Final answer:
William Butler Yeats' poetry often critiques the Irish nationalistic movement, showing complexity and criticism rather than outright support or celebration, as exemplified in his poem 'Easter, 1916'. The poem demonstrates a critical examination of the ideology and human cost behind the nationalistic movement's goals and actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
William Butler Yeats' poetry frequently engaged with the Irish nationalist movement, reflecting his complex relationship with Irish politics and culture. His poetry is often thought to grapple with the outcomes of the Irish independence struggle, an example being his famous poem Easter, 1916. This poem captures the traumatic birth of modern Ireland and the ambivalence Yeats felt about the militant aspects of the Irish Republican movement and the ultimate sacrifice of its leaders. It is evident that rather than being supportive, indifferent, or celebrating British rule, Yeats' poetry, including Easter, 1916, showed a critical examination of the movement's leaders and their actions.
The broader Irish nationalist movement, characterized by romantic nationalism, sought to establish a state that represented the identity of the Irish people, distinct from British rule. With the Easter Rising of 1916, nationalist leaders proclaimed an independent Irish Republic, leading to a severe and violent response by British forces, resulting in the execution of the rebellion's leaders. Yeats responds to this in his poetry by scrutinizing not only the event but the ideologies and human cost behind it, thus serving as a cultural commentary on his society's discourse and reflecting the power structures and ideology of the time. His work in Easter, 1916 can be seen as a response to a society's struggle with power, identity, and self-determination.
Therefore, in the context of the choices provided, Yeats' frustration with the Irish nationalistic movement led him to write poetry that was b) Critical of the movement's leaders.
\