Seamus Heaney Flashcards
In An Advancement of Learning, what does the word “nosed” imply?
- The river is moving slowly.
- It’s sinister.
In An Advancement of Learning, what does “pliable, oil-skinned” suggest?
- The river is polluted and grimy.
- It is as if the river could be bent into another shape.
In An Advancement of Learning, what does “wearing a transfer of gables and sky” show?
- There is a thin layer of grime on top of the river.
- The cityscape is reflected in the grime.
In An Advancement of Learning, what does “dirty-keeled swans” show?
-The bottom of the swans are dirty with the grime.
In An Advancement of Learning, what does “smudging the silence” give the impression of?
-The rat has changed the silence to fear.
In An Advancement of Learning, how is the use of “slobbered” and “slimed” effective?
-They both contain the long “sl” sound which gives the verbs a negative emphasis.
In An Advancement of Learning, what does “my throat sickened so quickly” and “turned down the path in cold sweat imply?
- He has a serious phobia of rats.
- His response is visceral.
In An Advancement of Learning, what does “But God, another was nimbling” suggest?
- He is under attack from the rats.
- This is a quick succession of events.
In An Advancement of Learning, what does “tracing its wet arcs” suggest?
-The rat is inscribing its presence.
In An Advancement of Learning, what does “Incredibly” imply?
-He was surprised by himself.
In An Advancement of Learning, what does “I established a dreaded bridgehead” imply?
-He had put off facing his fears for years.
In An Advancement of Learning, what does “I turned to stare with deliberate, thrilled care” suggest?
- He has been able to face the rat.
- The rhyme emphasises the event.
In An Advancement of Learning, what does “at my hitherto snubbed rodent” imply?
- He had ignored the rats previously.
- He takes ownership of the rat.
In An Advancement of Learning, what does “he clockworked aimlessly a while” suggest?
- The rat is mechanical like a toy.
- The rat has no purpose for being there.
In An Advancement of Learning, what does “stopped, back bunched and glistening” imply?
- Heaney is staring at the rat.
- Heaney is intrigued.
In An Advancement of Learning, what does “the raindrop eye, the old snout” suggest?
- Heaney is looking at precise details.
- He recognises the features as those of his old enemy.
In An Advancement of Learning, what does “he trained on me, I stared him out” imply?
- The rat sees him as threatening.
- There is a battle between him and the rat.
In An Advancement of Learning, what does “forgetting how I used to panic” imply?
-He has realised his phobia is irrational.
In An Advancement of Learning, what do lines 30-32 suggest?
- Heaney’s phobia started in his childhood.
- The rats in his childhood are a deep memory.
In An Advancement of Learning, what does “cold, wet-furred, small-clawed” imply?
- He has never focused on a rat for so long.
- He is able to spot all of the rats weaknesses.
In An Advancement of Learning, how is the use of “retreated” effective?
-It links back to the use of bridgehead making the scenario seem like a battle.
In An Advancement of Learning, what does “I stared a minute after him” imply?
-His phobia had been serious enough to paralyse him.
In An Advancement of Learning, what does “I walked on and crossed the bridge” suggest?
- He has overcome his fear.
- Overcoming his fear has given him confidence.
- He is able to move on.
In An Advancement of Learning, how does Heaney use rhyme effectively?
- Rhyme represents advancement.
- It highlights particular changes and key events.
In Ancestral Photograph, what does “solid as a turnip” imply?
- His great-uncle had a strange shaped face.
- He worked in agriculture.
In Ancestral Photograph, what could “bullies the heavy mouth down” suggest?
- He often got his own way.
- Could be hinting at his character.
In Ancestral Photograph, what does “his silver watch chain girds him like a hoop” imply?
-The chain around his middle makes him look like a barrel.
In Ancestral Photograph, what does “long fixed in sepia tints” imply?
- The pictures has been up a long time.
- The memory is fixed in the picture.
In Ancestral Photograph, what does “begins to fade” suggest?
-The importance and the memories are fading.
In Ancestral Photograph, how is the use of the full stop in line 9 effective?
The reader is made to think by the long pause.
In Ancestral Photograph, what does the use of “he” in line 10 imply?
-It’s as if his uncle really was on the wall.
In Ancestral Photograph, what does “as if a bandage had been ripped from skin” imply?
- Removing the painting is painful for the household.
- The removal leaves a wound.
In Ancestral Photograph, what does “a house’s rise and fall” suggest?
-The house was at its best during his uncles “reign”.
In Ancestral Photograph, what does “until my father won at arguing” suggest?
- His father usually won.
- His father was skilled at negotiating.
In Ancestral Photograph, how is the use of tone and rhyme effective in the third stanza?
- It is fast paced to represent the speed of an auction.
- The rhyme stresses the event of the sale.
In Ancestral Photograph, what does “through the fair days too” imply?
-These are no longer fair days.
In Ancestral Photograph, what does “this barrel of a man penned in a frame” imply?
-He is like a cow, stuck in a small frame.
In Ancestral Photograph, what does “I watched you sadden” suggest?
- His skills became obsolete.
- The fairs stopping made him loose his livelihood.
In Ancestral Photograph, what does “stands there still” imply?
- The stick is there untouched and unseen.
- It’s a reminder of what he’s lost.
In Ancestral Photograph, what does “I take your uncle’s portrait to the attic” imply?
-The auctions aren’t what define the family anymore.
Give five techniques that Heaney uses in every poem.
- Mood/Tone
- A change
- Images
- Word choice
- Reflecting on memories
In A Constable Calls, what does “front mudguard” imply?
- The officer is proud of his uniform.
- Possible sign of rank.
In A Constable Calls, what is the significance of “fat black handlegrips”?
Sinister
In A Constable Calls, what does “the dynamo gleaming and cocked back” imply?
- It’s during the day.
- Reference to the gun.
In A Constable Calls, what does “the pedal treads hanging relieved of the boot of the law” imply?
- They are oppressed.
- Analogy of the Irish people.
In A Constable Calls, what does “the line of pressure ran like a bevel” imply?
- The hat no longer fits properly.
- The police are a threatening presence.
In A Constable Calls, what does “his slightly sweating hair” imply?
-The constable is uncomfortable with the situation.
In A Constable Calls, what does “the heavy ledger” imply?
- The book is full of evidence.
- Imagery.
In A Constable Calls, what does “arithmetic and fear” imply?
- Just like being at school.
- Big consequences.
- Intimidated by police/rulers.
In A Constable Calls, what does “I sat staring at the polished holster” imply?
-The policeman cares for his gun.
In A Constable Calls, what is the significance of Heaney’s father lying?
- He wants to keep his dignity.
- Doesn’t respect British authority.
In A Constable Calls, what does “sat imagining the black hole in the barracks” imply?
- He feels like a conspirator.
- Never going to see his dad again.
- Forgotten prisoners.
In A Constable Calls, what is the significance of “closed the domesday book”?
- Ultimate judgement.
- The invaders are seeing what everybody has.
- Working out what the family owned.
In A Constable Calls, what does “his boot pushed off” imply?
-He feels down trodden by invaders.
In A Constable Calls, what is the significance of “ticked, ticked, ticked”?
- It’s only a matter of time before someone finds out.
- Threatening.
- Repetition.
In A Constable Calls, what is the significance of the different endings to the line?
-Replicates the awkwardness of the situation.
In Death of a Naturalist, what does “daily it sweltered” imply?
- He goes there everyday.
- He is fascinated.
In Death of a Naturalist, what does “the bubbles gargled delicately” imply?
-He likes the sound.
In Death of a Naturalist, what does “best of all was the warm thick slobber” imply?
- He likes the setting.
- He plunges his fingers into the frogspawn.
In Death of a Naturalist, what is the significance of “jampotfuls”?
-Child like compound word.
In Death of a Naturalist, what does “wait and watch unit the fattening dots burst” imply?
- It’s a long process.
- He doesn’t want to miss any of the process.
- It happened suddenly.
In Death of a Naturalist, what is the significance of lines 16-19?
- He is learning about frogs and scientific words.
- He’s growing up.
In Death of a Naturalist, what does “they were yellow in the sun and brown in rain” imply?
- He’s out all the time.
- He’s trying to connect with nature.
In Death of a Naturalist, what does “I ducked through hedges” imply?
- He is spying on the frogs.
- He wants to explore nature.
In Death of a Naturalist, what does “coarse croaking that I had not heard” imply?
- The frogs were gathering for breeding.
- He was too young and innocent to understand.
In Death of a Naturalist, what does “gross-bellied frogs were cocked” imply?
- Like guns that could explode.
- Part of army metaphor.
In Death of a Naturalist, what is the significance of “obscene threats”?
-Their physicality is intimidating.
In Death of a Naturalist, what does “the great slime kings were gathered for vengeance” imply?
- He is guilty of stealing the frogspawn.
- They’ve won (military metaphor).
- They wanted their offspring back.
What are the two main themes of Death of a Naturalist?
- Military metaphor towards the end.
- Bubble of innocence has popped.
In Digging, what does “snug as a gun” imply?
- The pen fits perfectly.
- He was born to be a writer.
In Digging, what is the significance of “comes up twenty years later”?
- He’s digging up memories.
- Memories from twenty years ago.
In Digging, what does “nestled in the lug” imply?
-The boot is used to being there.
In Digging, what does “the old man could handle a spade” imply?
-He admires his father’s work.
In Digging, what is the significance of lines 19 & 24?
-They are vivid memories.
In Digging, what does “then fell to right away” imply?
- He was hard working.
- Conscientious.
In Digging, what does “nicking and slicing, heaving sods” imply?
- Long vowels to show hard work.
- Onomatopoeic
- Strong sounds.
In Digging, what does “living roots awaken in my head” imply?
- Returning to the present.
- Bringing back the memories of his ancestors.
In Digging, what does “I’ve no spade to follow” imply?
- He’s separated from his family.
- Drawn a line between them.
- Painful to disappoint his dad.
In Digging, what does “I’ll dig with it” imply?
- Different type of digging.
- Digging memories up.
In Digging, what is the main technique used by Heaney?
An extended image.
In Mid-Term Break, what does “counting bells knelling classes” imply?
-Shows how long he was there.
In Mid-Term Break, what does “our neighbours drove me home” imply?
- His parents were too upset.
- He feels even more isolated.
In Mid-Term Break, what is the significance of “I met my father crying”?
- He had never seen his father cry.
- The grief was too powerful.
- Other poems show his father’s masculinity.
In Mid-Term Break, what is the significance of “it was a hard blow”?
- Blow to family’s stability.
- His brother was hit by a car.
In Mid-Term Break, what does “the baby cooed and laughed” imply?
- The baby is excited to see him.
- Baby’s too young to understand.
In Mid-Term Break, what does “I was embarrassed by old men” imply?
- He wouldn’t normally speak to men.
- He’s been treated like an adult.
- his first experience of respect.
In Mid-Term Break, what is the significance of stanzas 3 & 4 being split up?
-Shows the awkwardness.
In Mid-Term Break, what does “strangers” imply?
- He doesn’t want them there.
- Made him seem important.
In Mid-Term Break, what does “coughed out angry tearless sighs” imply?
- Blames the situation.
- Cried too much already for tears.
In Mid-Term Break, what does “the corpse, stanched and bandaged” imply?
- It’s no longer his brother.
- Brutal like the situation.
- Feels uncomfortable.
In Mid-Term Break, what does “snowdrops and candles soothed” imply?
- White with innocence.
- Less scary.
- Symbols of life.
In Mid-Term Break, what does “first time in six weeks” imply?
- Very aware of time.
- Sadness of separation.
In Mid-Term Break, what does “wearing a poppy bruise on his left temple” imply?
- Sign of remembrance.
- Wearing not part of him.
- Hit at the weakest point on the head.
- Unfair death.
In Mid-Term Break, what does “no gaudy scars” imply?
- He escaped visible injury.
- Quick death.
In Mid-Term Break, what is the significance of the last stanza?
- There is a point of realisation.
- Stanza is cut short just like his life.
In The Early Purges, what is the significance of the title?
- Cleansing to remove impurities.
- Eliminating dissidents.
- Many more to come.
In The Early Purges, what does “I was six when I first saw” imply?
- The event is stuck in his memory.
- It was repeated after.
- Innocence of his childhood ended.
- Full stop allows reader to think.
In The Early Purges, what does “a frail metal sound” imply?
-The kittens were small and delicate.
In The Early Purges, what does “soft paws scraping like mad” imply?
- Desperate to escape.
- The water level is rising.
In The Early Purges, what is the significance of line 7?
- Meant to be comforting.
- Doesn’t feel any remorse or guilt.
In The Early Purges, what is the significance of “dead”?
-At the end for effect.
In The Early Purges, what does “for days I sadly hung” imply?
-First experience of death.
In The Early Purges, what does “the fear came back” imply?
- Fear of death
- Never really forgets.
In The Early Purges, what does “sickening tug” imply?
- Replays the moment.
- Heaney surrounded by death.
In The Early Purges, what does “I just shrug” imply?
- Desensitised.
- Thoughts as a child wrong.
- Looks at the world differently.
- Victim of propaganda.
In The Early Purges, what is the main theme?
- He becomes desensitised.
- He realises that everything dies.
In The Summer of Lost Rachel, what is the significance of the first stanza?
-Everything is growing.
In the Summer of Lost Rachel, what does “the rain’s soft-soaping ways” imply?
-Trying to wash away the grief.
In the Summer of Lost Rachel, what does “broke down last May” imply?
- World isn’t a good place.
- Lay to rest.
In the Summer of Lost Rachel, what does “your whited face” imply?
- Innocence.
- Religious.
In the Summer of Lost Rachel, what does “gashed from the accident” imply?
-Seared into his memory.
In the Summer of Lost Rachel, what does “the setting sun set merciless” imply?
-He can’t sleep on it.
Give four things to include in a Heaney essay.
- General techniques
- Change of mood
- Reflections
- Multiple meanings
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