Poetry Quote by W. B. Yeats
““ . . . after twenty centuries of stony sleep, what rough beast, its hour come round at last, slouches toward Bethlehem to be born?" W.B. Yeats - from 'The Second Coming””
About This Quote
Yeats envisions a chaotic, violent force emerging after a long period of stagnation, threatening to overturn the old order.
In simple terms: A new, destructive power is rising.
Key Takeaway
History cycles into turmoil.
Themes
apocalypse
history
chaos
rebirth
mythology
Mood
foreboding
intense
mysterious
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- post-war societies
- cultural upheaval
- political revolutions
- social unrest
Key Concepts
civilizational decay
symbolic beasts
prophetic vision
Practical Applications
- literary analysis
- cultural criticism
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the 'rough beast' symbolize in modern contexts?
- How does this image challenge notions of progress?
