Short Essay Poems – An Irish Airman Foresees His Death & The Man He Killed
Read W. B. Yeats’s poem, “An Irish Airman Foresees His Death” (page 19 of poetry packet) and Thomas Hardy’s “The Man He Killed” (page 11). In both poems, we are given reasons why the two men chose to fight in a war, each reason very different. In a short essay, explain your understanding of these very different reasons and discuss which one you agree–or disagree–with most. Be SPECIFIC in your answer.
To help make the Hardy poem clearer:
“nipperkin” (line 4) refers to an alcoholic drink
“‘list” (line 13) means to enlist, to join the army
“his traps” (line 15) means one’s possessions–all he owns
“half a crown” (last line) refers to giving someone money to buy himself a drink
