Mid Term Break Themes

The process of discovery enables individuals to discover something for the first time, or rediscover something that has been missing or lost. This is by reconsidering what is known and uncovering the mysteries in an individual’s life. These ideas are highlighted in the play ‘Away’ by Micheal Gow (1986), as depicted through the central characters, Gwen, Tom and Coral as they gain new discoveries due to Tom’s impending death. Likewise, poem ‘Mid Term Break’ by Seamus Heaney, highlights the concept of discovery through the death of the narrator’s younger brother. The text Away by Michael Gow emphasizes the importance of discoveries that are awakened due to findings that are already known. This is evident through Gwen, as at the beginning of …show more content…
The quote in the opening stanza “Counting bells knelling classes to a close”, describes the school bells as knelling which suggests an atmosphere of uneasiness and worry. The use of onomatopoeia of ‘bells knelling’ also foreshadows the death or funeral of someone close to the narrator. Likewise, in the 2nd stanza, the imagery of his ‘father crying’ breaks down the patriarchal image of the father in the 50s and further emphasises the feeling of loss and grief. This also demonstrates the narrator’s feelings of confusion and anxiety. However, in the final 2 stanzas the mood is lifted as the narrator sees the body of the corpse of his younger brother. The use of assonance and repetition of ‘foot’ and ‘o’ in “a four-foot box, a foot for each year”, highlights the young age of his brother and brutality of reality. The poet uses full rhyme in the last lines of the poem to bring the poem to a closure reminding the audience of the impacts of death on the family and how quick it is to die. Thus, Seamus Heaney, highlights the idea of discovery of the brutality of the world through the narrators past experience of loss of his younger