1. ‘Mid-Term Break’
National 5 English

2. Lesson Objectives
Look at the poem ‘Mid-Term Break’ by Seamus Heaney
Consider the effect of the title of the poem
Introduction to analysing poetry

3. Think, Pair, Share
Take one minute to THINK in silence about what impression you get from the title. What is the poem going to be about?
One minute to SHARE your thoughts with your partner
SHARE your ideas with the rest of the class

4. What’s it really about? Read the text of the poem
Having read the poem, what do you now realise that it is about?
Why do you think, therefore, that the poet chose such an ambiguous title?

5. Get into the spirit of poetry!
The SPIRIT technique gives you a quick way to crack open a poem, pull it apart and explore the main ideas and themes.
It features six areas of analysis.
Copy this table into your jotter to refer to later.

6. Task 1 What does each area for analysis include?
What should you be looking for / thinking about?
The teacher will allocate you ONE of the areas. With your partner, take 5 minutes to create a mini-mindmap of what you think that analysis area would include.

8. Stanza One
First clue that something is wrong
Used to describe funeral bells. Foreshadows the ending of the poem.
I sat all morning in the college sick bay Counting bells knelling classes to a close, At two o'clock our neighbours drove me home.
Alliteration. Creates the rhythm of a bell swinging. Imagery
Second clue. Tension is being created.

9. Imagery. Unusual to see a man crying
Imagery. Unusual to see a man crying. Boys tend to idolise their fathers. Shocking to poet.
Stanza two
Metaphor. Childish confusion. Unable to understand the situation.
In the porch I met my father crying - He had always taken funerals in his stride - And Big Jim Evans saying it was a hard blow.
Pun. Double meaning - an emotional blow/shock, but also image of the impact of the car.

10. Stanza three
Almost inappropriate given the situation. Highlights innocence of baby. Contrasts with poet himself.
Onomatopoeia
The baby cooed and laughed and rocked the pram When I came in, and I was embarrassed By old men standing up to shake my hand
Emotions. Feels confused and awkward.
A sign of respect. Unusual as normally young people show respect to elders.

11. Stanza four
Euphemism. A platitude. Awkwardness of the visitors also.
Enjambement
And tell me they were "sorry for my trouble," Whispers informed strangers I was the eldest, Away at school, as my mother held my hand
A mark of respect, but ultimately creates an unpleasant atmosphere
Responsibility for his younger brother. Suggests he feels guilty.

12. Stanza five
Reveals the mother’s emotions. Juxtaposed to image of father. How does she really feel? What is her reason for holding hands?
Enjambement
In hers and coughed out angry tearless sighs. At ten o'clock the ambulance arrived With the corpse, stanched and bandaged by the nurses.
Dehumanised. Poet is detached from the situation. Can’t accept brother’s death.

13. Stanza six
Again, detached. Can’t relate it to his brother.
Small white flower. Pure. Innocent.
Time shift
Next morning I went up into the room. Snowdrops And candles soothed the bedside; I saw him For the first time in six weeks. Paler now,
Simplistic imagery.
Guilty at not having been there.
Personification. Creates a calm and peaceful atmosphere. Sibilance used to mimic a mother and baby.

14. Stanza seven & Final line
Metaphor. Shape/size/colour, but also the association with death/remembrance.
Wearing a poppy bruise on the left temple, He lay in the four foot box as in a cot. No gaudy scars, the bumper knocked him clear.
A four foot box, a foot for every year.
Simile. Appears as if he is asleep. Tender image. Shock to the reader.
Single line
Repetition & Alliteration
Reveals the accident
Only rhyme in the poem