Context Flashcards
1
Q
When was Heaney born and what were the troubles
A
Heaney was born in 1939 as a
Catholic in NI at a time when Catholics
were essentially the ‘underclass’ as
they still lived under the rule of the
Protestant government. It was a time
of political turmoil and unrest with
guerrila warfare movement against the
injustice levelled against the Irish
Catholics. This would have had a
profound impact on Heaney.
2
Q
What does the island represent
A
that the Island represents Ireland and
that the weather symbolises the
turbulent nature of life as an inhabitant
of Northern Ireland,
3
Q
What does the poem explore
A
The poem explores the
challenges posed to humans exposed
to the wild forces of nature on the Aran
Islands.
