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GCSE English > Seamus Heaney > Flashcards

Seamus Heaney Flashcards

1
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, what does the word “nosed” imply?

A
  • The river is moving slowly.

- It’s sinister.

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2
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, what does “pliable, oil-skinned” suggest?

A
  • The river is polluted and grimy.

- It is as if the river could be bent into another shape.

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3
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, what does “wearing a transfer of gables and sky” show?

A
  • There is a thin layer of grime on top of the river.

- The cityscape is reflected in the grime.

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4
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, what does “dirty-keeled swans” show?

A

-The bottom of the swans are dirty with the grime.

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5
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, what does “smudging the silence” give the impression of?

A

-The rat has changed the silence to fear.

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6
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, how is the use of “slobbered” and “slimed” effective?

A

-They both contain the long “sl” sound which gives the verbs a negative emphasis.

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7
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, what does “my throat sickened so quickly” and “turned down the path in cold sweat imply?

A
  • He has a serious phobia of rats.

- His response is visceral.

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8
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, what does “But God, another was nimbling” suggest?

A
  • He is under attack from the rats.

- This is a quick succession of events.

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9
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, what does “tracing its wet arcs” suggest?

A

-The rat is inscribing its presence.

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10
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, what does “Incredibly” imply?

A

-He was surprised by himself.

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11
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, what does “I established a dreaded bridgehead” imply?

A

-He had put off facing his fears for years.

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12
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, what does “I turned to stare with deliberate, thrilled care” suggest?

A
  • He has been able to face the rat.

- The rhyme emphasises the event.

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13
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, what does “at my hitherto snubbed rodent” imply?

A
  • He had ignored the rats previously.

- He takes ownership of the rat.

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14
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, what does “he clockworked aimlessly a while” suggest?

A
  • The rat is mechanical like a toy.

- The rat has no purpose for being there.

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15
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, what does “stopped, back bunched and glistening” imply?

A
  • Heaney is staring at the rat.

- Heaney is intrigued.

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16
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, what does “the raindrop eye, the old snout” suggest?

A
  • Heaney is looking at precise details.

- He recognises the features as those of his old enemy.

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17
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, what does “he trained on me, I stared him out” imply?

A
  • The rat sees him as threatening.

- There is a battle between him and the rat.

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18
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, what does “forgetting how I used to panic” imply?

A

-He has realised his phobia is irrational.

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19
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, what do lines 30-32 suggest?

A
  • Heaney’s phobia started in his childhood.

- The rats in his childhood are a deep memory.

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20
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, what does “cold, wet-furred, small-clawed” imply?

A
  • He has never focused on a rat for so long.

- He is able to spot all of the rats weaknesses.

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21
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, how is the use of “retreated” effective?

A

-It links back to the use of bridgehead making the scenario seem like a battle.

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22
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, what does “I stared a minute after him” imply?

A

-His phobia had been serious enough to paralyse him.

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23
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, what does “I walked on and crossed the bridge” suggest?

A
  • He has overcome his fear.
  • Overcoming his fear has given him confidence.
  • He is able to move on.
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24
Q

In An Advancement of Learning, how does Heaney use rhyme effectively?

A
  • Rhyme represents advancement.

- It highlights particular changes and key events.

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25
Q

In Ancestral Photograph, what does “solid as a turnip” imply?

A
  • His great-uncle had a strange shaped face.

- He worked in agriculture.

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26
Q

In Ancestral Photograph, what could “bullies the heavy mouth down” suggest?

A
  • He often got his own way.

- Could be hinting at his character.

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27
Q

In Ancestral Photograph, what does “his silver watch chain girds him like a hoop” imply?

A

-The chain around his middle makes him look like a barrel.

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28
Q

In Ancestral Photograph, what does “long fixed in sepia tints” imply?

A
  • The pictures has been up a long time.

- The memory is fixed in the picture.

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29
Q

In Ancestral Photograph, what does “begins to fade” suggest?

A

-The importance and the memories are fading.

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30
Q

In Ancestral Photograph, how is the use of the full stop in line 9 effective?

A

The reader is made to think by the long pause.

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31
Q

In Ancestral Photograph, what does the use of “he” in line 10 imply?

A

-It’s as if his uncle really was on the wall.

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32
Q

In Ancestral Photograph, what does “as if a bandage had been ripped from skin” imply?

A
  • Removing the painting is painful for the household.

- The removal leaves a wound.

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33
Q

In Ancestral Photograph, what does “a house’s rise and fall” suggest?

A

-The house was at its best during his uncles “reign”.

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34
Q

In Ancestral Photograph, what does “until my father won at arguing” suggest?

A
  • His father usually won.

- His father was skilled at negotiating.

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35
Q

In Ancestral Photograph, how is the use of tone and rhyme effective in the third stanza?

A
  • It is fast paced to represent the speed of an auction.

- The rhyme stresses the event of the sale.

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36
Q

In Ancestral Photograph, what does “through the fair days too” imply?

A

-These are no longer fair days.

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37
Q

In Ancestral Photograph, what does “this barrel of a man penned in a frame” imply?

A

-He is like a cow, stuck in a small frame.

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38
Q

In Ancestral Photograph, what does “I watched you sadden” suggest?

A
  • His skills became obsolete.

- The fairs stopping made him loose his livelihood.

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39
Q

In Ancestral Photograph, what does “stands there still” imply?

A
  • The stick is there untouched and unseen.

- It’s a reminder of what he’s lost.

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40
Q

In Ancestral Photograph, what does “I take your uncle’s portrait to the attic” imply?

A

-The auctions aren’t what define the family anymore.

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41
Q

Give five techniques that Heaney uses in every poem.

A
  • Mood/Tone
  • A change
  • Images
  • Word choice
  • Reflecting on memories
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42
Q

In A Constable Calls, what does “front mudguard” imply?

A
  • The officer is proud of his uniform.

- Possible sign of rank.

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43
Q

In A Constable Calls, what is the significance of “fat black handlegrips”?

A

Sinister

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44
Q

In A Constable Calls, what does “the dynamo gleaming and cocked back” imply?

A
  • It’s during the day.

- Reference to the gun.

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45
Q

In A Constable Calls, what does “the pedal treads hanging relieved of the boot of the law” imply?

A
  • They are oppressed.

- Analogy of the Irish people.

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46
Q

In A Constable Calls, what does “the line of pressure ran like a bevel” imply?

A
  • The hat no longer fits properly.

- The police are a threatening presence.

47
Q

In A Constable Calls, what does “his slightly sweating hair” imply?

A

-The constable is uncomfortable with the situation.

48
Q

In A Constable Calls, what does “the heavy ledger” imply?

A
  • The book is full of evidence.

- Imagery.

49
Q

In A Constable Calls, what does “arithmetic and fear” imply?

A
  • Just like being at school.
  • Big consequences.
  • Intimidated by police/rulers.
50
Q

In A Constable Calls, what does “I sat staring at the polished holster” imply?

A

-The policeman cares for his gun.

51
Q

In A Constable Calls, what is the significance of Heaney’s father lying?

A
  • He wants to keep his dignity.

- Doesn’t respect British authority.

52
Q

In A Constable Calls, what does “sat imagining the black hole in the barracks” imply?

A
  • He feels like a conspirator.
  • Never going to see his dad again.
  • Forgotten prisoners.
53
Q

In A Constable Calls, what is the significance of “closed the domesday book”?

A
  • Ultimate judgement.
  • The invaders are seeing what everybody has.
  • Working out what the family owned.
54
Q

In A Constable Calls, what does “his boot pushed off” imply?

A

-He feels down trodden by invaders.

55
Q

In A Constable Calls, what is the significance of “ticked, ticked, ticked”?

A
  • It’s only a matter of time before someone finds out.
  • Threatening.
  • Repetition.
56
Q

In A Constable Calls, what is the significance of the different endings to the line?

A

-Replicates the awkwardness of the situation.

57
Q

In Death of a Naturalist, what does “daily it sweltered” imply?

A
  • He goes there everyday.

- He is fascinated.

58
Q

In Death of a Naturalist, what does “the bubbles gargled delicately” imply?

A

-He likes the sound.

59
Q

In Death of a Naturalist, what does “best of all was the warm thick slobber” imply?

A
  • He likes the setting.

- He plunges his fingers into the frogspawn.

60
Q

In Death of a Naturalist, what is the significance of “jampotfuls”?

A

-Child like compound word.

61
Q

In Death of a Naturalist, what does “wait and watch unit the fattening dots burst” imply?

A
  • It’s a long process.
  • He doesn’t want to miss any of the process.
  • It happened suddenly.
62
Q

In Death of a Naturalist, what is the significance of lines 16-19?

A
  • He is learning about frogs and scientific words.

- He’s growing up.

63
Q

In Death of a Naturalist, what does “they were yellow in the sun and brown in rain” imply?

A
  • He’s out all the time.

- He’s trying to connect with nature.

64
Q

In Death of a Naturalist, what does “I ducked through hedges” imply?

A
  • He is spying on the frogs.

- He wants to explore nature.

65
Q

In Death of a Naturalist, what does “coarse croaking that I had not heard” imply?

A
  • The frogs were gathering for breeding.

- He was too young and innocent to understand.

66
Q

In Death of a Naturalist, what does “gross-bellied frogs were cocked” imply?

A
  • Like guns that could explode.

- Part of army metaphor.

67
Q

In Death of a Naturalist, what is the significance of “obscene threats”?

A

-Their physicality is intimidating.

68
Q

In Death of a Naturalist, what does “the great slime kings were gathered for vengeance” imply?

A
  • He is guilty of stealing the frogspawn.
  • They’ve won (military metaphor).
  • They wanted their offspring back.
69
Q

What are the two main themes of Death of a Naturalist?

A
  • Military metaphor towards the end.

- Bubble of innocence has popped.

70
Q

In Digging, what does “snug as a gun” imply?

A
  • The pen fits perfectly.

- He was born to be a writer.

71
Q

In Digging, what is the significance of “comes up twenty years later”?

A
  • He’s digging up memories.

- Memories from twenty years ago.

72
Q

In Digging, what does “nestled in the lug” imply?

A

-The boot is used to being there.

73
Q

In Digging, what does “the old man could handle a spade” imply?

A

-He admires his father’s work.

74
Q

In Digging, what is the significance of lines 19 & 24?

A

-They are vivid memories.

75
Q

In Digging, what does “then fell to right away” imply?

A
  • He was hard working.

- Conscientious.

76
Q

In Digging, what does “nicking and slicing, heaving sods” imply?

A
  • Long vowels to show hard work.
  • Onomatopoeic
  • Strong sounds.
77
Q

In Digging, what does “living roots awaken in my head” imply?

A
  • Returning to the present.

- Bringing back the memories of his ancestors.

78
Q

In Digging, what does “I’ve no spade to follow” imply?

A
  • He’s separated from his family.
  • Drawn a line between them.
  • Painful to disappoint his dad.
79
Q

In Digging, what does “I’ll dig with it” imply?

A
  • Different type of digging.

- Digging memories up.

80
Q

In Digging, what is the main technique used by Heaney?

A

An extended image.

81
Q

In Mid-Term Break, what does “counting bells knelling classes” imply?

A

-Shows how long he was there.

82
Q

In Mid-Term Break, what does “our neighbours drove me home” imply?

A
  • His parents were too upset.

- He feels even more isolated.

83
Q

In Mid-Term Break, what is the significance of “I met my father crying”?

A
  • He had never seen his father cry.
  • The grief was too powerful.
  • Other poems show his father’s masculinity.
84
Q

In Mid-Term Break, what is the significance of “it was a hard blow”?

A
  • Blow to family’s stability.

- His brother was hit by a car.

85
Q

In Mid-Term Break, what does “the baby cooed and laughed” imply?

A
  • The baby is excited to see him.

- Baby’s too young to understand.

86
Q

In Mid-Term Break, what does “I was embarrassed by old men” imply?

A
  • He wouldn’t normally speak to men.
  • He’s been treated like an adult.
  • his first experience of respect.
87
Q

In Mid-Term Break, what is the significance of stanzas 3 & 4 being split up?

A

-Shows the awkwardness.

88
Q

In Mid-Term Break, what does “strangers” imply?

A
  • He doesn’t want them there.

- Made him seem important.

89
Q

In Mid-Term Break, what does “coughed out angry tearless sighs” imply?

A
  • Blames the situation.

- Cried too much already for tears.

90
Q

In Mid-Term Break, what does “the corpse, stanched and bandaged” imply?

A
  • It’s no longer his brother.
  • Brutal like the situation.
  • Feels uncomfortable.
91
Q

In Mid-Term Break, what does “snowdrops and candles soothed” imply?

A
  • White with innocence.
  • Less scary.
  • Symbols of life.
92
Q

In Mid-Term Break, what does “first time in six weeks” imply?

A
  • Very aware of time.

- Sadness of separation.

93
Q

In Mid-Term Break, what does “wearing a poppy bruise on his left temple” imply?

A
  • Sign of remembrance.
  • Wearing not part of him.
  • Hit at the weakest point on the head.
  • Unfair death.
94
Q

In Mid-Term Break, what does “no gaudy scars” imply?

A
  • He escaped visible injury.

- Quick death.

95
Q

In Mid-Term Break, what is the significance of the last stanza?

A
  • There is a point of realisation.

- Stanza is cut short just like his life.

96
Q

In The Early Purges, what is the significance of the title?

A
  • Cleansing to remove impurities.
  • Eliminating dissidents.
  • Many more to come.
97
Q

In The Early Purges, what does “I was six when I first saw” imply?

A
  • The event is stuck in his memory.
  • It was repeated after.
  • Innocence of his childhood ended.
  • Full stop allows reader to think.
98
Q

In The Early Purges, what does “a frail metal sound” imply?

A

-The kittens were small and delicate.

99
Q

In The Early Purges, what does “soft paws scraping like mad” imply?

A
  • Desperate to escape.

- The water level is rising.

100
Q

In The Early Purges, what is the significance of line 7?

A
  • Meant to be comforting.

- Doesn’t feel any remorse or guilt.

101
Q

In The Early Purges, what is the significance of “dead”?

A

-At the end for effect.

102
Q

In The Early Purges, what does “for days I sadly hung” imply?

A

-First experience of death.

103
Q

In The Early Purges, what does “the fear came back” imply?

A
  • Fear of death

- Never really forgets.

104
Q

In The Early Purges, what does “sickening tug” imply?

A
  • Replays the moment.

- Heaney surrounded by death.

105
Q

In The Early Purges, what does “I just shrug” imply?

A
  • Desensitised.
  • Thoughts as a child wrong.
  • Looks at the world differently.
  • Victim of propaganda.
106
Q

In The Early Purges, what is the main theme?

A
  • He becomes desensitised.

- He realises that everything dies.

107
Q

In The Summer of Lost Rachel, what is the significance of the first stanza?

A

-Everything is growing.

108
Q

In the Summer of Lost Rachel, what does “the rain’s soft-soaping ways” imply?

A

-Trying to wash away the grief.

109
Q

In the Summer of Lost Rachel, what does “broke down last May” imply?

A
  • World isn’t a good place.

- Lay to rest.

110
Q

In the Summer of Lost Rachel, what does “your whited face” imply?

A
  • Innocence.

- Religious.

111
Q

In the Summer of Lost Rachel, what does “gashed from the accident” imply?

A

-Seared into his memory.

112
Q

In the Summer of Lost Rachel, what does “the setting sun set merciless” imply?

A

-He can’t sleep on it.

113
Q

Give four things to include in a Heaney essay.

A
  • General techniques
  • Change of mood
  • Reflections
  • Multiple meanings
114
Q

Since you’ve been using these flashcards for free, please consider making a small donation for the hundreds of hours it took to make them.

A

http://bit.ly/21T6H3W

Thank you and good luck!

GCSE English (5 decks)

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