Kyle DowneyMrs. MavrikosEnglish March 10, 2014 William Butler Yeats's poetry “Sailing to Byzantium,” published in 1928, “An Irish Airman Foresees His Death,” published in 1919, and “The Second Coming,” published in 1920, are among the most notable works . considered works of William Butler Yeats. Although each poem seems to contain its own personal ideas and focus on particular topics, a common theme is found in all three: death. In "Sailing to Byzantium", Yeats discusses the issue of aging and trying to find a way to live forever after death has taken its toll, while in "An Irish Airman Foresees His Death" he creates a dialogue internal image of an Irish aviator as he feels about to take his final flight towards death, and finally in "The Second Coming" he creates an allegory of post-war Ireland by alluding to the Apocalypse. Each of these poems is popular not only because of the incredible way in which they were written, but rather because of the voice with which Yeats discusses each of the poem's respective topics. Through his modernist style, but traditional form, William Butler Yeats wrote "Sailing to Byzantium", "An Irish Airman Foresees His Death" and "The Second Coming" in an attempt to answer the difficult questions surrounding the death of a way that resonated. so strongly on the public that continues his legacy to this day. William Butler Yeats was born in Dublin, Ireland on June 13, 1865, the son of the famous painter John Butler Yeats. A Protestant born into the Anglo-Irish minority class, Yeats found himself struggling with his identity as an "Irish-born Englishman" due to his love of his Irish heritage and strong nationalist mentality – although he disdained the nationalist movement....... middle of paper ... years later, the public continues to marvel at the works and divulge their ideas and beliefs, because even if the context in which they were written has changed since then, its universal spirit has not, and that is why it will continue to remain relevant today and for future generations. This work affected British literature by bridging the gap between the modernist movement and traditional poetic techniques in a way that would inspire many other poets and authors throughout the 19th century, modernist or not. Ultimately, the three poems "Sailing to Byzantine", "An Irish Airman Foresees His Death" and "The Second Coming" all contain the same themes and beliefs that many still identify and feel with today, and with a true Irish spirit, William Butler Yeats made these works timeless examples of brilliant British literature..