Seamus Heaney Poetry
About the Poet
Seamus Heaney was born in 1939 in Co. Derry to a farmer and a cattle dealer
He was the eldest of nine children
Many of his poems refer to rural childhood in Northern Ireland (NI)
Won Nobel Prize for Literature in 1995
Quote: “If you have the words, there’s always a chance you’ll find the way”
Quote: “All I know is a door into the dark ”
A CONSTABLE CALLS Themes: Conflict and fear Poem is based on childhood memory of Heaney’s: A visit by a Royal Ulster Constabulary(RUC) officer to his family farm. Constable is in the farmhouse recording the “tillage returns” growing on the farm which was a standard practice post WW2 |
Language feature(s) | Quotation(s) | Effect of line in the poem |
Personification, cacophony | “Its fat black handlegrips” | Personification of bicycle Adverb “black” suggests evil, “fat” sounds unsatisfying, may symbolise gluttony for power, “handlegrips” showcases Constable’s rigid control over bicycle like Britain has over NI |
Violent imagery, metaphor | “Dynamo gleaming and cocked back” | Gives reader sense of threat, “Cocked” is redolent of a gun, constable’s presence fills Heaney with fear |
Metaphor, violent, oppressive imagery | “The boot of the law” | Heavy footwear of policemen suggesting power and oppression |
Emotional imagery, metaphorical Personification | “Arithmetic and fear” “The line of its pressure ran like a bevel in his slightly sweating hair” | How has this Unionist in a Catholic house in NI created such “fear”? Word “Arithmetic” suggests complexity of religious discrimination that young Heaney may be unable to understand “It’s pressure” referring to pressure of constabulary job which constable is relieved from after he takes off his cap. We see a glimpse of his humanity as his “slightly sweating hair” is revealed underneath |
Question, insightful | “But was there not a line of turnips where the seed ran out? ” | Heaney notices his father’s defiance to the constable when he asks about the “root crops” to which his father replied “no” audaciously |
Repetition, tension, alliteration | “And the bicycle ticked, ticked, ticked” | Repetition creates tension, reminds us that years of persistent maltreatment by the State led to the Troubles |
THE TOLLUND MAN Themes: Sectarian violence, death and rebirth The title is a reference to “The Tollund Man”, a well preserved bog-body found in 1950 by two turfcutters in Tollund, Denmark. Theories suggests his death may have been part of a ritualistic fertility sacrifice |
Language feature(s) | Quotation(s) | Effect of line in the poem |
Hypothesis, desire | “Some day I will go Arhaus” | Heaney goes on a pilgrimage of the mind to Denmark to see Tollund Man(TM) , showcases intense desire |
Metaphorical description, evocative , vivid imagery | “Peat- brown head”, “mild pods of his eye-lids”, “pointed skin cap” | Blending of body and clothing which renders T.M. as nothing but flesh, who is gentle but vulnerable |
Description, metaphor | “His last gruel of winter seeds caked into his stomach ” | T.M.’s poor diet before death, hinting at starvation |
Metaphor, harrowing imagery | “Naked” , “girdle” | Vulnerability, feminisation of T.M. |
Symbol | “Bridegroom to the goddess” | “The goddess ” refers to the goddess of fertility whom T.M. may have been sacrificed to. Heaney is “bridegroom” who is transfixed on this T.M. |
Metaphor | “She tightened the torc on him” | “Torc” - type of neck ring which symbolises bondage, “She”, as in goddess, could also symbolise GB and its influence on Ireland(represented by T.M.) keeping it as a slave to its empire |
Religious imagery | “Working him to a saint’s kept body” | Suffering and death leads to holiness, while “goddess” benefits from sacrifice, could suggest parasitic relationship between GB and Ireland |
1st person, emotional | “I could risk blasphemy” | Heaney is fearful to ask T.M. to resurrect (“make germinate”) those who died in bloody Irish conflicts, viewing him as a religious symbol as bog has power to preserve bodies |
Cacophonic, brutal war imagery | “The scattered, ambushed, flesh of labourers” | “Labourers” could refer to people of Ireland who died fighting against British during conflicts such as War of Independence and The Troubles |
Cacophonic, brutal imagery, alliteration | “Tell- tale skin and teeth” | Result of horrible death leading to non-human-like appearance. Alliteration forces readers to slow down and take in the harrowing imagery of death |
Storytale, harrowing, agonising imagery | “Four young brothers trailed for miles along the lines” | 4 young Catholic boys were killed by policemen who dragged them along railway tracks, Heaney highlights this to demonstrate Sectarian violence against Catholics in Ireland |
Foreshadowing, forboding | “As he rode the tumbril” | Return back to T.M. , who is now being led to death on cart that carries him to execution, similar to rebels being rounded up and killed by British |
Metaphor, 3rd person view | “Watching the pointing hands” | Spectators watch and condemn him as he is led to death, similar to how some people stood idly by and judged as others were being harmed and killed for their religious beliefs |
Confused, unsure | “Not knowing their tongue” | T.M. is not sure what people are saying, showing divide between him and them, in same way there is divide between Catholics and Protestants |
Dark metaphor | “The old man-killing parishes” | Showcases toxic nature of religion that contributes to Ireland’s violent past |
Paradoxical | “I will feel lost, unhappy and at home” | Heaney feels at home in Jutland since culture is similar to his own in Ireland, yet is “unhappy” due to the tribalism in both worlds especially between Catholics and Protestants |
A CALL Themes: Father-son relationship, death, regret Heaney is calling home to his parents. His mother answers the phone and tells him that his father is weeding in the garden. Whilst he waits, Heaney imagines his father gardening |
Language feature(s) | Quotation(s) | Effect of line in the poem |
Direct speech, casual, conversational | ‘Hold on’ she said, ‘I’ll just run out a get him’ | Adds casual, conversational and homely tone to start of poem |
Evocative, vivid imagery | “I saw him down on his hands and knees” | Heaney envisions his father gardening as the call is on hold |
Soft, sensory | “Gently pulling up” | Father removes weeds gently, also reveals his aging condition |
Vivid imagery of weeds | “Everything not tapered, frail and leafless ” | “Frail” could also allude to father’s aging physicality |
Somber, forboding | “But rueful also” | Despite positive imagery, time is running out for Heaney’s father and he is very concerned |
Onomatopeia, sensory | “The amplified grave ticking of hall clocks” | Adds eerie tone, represents passage of time now that his parents are older, & creates awareness that their mortality is finite |
Foreboding, grave, dark imagery, mythological | “This is how Death would summon Everyman” | Death will not knock on the door but it may call you on the door, shows Death is near for Heaney’s father |
Emotional, personal | “I nearly said I loved him” | He wants to tell his father how much he loves & cares for him but he can’t due to a complicated relationship with his father. He would feel like less of a man |
MOSSBAWN SUNLIGHT Themes: Familial relationships, warmth, love Dedicated to Heaney’s aunt, Mary Heaney, who lived with the family and worked on the farm and the house. Since his mother was quite busy with his younger siblings, he received lots of affection & patience from his aunt. |
Language feature(s) | Quotation(s) | Effect of line in the poem |
Warm, euphonic | “Sunlight absence” | Setting of warm sunny day, inviting tone |
Euphonic imagery | “Water honeyed” | Beautiful imagery reflecting of sun onto water |
Personification | “The sun stood” | Makes sun appear more impactful |
Descriptive | “Floury apron”, “measling shins” | Aunt Mary is described in plain terms, showcasing her strict work ethic |
Descriptive, euphonic | “broad-lapped” | Aunt is also described as “broadlapped” making her seem inviting to child who may want to sit on her lap |
Metaphorical, somewhat foreboding | “Scones rising to the tick of two clocks ” | Clocks lead up to something positive rather than negative Aunt has her attention on baking and Heaney. A darker interpretation: Could 2nd clock be reference to impending doom of Troubles |
Euphonic, metaphorical | “Here is love like a tinsmith’s scoop” | Aunt Mary and her baking for family is reflection of the love she provides for them |
THE UNDERGROUND Themes: Love, youthfulness, mythology,fear of unknown Heaney remembers an evening from his honeymoon in London. He and his wife were going to “The Proms”, a concert in the Albert Hall which they travelled to by train in the London Underground |
Language feature(s) | Quotation(s) | Effect of line in the poem |
Mythological imagery | “Like a fleet god gaining upon you” | Heaney is chasing his wife through the tunnel, in a playful manner, imagining himself as Greek god Pan chasing after his love, Syrinx |
Metaphorical | “White flower japed with crimson” | Signifies loss of virginity between married couple, a conservative way of discussing marital affairs |
Playful imagery, repetition | “Honeymooning, mooning around” | Him and his wife were playing around in the Underground as they were late for proms. Repetition of “moon” make give us sense that it was late at night |
Metaphorical, mythological/fairy-tale-like | “Retracing the path, lifting the buttons” | Reference to Hansel and Gretel, Heaney as “Hansel” retraces path back home via means of buttons |
Tense, emotional | “All attention for your step following” | Tense, hopes his wife is still there behind him, feelings of fear begin to surface |
Mythological, metaphorical, emotional | “Damned if I look back” | Fears if he looks back he will lose her forever. Looking back = less masculine, since men are supposed to lead. Ref to Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, Orpheus lost wife Eurydice so Hades allowed him to take her back to Earth if he didn’t look at her, but he did and ended up losing her forever |