The Harvest Bow by Seamus Heaney (Important Quotes)

Structure - This structure reflects the theme of rural, colloquial traditions.

Five six line stanzas arranged in couplets which do not follow rhyming patterns but follow the natural rhythm of speech.

Rhythm - A meandering rhythm is used throughout the poem, suited to the idea of walking down memory lane.
Instead of speaking, Heaney’s father would express himself through art.

“As you plaited the harvest bow You implicated the mellowed silence in you”

Assonance - The repeated “o” sounds here reflect the openness of the lines and the soft communication occurring between father and son.
Oxymoron - the contradiction between “love-knot” and “throwaway” shows the complicated relationship between father and son, yet each knows that the other loves them.

“Into a knowable corona, A throwaway love-knot of straw”

Imagery, Simile - We are presented with a vivid image of the bow acting as a snare to all things transient- love, tradition, Heaney’s father. The bow has also trapped the “spirit of the corn” (symbolising the spirit of ancient traditions and craftsmanship), just for a moment, but it has already left its mark.

“Like a drawn snare Slipped lately by the spirit of the corn Yet burnished by its passage, and still warm.”

Imagery - The third and fourth stanzas contain especially vivid imagery as it describes the memories that a the poet sees when he spies “into the golden loops” of the harvest bow.

“I see us walk between the railway slopes Into an evening of long grass and midges” “Already homesick for the big lift of these evenings”

Repetition, Imagery - In the fourth stanza, this is used to describe Heaney’s father rhythmically “whacking the tips off weeds and bushes”. It emphasises the rhythm and makes the image especially vivid.

“Beats out of time, and beats, but flushes Nothing”

Alliteration - Alliteration is used cleverly in the fourth stanza as Heaney describes the traditions and culture of the area “tongue-tying” his father and making him unable to share his feelings with his son through words. The repeated “t” sound makes the line more awkward to say, tongue-tying the reader.

“that original townland Still tongue-tied in the straw tied by your hand.”

Simile - Heaney describes himself receiving an unsaid message of love as he touches the harvest bow, like a blind person would read Braille.

“I tell and finger it like Braille, Gleaning the unsaid off the palpable”

Quotation - This quote by poet Coventry Patmore could mean different things in the context of this poem. One of these meanings is that the art that his father created has stopped being made because his father is dead and resting in peace - the death of rural traditions. Another interpretation is that art is created to make peace from turmoil, and spread peace from one person to another.

“The end of art is peace”

Tone

Reverent, admiring of Heaney’s father and his life. Also nostalgic reminiscing.

Mood

Nostalgic, reverent, tranquil

Theme - The poet’s relationship with his father. And a gorgeous image of the memories the harvest bow brings back.

“If I spy into its golden loops I see us walk between the railway slopes Into an evening of long grass and midges”

Theme - The role of the artist in society

“The end of art is peace.” “that original townland Still tongue-tied in the straw tied by your hand.”

Theme - The link to bygone rural traditions

“Hands that aged round ash plants and cane stickes And lapped the spurs on a lifetime of gamecocks Harked to their gift and worked with fine intent Until your fingers moved somnambulant”

Theme - Marriage

“this frail device That I have pinned up on our deal dresser”

Simile - Comparing the harvest bow to a snare, trapping Heaney’s father’s spirit.

“this frail device that I have pinned up on our deal dresser — like a drawn snare”