Midterm break

A detailed Summary of Midterm break

The poem I am evaluating in this essay is titled "Mid-term

break" and was written by Seamus Heaney. The poem is about

the laying out to rest of a four year old told from his older brother's perspective. I will be dealing with and trying to

explain the use of words, images and techniques and their

Starting off with the title. There is a dramatic irony to it

that is noticed when read through a couple of times. It relates to the

Child's position in that his life was broken short i.e. "Mid-term Break". It had not been completed. As one read on one will

realise that when the title is decrypted the atmosphere is amplified

This is achieved through a number of factors. The most

important is the fact that it's told from the brother's point of view. The very first word in the poem is "I". This immediately brings the reader into the poem. It opens our minds by making us think, so that the poem can be appreciated, as it should be.

"I sat all morning". Here the emphasis is directed on all. This simple word makes us think how long, drawn out and boring this morning must've been for the brother (who is presumably the narrator). Also there's

"Sighs" is onomatopoeia, which is strange when combined with coughed out.

Getting back to the last point, what significance does the narrator stating he was embarrassed have on the story? Well I think it's a change of emotion from being sad and nauseous about the situation. It inserts an awkward uncertain atmosphere of confusion.

The most literally amazing and by far the most bleaching (mark-leaving) line is the very last. The poem going from sad to happy back to sad then reflective to the end. All these changes are anti-climaxes but all are totally shadowed by the last line which is the climax not cut short by the end but leaving an aftertaste in the mind from all the stimulation. Now, for the last line.

"No gaudy scars". The word gaudy suggests excessive colours, so to me this is a good word choice. It shows the image of the very clean pigment lacking skin with the one vivid bruise where the bumper "knocked him clear".

"I saw him/ for the first time in six weeks" is a very good use of enjambment as it is used for shock not suspense.

It then reads "Paler now". Emphasis being set on the now like it's a big shock. It creates a new atmosphere of reflection and quiet.

Some common words found in the essay are:
It's French, Mid-term Break, Remembrance Day, Jim Evans, Seamus Heaney, Paler Emphasis, Break CE, sick bay, 'o' clock, mid-term break, relief contrast, neighbours driving home, coughed angry, waiting sick, grows grows, told brother's, counting bells, line verse, waiting sick bay, Bibliography N/A,

Approximate Word count = 1726
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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Midterm break

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