Heaney Exam Question A Constable Calls

Preparation The Prescribed Poetry section is worth 50 marks. You should spend no more than 50 minutes on this section. Read the questions and underline the important words in the question. Use quotations and references from the poem to support your points. Try to use the question in your answer – it will help you to stay focused on the question asked.

From your reading of this poem, explain why the constable called to the Heaney house. Support your answer with reference to the poem. The constable called to the Heaney home to check the “tillage returns” that his father had made. The constable had a “heavy ledger” with the amounts that Heaney’s father had returned and he wanted to check them and ensure that the poet’s father had not forgotten to declare anything. This is why he asks him if he had, “Any other root crops”.         From reading the poem I suspect this was an annual visit that both the poet and his father disliked.

The poet as a young boy observes many details about the constable in the poem. Identify the detail that you find most striking and explain why you find it be so. The detail that the young Heaney observed that I found most striking was:“…..the polished holster with its buttoned flap, the braid cord Looped into the revolver butt. Heaney dedicates an entire stanza to the description of the gun. It is described in very precise detail. This reinforces its importance and how the child was affected by it. As a child Heaney “sat staring” at the gun and wondering if his father would get into trouble for failing to declare the “line of turnips”.        I thought the description was striking because it is the thing about the constable that is described in most detail. The gun is a symbol of power and as a child Heaney is all too aware of it.  

“I assumed Small guilt and sat imagining the black hole in the barracks”. Explain what you think the poet means by these lines? Heaney has been witnessing the constable calling to check the tillage returns. As he listens to his father, he realises that he has lied to the constable and has failed to declare “a line of turnips” on his land. He remains silent about it; even though he knows it is wrong. As a child he worries about the consequences of this lie. He has obviously heard about the “black hole in the barracks” and he worries will his father and he end up there because they lied.

Long Question Imagine you are the young Seamus Heaney. Write a diary entry about the day the constable called. Your diary entry should be based on your reading of the poem.

Diary entry July, 1953 Dear Diary, It was a terrible day today. The constable called for the tillage returns. I had a feeling it was him when I saw the black bicycle leaning beside the window. When I went into the sitting room there he was with a big black book. His cap was off for once and he looked very serious. My father acted differently around him. He didn’t joke and his voice sounded different. I couldn’t keep my eyes off his gun. Was he going to use it when he realised that dad had lied? I tried to act normally when he said there was nothing else to declare? Why did dad lie to him? I thought you had to tell the truth to the police. As he left he looked at me and I had a feeling that he knew that we had kept something from him. I held my breath as he got on to his bike. I could hear him moving away but he could come back anytime. I’m really worried. What if he investigates our lands and finds the turnips? I don’t want my father to end up in the barracks. Please God he won’t! I’ll write again tomorrow, Diary, as I have to go to milk the cows. Best wishes, Seamus.

Leaving Certificate 2001 What over all impression of the constable do you get from the above poem? From my reading of the poem ‘A Constable Call’, my overall impression of the Constable generates from the minor details that a young Seamus Heaney presents to his readers about the Constable. The Constable is conveyed as an invader as he ‘stood at the windowsill’ like a strange, threatening present. There is something ugly about the ‘fat black handlegrips’ that seems to say something about its owner. When the Constable speaks suddenly: ‘any other root crop’ ,we can see he has a very abrupt manner and he is there on official business.

Q 2 Where in the language of the poem is that impression most fully created? (10) Seamus Heaney uses language that expresses the fear and power related with the RUC in Northern Ireland at this time,. A tone of fear and threat is built up around the constable as Heaney describes the pedals as being ‘relieved of the boot of the law’. Heaney uses language associated with power, law and authority, such as ‘boot’, ‘cap 'and ‘ledger’ all are symbols. The phrase ‘black hole in the barracks’ is also use to show readers the horror and fear of the Catholic population in Northern Ireland.

Textbook Pg. 183 Question 10 ‘What I find appealing in the poetry of Seamus Heaney.’ write an essay in which you outline the appeal that Heaney’s poetry has for you. Some of the following points might be included: His skill as a poet (language) The themes ( personal) The attachment to his home place. Attention to detail The memorable lines and images that stay with you.

Over to you! How does the young boy in the poem feel about the constable? Support your answer by reference to the poem.