Essay about The poetry of Seamus Heaney is deceptively...

The poetry of Seamus Heaney is deceptively simple. Examine this comment in the light of his choices of subject, diction, and structure. You should refer to at least two poems in your responses. The deceptive simplicity of the poet can be helped to be understood through P A M Dirac, who suggests that poetry tries to tell people in a way that is understood by no one, something everybody already knew. If you can comprehend this, it is easier to see how the poetry of Heaney can be called deceptively simple, the surface which appears to be the reminiscing of his youth, is misleading, in actuality it is hinting at something far more complex and explaining lessons of life that he learnt, that the reader may never grasps. One of†¦show more content†¦It is possible that the deeper meaning to a ‘Mid-Term Break’ is that of coming to terms with the fact that it was not his fault that this pointless loss of young life occurred. He may have felt that if he had not been away at school his brother may never had died but the poet needs time (many years) to justify this and come to terms with his bereavement. A common point in each of the poems is that of the poets’ internal struggle to come to terms with himself, acceptance of himself as the person he is. This is clearly seen in ‘Digging’ where he shows nothing but admiration for his father and the expertise needed to farm, which is highlighted by the use of technical terms such as ‘lug’. He finally concludes that his skill as a writer, a poet, is just as valued as that of a farmer and that in all likelihood his feelings of guilt at discarding tradition were not necessary and there was no need to believe he could not live up to expectations, he has accepted himself. Through Heaney’s poetry we come to understand, that his ideas do not just relate to him, they relate to us as well, they show the connection between human lives. This is what William Carlos Williams calls â€Å"the universality of the local†. When you look deeper and scrutinize the poems they become more than just the memories of a man. Beyond the surface there are layers of meaning, complexity,Show MoreRelatedThe Impression Left by â€Å"Mid-term Break†, â€Å"Blackberry Picking† and â€Å"The Early Purges† by Seamus Heaney845 Words   |  3 Pages From the poetry you have studied choose a poet whose work impressed you. 2a) What topics or themes does the poet deal with in the poetry that you have studied? Support your answer with reference to the work of your chosen poet. From the poetry I have studied, I have been most impressed by the work of Seamus Heaney. My three favourite Heaney poems are â€Å"Mid-term Break†, â€Å"Blackberry Picking† and â€Å"The Early Purges†. All of these poems address the universal theme of childhood, and look at thisRead MoreSeamus Heaney2504 Words   |  11 Pagesï » ¿ You have been asked to read a collection of Seamus Heaney’s poems to a 5th year class. Select 4 poems you would read and explain why. Seamus Heaney is widely recognised as one of the major poets of the twentieth century. Heaney s Poems are based on real life experiences, which can be  related to in only so many ways, because of the differences in  the likes of lifestyle and culture. Heaney’s poetry appeals to students as much of it deals with issues of childhood in a manner that is mature