The Poetry of Seamus Heaney

Essay by SmeefsUniversity, Bachelor'sC+, November 2012

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The Poetry of Seamus Heaney

From my exploration of the prescribed poetry by the renowned scholar, Seamus Heaney, I think it is obvious to the readership that Heaney is introducing the theme of 'The Troubles' in Ireland in his poetry. Throughout my essay I will explain what happened during 'The Troubles' and how it relates to Heaney's poetry. 'The Troubles' affected Heaney's community and himself extensively, to the point where Heaney feels he can not necessarily write poetry directly about the civil unrest. Northern Ireland was engulfed in violence and Heaney could not portray this on paper to the harsh extent that it was, which is why he alludes to it in his poetry.

To start with, it is important that one understands the political background of Ireland during the time Heaney wrote this poetry. The civil unrest that broke out in August 1969 in Belfast and Derry began what was to be known as 'The Troubles'. The six counties in Northern Ireland had been partictanded in 1922 and were set up to ensure a Protestant majority. The civil unrest that spilled onto the streets of Belfast and Derry was a direct response by the Stormont Government to supress the civil rights movement. The Northern Ireland civil rights movement had as its slogan, "One man, one vote", which had been influences from the civil rights movement in America led by Dr Martin Luther King. The state's response to this movement plunged Northern Ireland into a sectarian conflict that took 30 years to bring to conclusion. 'The Troubles' seen the British Army become involved in what was to become the longest, most continuous campaign in its history. Sectarian riots and murders from the loyalist side met with Republican attacks on...