The Second Coming by W.B. Yeats - Comprehension Quiz

When did W.B. Yeats write 'The Second Coming'?

• 1914
• 1919
• 1925
• 1930

What historical event had just ended when Yeats wrote this poem?

• The American Civil War
• World War I
• The French Revolution
• The Industrial Revolution

In the poem, what does Yeats say is happening to 'things'?

• They are growing
• They are falling apart
• They are improving
• They are staying the same

What metaphor does Yeats use to represent chaos in the poem?

• A raging storm
• A falconry image
• A sinking ship
• A burning building

What does Yeats mean when he says 'the centre cannot hold'?

• The Earth's core is unstable
• Moderate political views are losing power
• The middle of a building is weak
• The center of attention is shifting

What metaphor does Yeats use to describe the spread of violence?

• A wildfire
• A blood-dimmed tide
• A poisonous gas
• A swarm of locusts

According to the poem, what do 'the best' (good people) lack?

• Money
• Power
• Conviction
• Intelligence

How does Yeats describe the gaze of the beast in the poem?

• Warm and friendly
• Blank and pitiless
• Sad and lonely
• Curious and interested

What does the beast in the poem represent?

• A literal monster
• A wave of destruction
• A new political leader
• A natural disaster

Where does Yeats say the beast is slouching towards?

• Rome
• Jerusalem
• Bethlehem
• Athens