Mid-Term Break by Seamus Heaney

recite first stanza

I sat all morning in the college sick bay

Counting bells knelling classes to a close

At two o’clock our neighbours drove me home

recite the second stanza

In the porch i met my father crying —

he had always taken funerals in his stride —

And big jim evans saying it was a hard blow

recite the first and second stanza

I sat all morning in the college sick bay

Counting bells knelling to a close

At two o’clock my neighbours drove me home

In the porch i met my father crying—

he had always taken funerals to his stride

And big jim evans saying it was a hard blow

recite the third stanza

the baby cooed and laughed and rocked the pram

when i came in, and i was embarassed

by the old men standing up to shake my hand

recite all first three stanza

I sat all morning in the college sick bay

counting bells knelling to a close

at two o’clock our neighbours drove me home

in the porch i met my father crying—

he had always taken funerals to his stride—

and big jim evans saying it was a hard blow

the baby cooed and laughed and rocked the pram

when i came in, and i was embarassed

by the old men standing up to shake my hand

recite the fourth stanza

and tell me they were ‘sorry for my trouble’.

whispers informed strangers i was the eldest,

away at school, as my mother held my hand

recite the first four stanzas

i sat all morning in the college sick bay

counting bells knelling to a close

at two o’clock our neighbours drove me home

in the porch i met my father crying—

he had always taken funerals in his stride—

and big jim evans saying it was a hard blow

the baby cooed and laughed and rocked the pram

when i came in, and i was embarassed

by the old men standing up to shake my hand

and tell me they were ‘sorry for my trouble’

whispers informed strangers i was the eldest

away at school, as my mother held my hand

recite the fifth stanza

in hers coughed out angry tearless sighs

at ten o’clock the ambulance arrived

with the corpse, stanched and bandaged by the nurses

recite the first five stanzas

i sat all morning in the college sick bay

counting bells knelling to a close

at two o’clock our neighbours drove me home

in the porch i met my father crying—

he had always taken funerals to his stride—

and big jim evans saying it was a hard blow

the baby cooed and laughed and rocked the pram

when i came in, and i was embarassed

by the old men standing up to shake my hand

and tell me they were ‘sorry for my trouble’

whispers informed strangers i was the eldest

away at school, as my mother held my hand

in hers coughed out angry tearless sighs

at ten o’clock the ambulance arrived

with the corpse, stanched and bandadged by the nurses

recite the sixth stanza

next morning i went up into the room. Snowdrops

And candles soothed the bedside; I saw him

for the first time in six weeks. Paler now,

recite the first six stanzas

i sat all morning in the college sick bays

counting bells knelling to a close

at two o’clock our neighbours drove me home

in the porch i met my father cfrying —

he had alwasy taken funerals to his stride—

and big jim evans saying it was a hard blow

the baby cooed and laughed and rocked the pram

when i came in, and i was embarassed

by the old men standing up to shake my hand

and tell me they were ‘sorry for my trouble’

whispers informed strangers i was the eldest

away at school, as my mother held my hand

in hers coughed out angry tearless sighs

at ten o’clock the ambulance arrived

with the corpse stanched and badadged by the nurses

next morning i went up into the room. snowdrops

and candles soothed the bedside; i saw him

for the first time in six weeks. paler now

recite the seventh stanza

wearing a poppy bruise on his left temple,

he lay in the four-foot box as in his cot

no guady scars, the bumper knocked him clear

recite the first seven stanzas

i sat all morning in the college sick bays

counting bells knelling to a close

at two o’clock our neighbours drove me home

in the porch i met my father cfrying —

he had alwasy taken funerals to his stride—

and big jim evans saying it was a hard blow

the baby cooed and laughed and rocked the pram

when i came in, and i was embarassed

by the old men standing up to shake my hand

and tell me they were ‘sorry for my trouble’

whispers informed strangers i was the eldest

away at school, as my mother held my hand

in hers coughed out angry tearless sighs

at ten ‘clock the ambulance arrived

with teh corpse, stanched and bandaged by the nurses

next morning i went up into the room. snowdrops

and candles soothed the bedside; i saw him

for the first time in six weeks. paler now

wearing a poppy bruise on his left temple

he lay in the four-foot box as in his cot

no guady scars, the bumper knocked him clear

recite the eighth stanza

a four-foot box a foot for every year.

recite the whole poem

i sat all morning in the college sick bay

counting bells knelling classes to a close

at two o’clock our neighbours drove me home

in the porch i met my father crying—

he had alwasy taken funerals in his stride—

and big jim evans saying it was a hard blow.

the baby cooed and laughed and rocked the pram

when i came in, and i was embarassed

by the old men standing up to shake my hand

and tell me they were ‘sorry for my trouble’

whispers informed strangers i was the eldest

away at school as my mother held my hand

in her coughed out angry tearless sighs

at ten o’clcok the ambulance arrived

witht the corpse stanched and bandaged by the nurses

next morning i went up into the room. snowdrops

and candles soothed the bedside; i saw him

for the first time in six weeks. paler now

wearing a poppy bruise on his left temple

he lay in the four-foot box as in his cot

no guady scars the bumper knocked him clear

a four foot box a foot for every ear.

what theme was does this poem show

death, grief & love

alliteration

“counting bells knelling classes to a close” —creates a slow repetitive rhythm which can emphasise how slowly and agonizingly time is passing for yeats

sibliance

‘snowdrops and candles soothed the beside; i saw him for teh first time in six weeks” —s sound act like a quiet whisper, creating a calm yet tragic mood

caesura

“a four-foot box a foot for every year.” —sudden stop/pause emphasise how young he was

how did the poem teach you something about people or the world

people — differnet people grieve a loved one

world— death is inevitable no matter how young