Personal Helicon S.H Flashcards
Quotes and analysis
Introduction points
“Helicon” is the name of a mountain in Greek mythology, used for reflection and seen as a source of inspiration for artists.
The poem deals with Heaney’s personal inspiration, not to just write poetry, but to discover more about himself and the world.
The poem is the speaker reflecting on their life and the progression from childhood mentalities into adulthood.
“I loved the dark drop”
‘I loved’ suggests a powerful connection to nature, the language is simplistic in nature suggesting a childish diction.
“The trapped sky”
Metaphor conveys the mysterious power of the well, it seems to contain something as vast and as overwhelming as the sky. Also shows the childlike amazement at the well being able to ‘contain’ something as infinitely large as the sky.
“I savoured”
Word choice further conveys the idea of love. He enjoys the experience and wants it to last, echoed by the long sounding vowels Heaney has used.
“So deep you saw no reflection in it”
Personal pronoun involves the reader. Metaphor suggests that at this stage, he knows there is something meaningful, but he doesn’t yet know what it is. He doesn’t know the complex aspects of himself yet, self-discovery.
“A white face hovered over the bottom”
The image and word choice conveys the idea of something haunting and frightening, like a ghost. Symbolic of how discovering and learning about yourself can be disconcerting. Unlike the previous stanza he is now maturing.
“A rat slapped across my reflection”
Heaney had a childhood fear of rats – indicating the possibility of discovering something frightening about oneself. Made vivid though the onomatopoeic language which gives his reflection a physicality.
“To stare, big eyed Narcissus”
Alluding to the myth, indicating that his previous way of thinking and looking at himself was indulgent and vain. The myth being that Narcissus was cursed to fall in love with his own reflection.
“Beneath all adult dignity”
Much more adult language, he is now more refined and sophisticated, rather than the child he used to be, playing in wells and loved the filth of it.
