Poetry Analysis: Bogland by Seamus Heaney
Juan Rodriguez Lacasa
Poetry appreciation: Bogland, Heaney
In “Bogland”, Heaney describes the landscape of his native Ireland and in particular, the peat bogs for which the land is renowned. The bogs preserve layers of history which the reader slowly digs into, and throughout the poem the tone gives away a sense of patriotism and intimacy. The title suggests a squelched swamp to be avoided, however Heaney shows his love of the place and proves to have a close relationship with this one when he personifies the bog. The tower-like structure, and uneven rhythm help the reader understand the deep meanings of the poem.
In the first verse, Heaney begins the poem by stating “we have no prairies to slice a big sun at evening”, conveying trough this metaphor that the landscape is far from flat and endless, but has profound deepness as well as slight elevations as the reader shall discover. This is reinforced in the next two lines with the word “encroaching” evokes a sense of claustrophobic environment, again contrasting with the never-ending grasslands. Furthermore this word, as well as saying “we”, Heaney introduces the sense of togetherness and community, something very important for him. In the second stanza, Heaney explains that “the eye…is wooed into the Cyclops’ eye of a tarn”. The Cyclops a fabulous creature from Greek mythology, gives a magical atmosphere to the poem. Additionally, when combined with the word “wooed” it seems to be luring the reader into the danger represented by the “tarn”. The wildness and freedom is highlighted the word “unfenced” which is a central idea in the poem.
In stanza three, the reader witnesses a turn in the poem as the elk and butter that had been preserved for years are recovered. A sense of both melancholy and admiration to the beauties of the place are present here. Heaney uncovers the place to the reader through the description and by this its “more than hundred years” of history, which are deeply buried in the land. This is shown
Poetry appreciation: Bogland, Heaney
In “Bogland”, Heaney describes the landscape of his native Ireland and in particular, the peat bogs for which the land is renowned. The bogs preserve layers of history which the reader slowly digs into, and throughout the poem the tone gives away a sense of patriotism and intimacy. The title suggests a squelched swamp to be avoided, however Heaney shows his love of the place and proves to have a close relationship with this one when he personifies the bog. The tower-like structure, and uneven rhythm help the reader understand the deep meanings of the poem.
In the first verse, Heaney begins the poem by stating “we have no prairies to slice a big sun at evening”, conveying trough this metaphor that the landscape is far from flat and endless, but has profound deepness as well as slight elevations as the reader shall discover. This is reinforced in the next two lines with the word “encroaching” evokes a sense of claustrophobic environment, again contrasting with the never-ending grasslands. Furthermore this word, as well as saying “we”, Heaney introduces the sense of togetherness and community, something very important for him. In the second stanza, Heaney explains that “the eye…is wooed into the Cyclops’ eye of a tarn”. The Cyclops a fabulous creature from Greek mythology, gives a magical atmosphere to the poem. Additionally, when combined with the word “wooed” it seems to be luring the reader into the danger represented by the “tarn”. The wildness and freedom is highlighted the word “unfenced” which is a central idea in the poem.
In stanza three, the reader witnesses a turn in the poem as the elk and butter that had been preserved for years are recovered. A sense of both melancholy and admiration to the beauties of the place are present here. Heaney uncovers the place to the reader through the description and by this its “more than hundred years” of history, which are deeply buried in the land. This is shown