Poem Analysis - Song For The Severed Head

Introduction: A Spectral Gathering

William Butler Yeats' "Song For The Severed Head" evokes a haunting and cyclical atmosphere, drawing the reader into a spectral gathering of legendary figures. The poem’s tone is both solemn and celebratory, a strange blend of mourning and reverence. A sense of inevitability pervades the poem, reinforced by the recurring chiming of a clock. This creates a mesmerizing, almost hypnotic, effect, like watching a procession of ghosts reliving their glories and downfalls.

Echoes of Irish Legend and History

Yeats, deeply involved in the Irish Literary Revival, frequently drew inspiration from Irish mythology and folklore. "Song For The Severed Head" is no exception. The poem alludes to figures like Cuchulain, Niamh, and Hanrahan, characters deeply embedded in the Irish cultural consciousness. These figures represent different aspects of Irish identity and history: heroic struggle, ethereal beauty, and rebellious spirit. By bringing them together, Yeats creates a tapestry of Irish legend, hinting at the cyclical nature of history and the enduring power of myth.

Heroic Wantonness and Inevitable Fate

One dominant theme is that of heroic wantonness, a reckless abandon that drives the characters toward their destinies. The line "What but heroic wantonness?" directly questions the motivations of these legendary figures. Cuchulain's tireless battle with the sea, Niamh's otherworldly ride, and even Hanrahan's "wild wenching" all suggest a refusal to be bound by ordinary constraints. This wantonness, however, ultimately leads them to the "meet" on the mountain-side, suggesting a predetermined fate or a consequence of their actions. The constant repetition of "What says the Clock in the Great Clock Tower?" further emphasizes the relentless march of time and the inevitability of their ultimate meeting.

The Clock Tower and the Iron Bell: Symbols of Time and Mortality

The recurring images of the "Clock in the Great Clock Tower" and the "slow low note and an iron bell" serve as potent symbols of time and mortality. The clock represents the relentless passage of time, a constant reminder of the characters' inevitable fate. The iron bell, with its "slow low note," evokes a sense of mourning and finality, like a death knell. These recurring elements create a cyclical structure, suggesting that these events have happened before and will continue to happen, reinforcing the theme of the cyclical nature of history and destiny. The "severed head" in the title is never directly addressed, but it haunts the poem, perhaps representing the violent end that awaits all heroes, or the fading memory of a glorious past.

A Final Ride into Eternity

"Song For The Severed Head" is a haunting meditation on Irish identity, heroic excess, and the relentless passage of time. The poem's strength lies in its ability to blend historical figures with potent symbolism, creating a cyclical atmosphere of both celebration and mourning. Ultimately, the poem suggests that even the most legendary figures are subject to the forces of time and fate, forever riding towards an inevitable, perhaps tragic, conclusion. They are caught in a loop, forever reliving their stories, a spectral echo in the Irish landscape.