Family Tragedy “Mid- Term Break” is a poem written by Seamus Heaney. This poem concerns a mournful young man grieving a death in the family, which is believed to be a possible younger brother. “I saw him for the first time in six weeks. Paler now (line 18).” Heaney uses language throughout the poem to show that something bad has happened and the cruel reality of a death in the family. “Mid- Term Break” conveys real-life problems to show that death is always around the corner, no matter how old you are.
Thinking about a “Mid- Term Break,” it is assumed to be talking about some sort of break such as, spring break, winter break, or even a holiday away from the responsibilities of life. However, that is not exactly the case in this poem, to …show more content…
The words seem to be filled with regret since he had not seen the boy in so long. He brings narration to how the boy looked, “Wearing a poppy bruise on his left temple, / He lay in the four foot box as in his cot. / No gaudy scars, the bumper knocked him clear (19 -21).” This description is very powerful in the language and coldness that is expressed. Throughout the poem, it seems as if the narrator is going through a very hard time to realize that the young boy is actually dead and it is not some cruel joke. Michael Woods wrote, “the word “cot,” along with the earlier use of “pram” in stanza three emphasizes the unnatural eruption of death into the life of a family with very young children. Heaney chooses to add a single line stanza to complete the poem that has seven three line stanzas preceding it. The effect of this is to present a terrible equation on its own, something that stands out baldly and inescapably (Woods).” At the very end of the poem, Heaney hits you with the cold reality that the young boy that died was only four years old. “A four foot box, a foot for every year (22).” Throughout the whole poem, it is never really said who died, however, once you realize that he was four years old, it is very heart-breaking. Spacey states, “the last line is full of pathos, the four-foot box measuring out the life of the victim in years. Note
Thinking about a “Mid- Term Break,” it is assumed to be talking about some sort of break such as, spring break, winter break, or even a holiday away from the responsibilities of life. However, that is not exactly the case in this poem, to …show more content…
The words seem to be filled with regret since he had not seen the boy in so long. He brings narration to how the boy looked, “Wearing a poppy bruise on his left temple, / He lay in the four foot box as in his cot. / No gaudy scars, the bumper knocked him clear (19 -21).” This description is very powerful in the language and coldness that is expressed. Throughout the poem, it seems as if the narrator is going through a very hard time to realize that the young boy is actually dead and it is not some cruel joke. Michael Woods wrote, “the word “cot,” along with the earlier use of “pram” in stanza three emphasizes the unnatural eruption of death into the life of a family with very young children. Heaney chooses to add a single line stanza to complete the poem that has seven three line stanzas preceding it. The effect of this is to present a terrible equation on its own, something that stands out baldly and inescapably (Woods).” At the very end of the poem, Heaney hits you with the cold reality that the young boy that died was only four years old. “A four foot box, a foot for every year (22).” Throughout the whole poem, it is never really said who died, however, once you realize that he was four years old, it is very heart-breaking. Spacey states, “the last line is full of pathos, the four-foot box measuring out the life of the victim in years. Note