An Irish Airman Foresees His Death Questions & Answers

Hi Everyone!! This article will share An Irish Airman Foresees His Death Questions & Answers.

This poem is written by William Butler Yeats. In my previous posts, I have shared the questions & answers of O Captain My Captain, Lines Composed In a Wood On A Windy Day and Ode To Autumn so, you can check these posts as well.

An Irish Airman Foresees His Death Questions & Answers

Word Galaxy

  • Bade – commanded
  • Fate – here, death or destruction
  • Tumult – state of confusion
  • Impulse – a sudden inclination
  • Foresees – anticipate

Question 1: Who is referred to as ‘I’ in the poem?

Answer: An Irish fighter pilot is referred to as ‘I’ in the poem.

Question 2: Why did the Irish man want to become a pilot?

Answer: The Irish man was a citizen of an enslaved nation. He did not have a glorious past or a bright future. The only desire he had, which could be fulfilled was to fly high in the sky. Thus, to do so, he became a pilot.

Question 3: Explain “Nor law nor duty bade me fight nor public men nor cheering crowds”.

Answer: The Irish airman did not take up flying in World War I because he felt duty bound towards Great Britain or was conscripted into the Royal Air force. He was neither swayed by appreciation by leaders or the cheering of crowds. It was only his intense inner desire to fly, that made him take up this profession.

Question 4: Read and answer the questions:

An Irish Airman Foresees His Death Questions & Answers

(a) Who is the speaker? To whom is he addressing these lines?

Answer: An Irish airman is the speaker. He addresses these lines to his countrymen or those for whom he fights.

(b) Where is the person at this time?

Answer: He is in a fighter plane.

(c) What is the person implying in the first two lines?

Answer: The person is implying that this war is not going to make any difference to his countrymen.

(d) Describe the speaker in your own words.

Answer: The speaker believes in the present and wants to enjoy it to the fullest.

Question 5: Is he fighting for a cause? Quote lines from the poem.

Answer: No, he is not fighting for a cause. “Nor law, nor duty bade me fight – nor public men, nor cheering crowds.”

An Irish Airman Foresees His Death Questions & Answers

Question 6: To which country did he belong and why could he not make a difference to their lives?

Answer: He belonged to Ireland. His native land was Kiltartan Cross in Ireland and as Ireland was enslaved by Great Britain, the Irish did not have any control on their own destiny and the war could not alter this situation. Thus, the Irish airman could not make a difference to the lives of his countrymen.

Question 7: Why do you think he is ready to die?

Answer: I think he was ready to die because being a citizen of an enslaved nation, he neither had a glorious past nor a bright future. All he had was his present and probably the only desire that he could fulfill was to fly. Thus, he joined the Royal Air force, knowing very well that his fighter jet would be shot down by the enemy and he was sure to “meet his fate” that is he was sure to die in the sky.

Question 8: What feelings of the speaker are conveyed in the third and the fourth lines?

Answer: The airman notes his indifference to the war as he neither hates the enemy nor loves the people he is fighting for.

Question 9: How do you think the speaker visualises life?

Answer: The speaker is fully aware of his fate. He is not frightened of dying.

Question 10: Explain what the speaker means by ‘A lonely impulse of delight’.

Answer: The speaker means that he lives entirely for the joy that he experiences when flying by himself in the sky.

Question 11: How do we know that the speaker is not afraid of death?

Answer: He is not afraid of death because in balance, neither his past nor his future seems to be of any value.

Question 12: List words used in the poem that evoke the image of war and death.

Answer: Words like – Those that I fight, Those that I guard, Bade me fight, tumult in the clouds evoke the image of war while the words like – meet my fate, waste of breath words refer to death.

Question 13: Explain the title of the poem.

Answer: The title of the poem is ‘An Irish Airman Foresees His Death’. The poem brings out the dilemma of a young Irish pilot who takes to flying the fighter jets of The Royal Air force simply because he loves flying and that is his only desire that can be fulfilled. Though he knows that his profession would bring his death yet, he pursues it in order to feel the delight of flying! Thus, in a way he can pre-empt his death amongst the clouds. Thus, the title of the poem is tragically apt.

So, these were An Irish Airman Foresees His Death Questions & Answers.

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