Mid-Term Break Essay

Mid-term Break was written in 1966 by Seamus Heaney. This poem is autobiographical as it was written about a real event of Heaneys life. It is about him and his family grieving from the death of his four year old associate. When the tragedy struck he was only fourteen. This poem focuses on how people reacted to the death. The title of this poem is unusual as a mid-term break is normally thought of as a break off school that has been intend beforehand scarcely in the poem it is unexpected. I feel that Heaney is really honest when he writes about how people reacted to the death of his blood brother. The poem is set into eight-spot stanzas, the first seven contain three lines and the last only contains one.The first stanza is set in the sick bay of what we think is his boarding school. Heaney was waiting on his neighbours to pick him up and take him home. We wonder why he was sitting in a sick bay and not at home with his family. Heaney turn backmed blase of waiting I sat all mo rning counting bells knelling classes to a close. This phrase counting bells suggests that time was passing by slowly. The word all is accent as if he is really bored and cant wait to leave the sick bay.The quote also includes alliteration on the letter l showing the long chiming of the bells. The connotations of the word knelling are it reminds us of funerals and church bells which also suggest something not so nice has noticeed. end-to-end the stanza we wonder what he is waiting for and why the neighbours are picking him up and not his parents, which suggests that something has happened to them which leaves us with an uneasy feeling.The second stanza is set outside the family home on the front porch. When Heaney arrives home he meets his father crying which is unusual for him as his father normally took funerals in his stride. Heaney also meets Big Jim Evans who is suggested to be a family friend or a put forward worker. Big Jim Evans makes a tactless comment by saying it was a hard blow. On first reading you dont realise how rough the situation would be for Heaney after the tactless comment was made. Some people may react very harshly to the comment as it is a very upsetting time for families and friends,although we only realise the full extent of this gate at the end of the poem.The next three stanzas are set in the supporting room with many grieving family members and friends paying their respects. These stanzas are joined by enjambment as the poem carries on after each stanza without full stops. As Heaney entered the living room his youngest sibling cooed and laughed and rocked the pram in excitement, an activity that seemed out of place for such a sad event. He was also embarrassed by the older men shaking his hand as he walked through the door. He felt very awkward as it was an unusual thing to happen to him. The old me were telling him how sorry they were for his trouble.Strangers where being informed that he was the eldest, away at school. Hean ey noticed that they were whispering which would have meant the situation would have been awkward for him. Heaneys mother took his hand in hers which wasnt only to comfort him but to comfort her as well. As she held his hand she coughed out angry tearless sighs. She was in all the likelihood very distressed and angry, not only at herself but also the driver who had hit her son. At ten oclock the ambulance arrived with his brothers body. In the poem Heaney refers to his brothers body as the corpse which seriouss very impersonal and a strange word to use describing a family member. I think Heaney wasnt allowing himself to believe it was his brother. The body arrived stanched and bandaged by the nurses.The next twain stanzas are set the next morning upstairs in the bedroom. Throughout these two stanzas Heaney uses personal pronouns but before he had spoken about his brother as another body. Heaney sits alone next to his brothers body. These two stanzas have a feel of a calm and so ft atmosphere which contrasts with the first five stanzas. The first five stanzas have a more awkward, sieve and sad atmosphere. In the room the unusual feeling is gone. The metaphor used at the start of stanza seven, wearing a poppy bruise reminds us of death and infelicitous times. The bruise placed upon his left temple, was probably the same size, shape and colour as a poppy. Heaney uses the word wearing to describe his brothers bruise. By using this word it makes it sound as if it was just there and could be taken off, not something that was permanent and part of his brother. Heaney described his brother as if he was lying in his cot not a put.By doing this it conveysthe feeling that he is just asleep, all well and peaceful a bit like a baby. He looks normal as he had no gaudy scars on his body. We find out that Heaney hadnt seen his brother for six weeks and seeing his brother just lying there with no expression of happiness at his arrival must has made him feel angry and ext remely sad but still he never shows any personal emotions in the way he writes. The last line of stanza seven is where we find out what happened to the little bot. Heaneys younger brother had been hit by a bumper-part of a car-which had knocked him clear hence the lack of horrible cuts and scars. As the boy lay In his coffin he was soothed by snowdrops and candles which helped to calm and create a peaceful environment for grieving family members.The last stanza of the poem is structured with only one line fashioning it standout and seem important. This stanza is very emotional not just for the family but also for the reader as you find out exactly how old the younger brother was when he was hit by the car. Heaney uses the word box which sounds more homely, less threatening, not so much like a coffin. A box makes it sound very small unlike a coffin which is normally quite big. The alliteration on the letter f in the last line helps Heaney try the age of the little boy. The last lin e is placed on its avouch separated from the rest just like the little boy removed from the serviceman alone by death A four foot box, a foot for every year.The simplicity of the poems structure emphasises the emotions that were carried out throughout the poem. During the poem you get the feeling that Heaney is grieving for his younger brother by holding back his emotions because it would be too painful and uncomfortable for him to express it openly. In the first few stanzas Heaney tries to distance himself from everyone and the fact that his brother has passed away by using the word corpse.Heaney uses emotionless statements in his first few stanzas which to me shows that he had emotions but was trying really hard not to show them. I have enjoyed reading Mid-term Break even though it is an emotional poem as it has addicted me a lot to think about. I have thought about Heaney must have felt knowing he wasnt going to see his brother again. This poem was very interesting and emotion al even though Heaney at times, tries tohold back his emotions and it is interesting to see how people coped in their own different ways with the death.