The Forge

Question 1

Heaney (speaker) is intrigued about the world he is not allowed to see. Mysterious, fear, magic

Answer 1

All I know is a door into the dark

Question 2

ringing sound from hammer on the metal,

appeal to senses (sound)

Answer 2

hammered anvil’s short-pitched ring

Question 3

The sparks, appeal to senses, sigh, wonder + magic, appealing to child

Answer 3

fantail of sparks

Question 4

shoe being put into water, onomatopoeia

Answer 4

hiss when a new shoe toughness in water

Question 5

imagining what the anvil looks like, simile, world of a child, imagination

Answer 5

Horned as a unicorn

Question 6

he refers to the anvil in a way that shows he respects blacksmiths and their work. He thinks this trade should stay in society

Answer 6

an altar

Question 7

He sees that the blacksmith exhausts himself + puts everything into his work and he compares the blacksmiths’ work to art, calls it an art form. Also calls it similar to poetry

Answer 7

expends himself in shape and music

Question 8

Imagery - he imagines/described the blacksmith himself

Answer 8

leather-aproned, hairs in his nose

Question 9

he remembers a time past, nostalgic, appeal to senses, remembers before horses were replaced by cars

Answer 9

recalls a clatter of hoofs

Question 10

shows the blacksmith is annoyed/unhappy. Alliteration, character development, annoyed by how his skills are becoming replaced/obsolete

Answer 10

grunts and goes in

Question 11

Blacksmith is still determined and defies society, continuing with his work anyway even though mass-produced cars will take over.
Heaney insults modern production, saying the blacksmith’s work is real work and requires a lot more skill

Answer 11

beat real iron out