World Lit. A—Brit Lit.

NaTurE and THe  POeT

seamus heaney

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Each and every human being is part of nature, even if we live all of our lives in a huge city.  Everyone that sits under a tree in summer, walks through a park, or herds animals in an open field is affected by nature in some way.   Many poets include descriptions of nature in their poems.  They describe the world around them because they see life reflected in it.  They not only try to show us what they see, they try to make us understand how they feel.  There is more meaning in nature than just the plants and animals around us.  Ted Hughes, Eavan Boland, and Seamus Heaney are poets who have used nature in their poems to communicate something about life.

DIRECTIONS:

  

1.  Look at the following sites for examples of nature in SEAMUS HEANEY’s life.  Look at rural landscapes and bog lands in Northern Ireland and Wales.  Open a MS Word document and record 5-7 thorough descriptions of these areas.  It is permissible to cut and paste chunks of information.

2.  Then, look at these sites about HEANEY.  Record 5-7 significant pieces of information regarding Heaney, his writings, and his connection to the land.

3.  From the above poems, choose one you like. Read it carefully several times. Type your responses to the following questions. You will have explored the connection between humans and the natural world.

  • POEM BY HEANEY: (Write the name of the poem)
  • THE POET'S BACKYARD:  Since we don't all live in rural areas, it is difficult to really feel the way he did about nature.  After looking at some pictures of the rural landscapes, bog wetlands, and open meadows of Northern Ireland, write about your impression of Heaney’s "backyard".
  • FEEL THE IMAGERY:  What sights, sounds, smells, sensations, and descriptions of nature are featured in the poem you chose?  What emotional effect are they supposed to have—think about what Heaney wants to you to feel about them?  What does Heaney mean by the descriptions?  Write about some of the best examples from the poem.
  • THE POETIC EFFECT:  Consider the images and ideas from above.  What overall picture of nature does it create (for example, is nature harsh, peaceful, unpredictable, a metaphor for something, a backdrop, etc?)  How does it affect you?  Explain your ideas about each question.
  • CONCLUSIONS:  What conclusions can you draw about the poet's response to nature and its relationship to human beings?  What is being reflected in nature?