1. Mid Term Break
Seamus Heaney

2. What is Mid-Term Break about?
The poem is about the death of Heaney's infant brother (Christopher) and how people (including himself) reacted to this.
The poem is written from the point of view of a young Heaney, summoned from school after his brother died.
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney

3. Term Definition Example Effect
Alliteration
Repetition of sounds at the beginning of words.
Assonance
Repetition of the same vowel sound
Couplet
Two lines of poetry paired together by rhyme
Metaphor
Comparing two things, as if one actually is the other
Onomatopoeia
When the sound of a word echoes or suggests its meaning
Mood
The writer provokes feelings of sadness, pity or sympathy in the reader
Personification
Objects are given human characteristics for effect
Simile
Comparing two things, using ‘like’ or ‘as’.
Symbolism
Use of one thing to represent another
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney

4. Term
Definition
Example
Effect
Alliteration
Repetition of sounds at the beginning of words.
Assonance
Repetition of the same vowel sound
Couplet
Two lines of poetry paired together by rhyme
Metaphor
Comparing two things, as if one actually is the other
Onomatopoeia
When the sound of a word echoes or suggests its meaning
Pathos
The writer provokes feelings of sadness, pity or sympathy in the reader
Personification
Objects are given human characteristics for effect
Simile
Comparing two things, using ‘like’ or ‘as’.
Symbolism
Use of one thing to represent another
Mirrors the idea of time passing
“…four foot box…”
Mirrors the sound of the bells.
“…bells knelling…”
“No gaudy scars, the bumper knocked him clear.
A four foot box, a foot for every year.”
Signifies the end of the poem. The act of death followed by the realisation.
‘wearing’ suggests the bruise could be removed.
“…wearing a poppy bruise…”
“…bells knelling…”
“baby cooed and laughed…”
Reminds us of funeral bells.
Shows innocence / happiness in contrast to what is going on.
Signifies pure grief, ‘all cried out’
A child’s realisation that adults are flawed, have emotions etc.
“…angry, tearless sighs…”
“…I met my father crying…”
Suggestion of safety.
Child looks at peace, as if sleeping.
“He lay in the four foot box as in his cot.”
“…wearing a poppy bruise…”
‘poppy’ signifies remembrance.
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney

5. Themes
Childhood – The poem involves the poet recalling an event from his own childhood.
It involves the narrator ‘growing up’ due to the terrible nature of the experience.
Death / Loss – The fact that the poem deals with the death of a child, encourages the reader and narrator to question the pointlessness of death.
Focus of the poem is on the reactions of people to death and the way people attempt to make sense of the loss.
Memory – Poem recalls an event from the past and this links it to other poems in the collection that involve looking back in order to see the present and future clearly.

6. How does the young Heaney feel?
Seamus
Heaney
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney

7. Mid-Term Break Questions
How do you think the boy felt as the men came up to shake his hand?
How does the father normally deal with funerals?
What differences are there in the mother's and the father's reactions?
In what way is the boy's body described in the poem?
Describe the different emotions dealt with in the poem.
How old was Seamus Heaney's brother when he died?

8. Junior Certificate Question
Poems often deal with emotional situations. Write about a poem with an emotional theme. Say what the poem is about and show how successful the author was in describing an emotional time.
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney

9. What are you being asked to do?
Poems often deal with emotional situations. Write about a poem with an emotional theme. Say what the poem is about and show how successful the author was in describing an emotional time.
Identify what the theme is.
Why is this theme emotional?
Why is this particularly emotional?
What techniques does the poet use?
Is the poem explicitly emotional?
How has the poet’s word choice etc. conveyed the emotion of the event?
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney

10. Introduction Your introduction must include: Title Author Genre
Link to Question
Short Summary
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney