. Poetry does not need to provide solutions or slogans, but it can still question power and give voice to suffering. Rather than remaining apolitical, poetry can maintain its artistic integrity while engaging thoughtfully with the moral realities of its time.
2. Creative Activity
1) Write a modernist-inspired poem reflecting on a contemporary global crisis, drawing on Yeats’s themes and techniques. [Generate with the help of Gen AI like ChatGPT or Google Gemini or Meta WhatsApp or Microsoft Co-pilot]
A Modernist-Inspired Poem (in the Spirit of Yeats)
Title: The Climate of Silence
Turning and turning in the fevered air,
The seasons stagger, forgetting their names;
The ice breaks loose from its ancient prayer,
And cities flicker beneath rising flames.
The centre wavers—numbers replace care,
Graphs speak louder than a child’s cry;
Warnings echo, thin and bare,
While leaders bargain as oceans rise.
Surely a reckoning circles the sky,
Surely the hour is almost awake;
What shape stirs where the dead reefs lie,
What future crawls from the choices we make?
And what rough storm, long denied and delayed,
Marches toward us, unafraid?
Reflection
This poem adopts Yeatsian modernist elements such as cyclical motion, apocalyptic imagery, and prophetic questioning to reflect on the contemporary global crisis of climate change. Like Yeats’s “The Second Coming,” the poem avoids direct political naming and instead uses symbolic language melting ice, rising oceans, and unstable seasons to convey ecological and moral collapse. The recurring uncertainty and unanswered questions emphasize modernist ambiguity and collective responsibility, suggesting that the crisis is not sudden but born from long-standing neglect. The poem mirrors Yeats’s technique of transforming historical anxiety into a timeless, symbolic vision of impending transformation.
3. Analytical Exercise
1) Compare the treatment of war in On Being Asked for a War Poem with other war poems by Wilfred Owen or Siegfried Sassoon.
War in Yeats Compared with Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon:
In “On Being Asked for a War Poem,” W. B. Yeats presents a restrained and philosophical response to war. Instead of describing battlefields or soldiers, he focuses on the role of the poet during times of violence. Yeats believes that poetry should not be used as propaganda or public instruction, and therefore he chooses silence over political commentary. His treatment of war is indirect, emphasizing personal responsibility and artistic integrity rather than immediate social engagement.
In contrast, Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon confront war directly and emotionally. Owen’s poems, especially “Dulce et Decorum Est,” vividly depict the physical suffering of soldiers through graphic images of gas attacks, exhaustion, and death. His purpose is to expose the reality of war and challenge the false ideals of patriotism and heroism. Similarly, Sassoon uses sharp satire and irony in poems like “The General” to criticize military leaders and the senseless loss of young lives caused by their decisions.
The key difference lies in perspective and experience. Yeats writes from a distance, approaching war as a moral and philosophical problem, whereas Owen and Sassoon write from firsthand experience as soldiers. Yeats’s poetry is symbolic and contemplative, while Owen’s and Sassoon’s poems are realistic, urgent, and confrontational. Together, these poets show that war can be represented in multiple ways either through reflective silence or through powerful exposure of its brutal reality.
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