Comparing “Mid-term Break” and “The Early Purges” Essay Example

as evidenced by his "slung" of the bucket with no regard. Furthermore, his use of "pumped in" water extends their death, rather than quickly immersing them, which would have been less painful and simpler.

The initial stanza of the poem creates a particular effect by describing him as nasty, cruel and heartless. The following stanza begins with a rhetorical inquiry to reassure both the speaker and poet. It appears that he is trying to convince himself of the correctness of his actions, despite an inner sense that it may be wrong. This prompts questions about his intentions for engaging in such brutal behavior if he is not entirely convinced of its propriety. The poet uses a simile involving "wet gloves" to draw a comparison between something familiar - gloves - and something unfamiliar - drowning kittens. Gloves are easily lost or ignored, have little value and can be replaced easily; similarly, the kittens are depicted as being worthless and unimportant like gloves.

The kittens are deemed worthless by "Dan" on the farm and are discarded on the "Dunghill," conveying a somber tone as they are viewed as pests instead of beloved pets. The narrator, a young boy, is impacted by this sight, hanging the kittens in a sorrowful manner, indicating his sympathy towards their fate. The boy's use of the term "sogged" signifies his innocence, aligning with the kittens' youth and naivety. The poet's vivid descriptions, particularly the reference to the kittens as "mealy and crisp," suggests the boy intently observed their bodies, either out of remorse or because it was a novel experience. The word "dung" implies the kittens' disposability and lack of value, likening them

to leftovers that are discarded.

The next stanza portrays the stark reality of Dan's actions through the use of harsh and brutal words such as "trapped," "snared," and "shot." This harsh effect creates an image of what occurs on a farm to unwanted animals. As the boy matures, his attitude towards these killings changes, which is disappointing as he previously exhibited some morality. "Still" signifies his transformation and signifies its irrelevance to him now. His growth has resulted in his desensitization. The puppies were subjected to a similar fate as the kittens; however, their demise was not as extended as they were "prodded to drown." The phrase implies a struggle as they are pushed beneath the water. It highlights the difficulty compared to simply filling a container with water.

The speaker's words may seem cruel, but in reality they are meant to speed up the puppy's death, in contrast to how the kittens were killed. This implies that the speaker still possesses some sense of caring and morality, since he doesn't want to prolong the puppy's suffering and demise. It also indicates that he has come to the realization that his actions are necessary. The metaphor "talk cuts ice" suggests that the prevention of animal cruelty speech affects everyone in the town, underscoring the difference in attitudes towards animals between those in urban and rural settings.

The poem reveals that while people living in the country have to regularly kill animals, those living in the town do not. This is demonstrated by their response to talks about cruelty prevention, as they are affected by it. The differentiation between the attitudes of both groups is

emphasized by the use of the pronoun "they". While the man in the poem acknowledges and accepts their differing viewpoints, he is still required to carry out these acts. The poem's final line leaves readers pondering what has been said, emphasizing the need to keep "pests" under control. This refers to animals or kittens that are viewed as being worthless.

The alteration of the word "have" in the sentence displays the amount of change he has undergone. Although when he was younger he did not understand, he now comprehends that it is necessary. When comparing "Mid-term break" to "The Early Purges," it is evident that both poems consist of three lines per stanza except for the single line at the end of "Mid-term break." It is likely that Seamus Heaney did this deliberately to ensure that the line stands out and has a greater impact upon the audience, or to make certain that it remains memorable. The fact that both poems start with the word "I" indicates that they are both personal experiences, thereby involving the reader in the poem. In the first stanza, alliteration of the letter "C" occurs with "college," "counting," "classes," "close," and "o'clock." This contributes to slowing down the pace of the poem and conveys the effect of time gradually slipping away as he waits.

The boy's act of "counting" the bells highlights the sluggish pace of time, indicating his boredom and possible attempt to divert himself from something. This raises the question of why he is present there. The tolling of the bells contributes to the gloomy ambiance typically associated with funerals or deaths, leading to further conjecture about who might have

passed away. Additionally, it is peculiar that his "neighbours" had to fetch him from school and transport him home due to the isolated setting.

The focus of the poem is on the relationship between unfriendly neighbors, creating a chilling effect. Unlike "The Early Purges," the theme is not immediately introduced, and we only learn in the second stanza that someone has died. The identity of the deceased and reason for their death are not revealed until later on, leaving us wondering what has occurred. The sight of a grieving father crying is also an uncommon occurrence portrayed in this poem. Innocence is emphasized throughout, such as with a baby who "cooed" despite being unaware of the situation - similar to innocent kittens from "The Early Purges." Furthermore, the young boy's embarrassment highlights his youthfulness similarly to how it was done in "The Early Purges."

The boy is experiencing embarrassment as he receives respect from older individuals, which is typically a gesture he would show to them. The poet emphasizes the discomfort and abnormality of this situation, repeatedly highlighting the boy's feelings of awkwardness. Additionally, phrases such as "sorry for my trouble" convey sadness and serve as a reminder of the recent death that has affected everyone, including the boy. Strangers attend the funeral in whispers, possibly out of respect or due to unfamiliarity with the family and a desire not to be seen gossiping.

Throughout Seamus Heaney's poem, there is a focus on the emotions of others rather than his own. He has already discussed the passing of his father and older men, revealing that he feels too much pain to express his own feelings without becoming overwhelmed

with sadness. It's clear that he has been deeply affected by these losses, as evidenced by his mother holding his hand for comfort during their time of mourning. She coughs angrily and tearlessly, perhaps out of desperation and helplessness in the face of such overwhelming grief.

This poem shares similarities with "The Early Purges," where only the speaker feels compassion for the kittens while the younger boy seems emotionally distant towards his brother's death, referring to him only as "the corpse." This might be due to the six-week absence from home before returning to find that his brother had passed away. The last time he saw him was running around like a normal young boy which could explain why he appears unattached to both his brother's death and even the room in which it occurred.

The poet depicts the young boy's struggle to cope, evoking feelings of sympathy. The use of "Snowdrops" symbolizes the boy's innocence and fleeting nature of life, drawing a comparison to the young boy's untimely death and the kittens'. The white color of snowdrops represents purity and innocence. Meanwhile, "candles" are employed to bring comfort and soothe the harshness of the boy's room, as his life has ended. The candles also symbolize the relighting of the boy's life for one last time, bidding farewell.

The candle will be extinguished and the body interred, signifying the absence of the deceased. Alliteration of the letter F in this stanza creates a soothing effect. The poet's prolonged absence makes the boy's appearance more notable. The poppy flower alludes to World War One and embodies a bruise-like quality, suggestive of bright red blood and remembrance. The following line

emphasizes the young age of the child and evokes sadness. Subsequently, the cause of death is revealed as being struck by a bumper, an unnatural occurrence similar to that in "The Early Purges."

This young boy's life was taken from him at such a tender age, evoking a feeling of sorrow. The closing line of the poem, which abruptly ends, compels thoughts of how the young boy may have felt - casting a powerful and melancholic effect. Like "The Early Purges," this concluding line causes contemplation of the tragedy that has occurred. Overall, the poem stirs feelings of sadness as it tells of a child's death. The poet's poignant descriptions of how people cope with grief in their own ways, along with the involvement of strangers and the uncomfortable feelings and intimidation this can bring, conveys a great deal of emotion.

In my opinion, the second poem conveys more emotions compared to the first. This is because the first poem depicts the intentional killing of the kittens which was seen as necessary by people from the countryside. On the other hand, the young boy's death in the second poem was accidental and it occurred before it was his time to go.