Mid-Term Break Introduction: The poem Mid-Term Break is a poem from Heaney’s first collection, Death of a Naturalist. Similarly to other poems of the collection, this poem is highly autobiographical and draws from Heaney’s own childhood memories. Heaney’s brother, Christopher had died in an accident at the age of 4, while Heaney was away at school, and the aftermath of this traumatic event is captured in this poem. Point 1 – Creation of the atmosphere Initial foreshadowing -

“college sick bay” – immediately shows death and illness – forebodes death “bells knelling” – metaphor hints at funeral bells – reminding of death

Reactions of people around the persona -

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Father “had always taken funerals in his stride” – this one is different (father has been a figure of strength throughout the collection) – something must be different ‘-‘ emphasises this “Big Jim Evans” – figure of strength – “hard blow” metaphor tells us it is a real loss + unintentionally the worst pun ever. “old men shaking his hand” – role reversal – out of respect – trying to be reassuring Mother – so sad she is unable to cry anymore

Point 2 – perspective of the child – how he is distanced “Whispers informed” – people not talking to him – he is viewing everything from afar “first time in six weeks” – distanced relationship Doesn’t name his brother -

“the corpse” “the room” – no longer “his room”

Peaceful atmosphere/no blunt descriptions -

“snowdrops” – soothing/calming/mother nature/natural beauty/purity of life at odds with previous day “soothed the bedside” personification emphasises calmness “Paler now” could just be ill “wearing” – he has put it on/active “poppy bruise” – WW1 – fragility of life – blood and death “cot” – he could well be sleeping – first time “he” has been referred to – simplicity/detachment “no gaudy scars” he doesn’t look dramatically injured – surprised at how mundane death looks

Point 3 – Title/last line/structure

The title “Mid-Term Break” is a misleading one. Whatever the reader’s expectation from a literal interpretation of the title, these expectations will be subverted through the reading of the poem. The poem is not about a reprise of a break in the middle of a school term but about a break from staying at the Boarding School for the speaker who has to return home to attend to his younger brother’s funeral. Death is seen through the eyes of the older brother through the 1st person narrative voice. This misleading of the readers is a commonality between many of Heaney’s poems, such as Black-berry Picking which provides a much more innocent impression of the poem that is eventually subverted in the progression of the poem. Last line -

Stanza has been cut short just like his life Only rhyming couplet makes the line stand out Heavy “f” sound strengthens the depressing mood of the poem as it emphasizes the brevity of the boy’s life that had resulted in his death at the tender age of four.

Iambic pentameter -

This coupled with the structure of the tercets, with the exception of the final line, provides a stately and measured pace, giving the poem an elegiac quality that is fitting for the subject matter of the poem.

Time -

Line 2 “c” sound brings in time – slow ing Important theme