1. art and entertainment
2. books and literature
3. poetry

Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
The Big Picture
• During this unit you will:
• Read the poem Mid-Term Break by
Seamus Heaney
• Discuss the themes and meanings of the
poem
• Understand what is meant by the terms:
euphemism, simile, metaphor and
transferred epithet
• Write a CEL on the poem.
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Critical Evaluation
• 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
Who is Seamus Heaney?
• Seamus Heaney (born 13 April 1939) is
an Irish poet, writer and lecturer from
County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
• He currently lives in Dublin.
• Heaney was born the eldest of nine
children at the family farmhouse called
Mossbawn, near Castledawson, thirty
miles to the north-west of Belfast, in
Northern Ireland.
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
What are the characteristics of
Heaney’s work?
• Heaney's work often deals with the local — that is, his
surroundings and everything inclusive of them. Inevitably
this means Ireland, and particularly Northern Ireland.
Hints of sectarian violence, which began just as his
writing career did, can be found in many of his poems,
even in works that on the surface appear to deal with
something else.
• Despite his many travels much of his work appears to be
set in rural Londonderry, the county of his childhood.
Like the Troubles themselves, Heaney's work is deeply
associated with the lessons of history, sometimes even
prehistory.
• Many of his works concern his own family history and
focus on characters in his own family: they can be read
as elegies (funeral speech or song) for those family
members.
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
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
Mid-Term Break
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.
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.
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
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
In hers and coughed out angry tearless sighs.
At ten o’clock the ambulance arrived
With the corpse, stanched and bandaged by the nurse.
Next morning I went up to the room. Snowdrops
And candles soothed the bedside; I saw him
For the first time in six weeks. Paler now,
Wearing a poppy bruise on his left temple,
He lay in the four foot box as in his cot.
No gaudy scars, the bumper knocked him clear.
A four foot box, a foot for every year.
Seamus Heaney
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Mid-Term Break
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.
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.
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
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
In hers and coughed out angry tearless sighs.
At ten o’clock the ambulance arrived
With the corpse, stanched and bandaged by the nurse.
Next morning I went up to the room. Snowdrops
And candles soothed the bedside; I saw him
For the first time in six weeks. Paler now,
Wearing a poppy bruise on his left temple,
He lay in the four foot box as in his cot.
No gaudy scars, the bumper knocked him clear.
A four foot box, a foot for every year.
Seamus Heaney
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Mid-Term Break
Sense of isolation / immediate suggestion
of sickness and death.
I sat all morning in the college sick bay
Onomatopoeia – idea of funeral bells.
Counting bells knelling classes to a close.
Long, drawn out event, lots of time to think.
At two o’clock our neighbours drove me home.
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Mid-Term Break
Sense that the father is outwith the grief of the
house, hiding his feelings.
In the porch I met my father crying –
Death had been experienced before, although not in this way.
He had always taken funerals in his stride –
And Big Jim Evans saying it was a hard blow.
Cruel (though not done out of spite) pun.
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Mid-Term Break
Baby is an innocent, unaware of the events that are taking place.
The baby cooed and laughed and rocked the pram
When I came in, and I was embarrassed
Although Heaney has taken on the role of an adult, he still has the feelings of a child.
By old men standing up to shake my hand
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Mid-Term Break
Euphemism
And tell me they were “sorry for my trouble”,
Sense of secrecy
Whispers informed strangers I was the eldest
Heaney attended a boarding school so had been absent for the actual event – guilt?
Away at school, as my mother held my hand
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Mid-Term Break
Enjambment / Suggestion that she has been crying for a while
In hers and coughed out angry tearless sighs.
Idea of a long day / Ambulances usually help
At ten o’clock the ambulance arrived
With the corpse, stanched and bandaged by the
nurse.
Removes the sense of humanity from the
body – no longer his brother / Idea that
they tried to save him / ‘stanch’ to stop
blood (or tears)
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Mid-Term Break
Next morning I went up to the room. Snowdrops
Transferred epithet
And candles soothed the bedside; I saw him
No longer a bedroom, now a place of mourning. Calm and relaxing compared to other room.
For the first time in six weeks. Paler now,
Sense of guilt / Realisation that things happen while you are
away / Heaney has a memory of his brother prior to this.
An epithet is a word which makes the reader see the
Mid-Term Break
object described in a clearer or sharper light. It is both
By Seamus Heaney
exact and imaginative.
Mid-Term Break
Seems unreal, as if it could be removed
Poppy signifies Remembrance.
Wearing a poppy bruise on his left temple,
He lay in the four foot box as in his cot.
Euphemism, does not mention a coffin
Simile - cot, for a child, is a place of
safety.
No gaudy scars, the bumper knocked him clear.
He looks perfect / No sign of violence
Sudden death.
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Mid-Term Break
A four foot box, a foot for every year.
•Signifies the brevity (shortness) of the child’s life.
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Stanza
Analysis
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.
•Sense of isolation / immediate suggestion of sickness and death.
•Onomatopoeia – idea of funeral bells.
•Long, drawn out event, lots of time to think.
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.
•Sense that the father is outwith the grief of the house, hiding his feelings.
•Death had been experienced before, although not in this way.
•Cruel (though not done out of spite) pun.
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
•Baby is an innocent, unaware of the events that are taking place.
•Although Heaney has taken on the role of an adult, he still has the feelings of
a child.
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
•Euphemism
•Sense of secrecy
•Heaney attended a boarding school so had been absent for the actual event –
guilt?
In hers and coughed out angry tearless sighs.
At ten o’clock the ambulance arrived
With the corpse, stanched and bandaged by the nurse.
•Enjambment / Suggestion that she has been crying for a while
•Idea of a long day / Ambulances usually help
•Removes the sense of humanity from the body – no longer his brother / Idea
that they tried to save him / ‘stanch’ to stop blood (or tears)
Next morning I went up to the room. Snowdrops
And candles soothed the bedside; I saw him
For the first time in six weeks. Paler now,
•No longer a bedroom, now a place of mourning.
•Transferred epithet
•Sense of guilt / Realisation that things happen while you are away / Heaney
has a memory of his brother prior to this.
Wearing a poppy bruise on his left temple,
He lay in the four foot box as in his cot.
No gaudy scars, the bumper knocked him clear.
•Seems unreal, as if it could be removed / Poppy signifies Remembrance.
•Euphemism, does not mention a coffin / Simile - cot, for a child, is a place of
safety.
•He looks perfect / No sign of violence / Sudden death.
A four foot box, a foot for every year.
•Signifies the brevity of the child’s life.
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Mid-Term Break
1.
What is unusual about the title of this poem?
The title ‘Mid-Term Break’ suggests a holiday of sorts, a time of
enjoyment; in reality the poem deals with a time of grief and emotional
upheaval.
2.
Looking at stanza one, how do you think the poet was feeling? Quote to
support your answer.
The poet is feeling isolated from his family: ‘I sat all morning in the college
sick bay’ Also, he is picked up by ‘neighbours’, furthering his isolation. He
has had many hours to contemplate the events that have occurred, ‘…all
morning’ until ‘…two o’clock…’.
3.
Why does the poet choose the word “knelling” when writing about the
school bells?
Onomatopoeia, the sound of funeral bells.
4.
What type of school did the poet attend? Give reasons for your answer.
He attended a boarding school. ‘I was the eldest, away at school…’
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Mid-Term Break
5. What did the poet find strange about his father’s behaviour?
His father is not his practical self, exhibiting emotion. Usually he
took ‘funerals in his stride’, suggesting that he was used to death.
6. Why is what “big Jim Evans” says an unfortunate pun?
As the child was killed literally by a hard blow, while the family are
metaphorically hurt.
7. Why was the baby the lucky one that day?
The child is an innocent, oblivious to the events and grief which
surround it.
8. Why was the poet embarrassed by the old men shaking his hand?
This is an adult means of communication, Heaney is (despite his
persona) a child, unsure of how to react to such formality.
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Mid-Term Break
9.
What was surprising about his mother’s behaviour?
His mother seems incapable of crying and her grief manifests itself through
anger.
10.
Contrast the reactions of both parents. With whom, do you think, is the mother
angry?
The roles of the parents seem to have been reversed with the father taking on
the more ‘feminine’ emotional role. The mother could be angry with any
number of people – the driver, her husband (protector), her deceased child.
11.
What is unusual about the poet’s use of the phrase “the corpse”? Answer fully.
The word ‘corpse’ suggests that Heaney seems detached. He does not see
this body as being that of his younger brother, rather he has dehumanised the
body in an attempt to cope with his grief.
12.
How does this contrast with the language describing when he is alone with his
brother’s body?
When he is alone with the body (and, indeed, with his grief) Heaney
recognises it to be his brother. He calls the body ‘him’, admitting his emotional
attachment.
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Mid-Term Break
13. How does the atmosphere change in this section?
In this section Heaney seems more at peace. The transferred
epithet of “Snowdrops /
And candles soothed the bedside;” seem to provide him with some
comfort. The room is a place of peace and contrasts greatly with
the busy scene that the young Heaney walked into.
14. Comment on the line “Wearing a poppy bruise on his left temple”.
The word ‘wearing’ suggests that this injury seems almost unreal,
as if it could be removed at any point. A poppy signifies
remembrance and highlights the effect that this event has had on
Heaney’s life.
15. Comment on the simile in the third last line.
Likening the coffin to a cot, “He lay in the four foot box as in his
cot.” symbolises how peaceful and safe the child looked. He
seemed at peace, as if sleeping. Still the death seems unreal.
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Mid-Term Break
16. Comment on the honesty of the last section compared to the
embarrassment earlier in the poem.
Heaney is able to be more honest in this section as he is alone. He
is no longer required to be ‘strong’ for his distraught parents. He is
allowed to be a child, away from the adults who were treating him
as if he were older. Prior to this, it almost seems like Heaney is the
father-figure as his own father is outwith the family.
17. What do you think of the last line of the poem?
Poignant image. Gives the idea of the brevity of life. The use of
‘box’ rather than coffin again suggests that Heaney is detached
from the reality of what has happened.
18. Comment on the poet’s use of euphemism in the poem. What is the
effect of this?
“sorry for my trouble”, is an example of a euphemism. It suggests
that people are almost afraid to mention the real truth. It seems
almost clichéd and provides little comfort. Also, there is a
suggestion that ‘trouble’ will pass, yet this grief will always be there.
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
How does the young Heaney feel?
Seamus
Heaney
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
How does the young Heaney feel?
•
•
•
•
•
•
“I saw him / For the first time in six weeks. Paler now,”
“Whispers informed strangers I was the eldest / Away at
school,”
Isolated:
“I sat all morning in the college sick bay”
“At two o’clock our neighbours drove me home.”
Embarrassed: “I was embarrassed / By old men standing up to shake my
hand”
In denial:
“Wearing a poppy bruise”
“with the corpse”
Confused:
“In the porch I met my father crying –”
Comforted:
“Snowdrops / And candles soothed the bedside;”
Guilty:
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Poetic Techniques
• Enjambment: the running on of the thought from one line, couplet,
or stanza to the next without a pause (no full stop/comma etc.)
• Purpose of enjambment: Enjambment is the continuation of a
sentence or clause over a line-break.
• If a poet allows all the sentences of a poem to end in the same place
as regular line-breaks, a kind of deadening can happen in the ear,
and in the brain too, as all the thoughts can end up being the same
length.
• Enjambment is one way of creating interest through the unusual
sound of a sentence running on when you expect it to pause.
This suggests how Heaney was feeling at the time (i.e. confused,
unsure etc.)
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Poetic Techniques
• Transferred Epithet: device of emphasis
in which a characteristic of one thing is
attributed to another closely associated to
it.
The calm mood is beautifully shown in the
transferred epithet, “Snowdrops/And
candles soothed the bedside” - literally
they soothed the young Heaney.
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Euphemism
• The act or an example of substituting a
mild, indirect, or vague term for one
considered harsh, blunt, or offensive
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Term
Definition
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
Example
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Effect
Term
Definition
Example
Alliteration
Repetition of sounds at the beginning
of words.
Assonance
Repetition of the same vowel sound
“…four foot box…”
“…bells knelling…”
Effect
Mirrors the idea of time
passing
Mirrors the sound of the
bells.
“No gaudy scars, the bumper Signifies the end of the
knocked him clear.
poem. The act of death
A four foot box, a foot for
followed by the realisation.
every year.”
‘wearing’ suggests the
“…wearing a poppy bruise…”
bruise could be removed.
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
Signifies pure grief, ‘all cried
The writer provokes feelings of
“…angry,
tearless
sighs…”
out’
sadness, pity or sympathy in the reader
“…I met my father crying…” A child’s realisation that adults
are flawed, have emotions etc.
Personification
Objects are given human
characteristics for effect
Simile
Comparing two things, using ‘like’ or
‘as’.
Symbolism
Use of one thing to represent another
“…bells knelling…”
Reminds us of funeral bells.
Shows innocence / happiness
“baby cooed and laughed…” in contrast to what is going on.
“He lay in the four foot
box as in his cot.”
“…wearing a poppy
bruise…”
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Suggestion of safety.
Child looks at peace, as if
sleeping.
‘poppy’ signifies remembrance.
Critical Evaluation
• 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
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.
What techniques does the poet use?
Why is this theme emotional?
Is the poem explicitly emotional?
Why is this particularly
emotional?
How has the poet’s word choice etc.
conveyed the emotion of the event?
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Introduction
•
•
•
•
•
•
Your introduction must include:
Title
Author
Genre
Link to Question
Short Summary
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Sample Introduction
• A poem that deals with emotional themes is
‘Mid-Term Break’ written by Irish poet, Seamus
Heaney. The poem describes the aftermath of
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. The poem
successfully conveys Heaney’s sense of grief
through various poetic techniques such as
metaphor, simile and alliteration.
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Paragraph Planning
• Every internal paragraph (not introduction
and conclusion) must contain:
• Point
• Context
• Quotation
• Evaluation
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
How does Heaney convey the grief
felt?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
His own sense of isolation
The reactions of his parents
His feelings of embarrassment
The description of the body
His time spent with the body
His description of the coffin
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Writing Topic Sentences (Point)
• The first part of your paragraph should be
your topic sentence or point.
• This should tell the reader exactly what
this paragraph will be about.
• It should be one short, concise sentence.
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Writing Topic Sentences (Point)
• Every paragraph MUST begin with a topic sentence.
• A topic sentence advises the marker of which topic will be covered
in the paragraph.
• A topic sentence has to do two jobs:
1. it must refer to the question
2. it must state what topic is being covered in the paragraph.
• Look again at your essay question.
• What exactly are you being asked to do?
• What information must you include in each topic sentence?
• 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
Writing Topic Sentences (Point)
•
1.
2.
•
His own sense of isolation
it must refer to the question
it must state what topic is being covered in the paragraph.
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.
Sample Topic Sentences:
•
Heaney’s shows his isolation throughout the poem by conveying
his grief.
•
Heaney’s sense of isolation highlights to the reader how grief has
affected the young boy.
•
The poet’s isolation throughout the poem suggests that death has
forced Heaney to become separated from his family.
•
Heaney’s description of his isolation suggests to the reader that
grief is a personal emotion.
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Context
• The paragraph should contain information
about what is happening in the poem
when these events occur.
• This is the context.
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Quotation
• Each paragraph must contain a quotation.
• A quotation must be written in your essay
exactly as it is written in the text (line by
line).
• A quotation must always be put inside
quotation marks.
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Evaluation
• After you have written your quotation you must explain
how the quotation helps you to answer the question.
• Does the poet use any poetic techniques?
• Do you think he is effective is getting his point across?
• How does this analysis help you to answer the question?
• This is the evaluation of the quotation.
Your analysis must be detailed and specific.
Do not write ‘This shows…’.
Identify the specific word(s) and the technique(s) utilised
by the poet.
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney
Conclusion
•
•
•
•
•
•
Your introduction must include:
Title
Author
Genre
Link to Question
Your personal opinion on the poem.
Mid-Term Break
By Seamus Heaney