The poem
I was six when I first saw kittens drown. Dan Taggart pitched them, 'the scraggy wee shits', Into a bucket; a frail metal sound,
Soft paws scraping like mad. But their tiny din Was soon soused. They were slung on the snout Of the pump and the water pumped in.
'Sure, isn't it better for them now?' Dan said. Like wet gloves they bobbed and shone till he sluiced Them out on the dunghill, glossy and dead.
Suddenly frightened, for days I sadly hung Round the yard, watching the three sogged remains Turn mealy and crisp as old summer dung
Until I forgot them. But the fear came back When Dan trapped big rats, snared rabbits, shot crows Or, with a sickening tug, pulled old hens' necks.
Still, living displaces false sentiments And now, when shrill pups are prodded to drown I just shrug, 'Bloody pups'. It makes sense:
'Prevention of cruelty' talk cuts ice in town Where they consider death unnatural But on well-run farms pests have to be kept down.
I am 15 years old and after reading this poem many times now, as i am doing it for coursework,i think that i am finally begining to understand it. Although I still don't entirely understand where Heaney is coming from, i now know the meanings and bits of the poem which are not so obvious, does anyone know any good sites to help analyse poems, email me!
Thanks xx
HI! Studying Heaney's work for school, and I believe this is a tale about a child's intial brush with the phenomena that is death.It appears to be a recollection of Heaney remembering how he was introduce to the topic of death, albeit in a seemingly cruel manner: the murder of unwanted kittens on a farm. He uses the word purges, which is interesting as this is a term commonly associated with a mass movement of and…
Read the whole commentHI! Studying Heaney's work for school, and I believe this is a tale about a child's intial brush with the phenomena that is death.It appears to be a recollection of Heaney remembering how he was introduce to the topic of death, albeit in a seemingly cruel manner: the murder of unwanted kittens on a farm.
He uses the word purges, which is interesting as this is a term commonly associated with a mass movement of and for death, like those during Stalin's rule over Russia.
His main message seems to be how the reality of life "displaces false sentiments", for after experiencing the heartache of the killing of animals over and over again, he states that "it makes sense", and that "on-well run farms pests have to kept down". He now calls them pests, whereas earlier he described them as having softs paws, and "making a frail metal sound."
Grrr.... I'm having to write a flipping essay on this poem right now, and I hate it. It's annoying how studying something can ruin it completely.
i don't like it!!
If anyone wants to buy a comparision of The early purges and mid term break which got me 20/20 english coursework GCSE. Then i will sell it to you. Email Me
i'm 15 and stupidly chose to study this poem. It seemed really simple at first but now it's just too stressful. I thank Heaney's parents for getting so drunk on that passionate night.
I personally do not like this poem i can see where the poet is coming from but ive always had a soft spot for cute animals and i was shocked at it even though it is true.
im am also reading this poem and i am writing a essay on it but like jen i can not find any sites that could help soo if any one has any sites please email me :) [email removed]
lol... i ve noticed that theres a lot of 15 year olds reading this poem... i guess i fit into that groupie too xP
i'm also studying this poem for an exam, Junior cert. But since i'm homeschooled im not 100% sure im studying properly... anyone have any tips?
I am just teaching this poem to Yr 9. On first reading the pupils say they don't like it but the more you get into it the easier it is. First read the poem through once or twice. Next ask yourself these questions: Who is/are mentioned in the poem? Where is this happening? When is this happening? What is happening in each stanza? What is the mood of the poem( this can be more than one thing as it could start one…
Read the whole commentI am just teaching this poem to Yr 9. On first reading the pupils say they don't like it but the more you get into it the easier it is.
First read the poem through once or twice. Next ask yourself these questions:
Who is/are mentioned in the poem?
Where is this happening?
When is this happening?
What is happening in each stanza?
What is the mood of the poem( this can be more than one thing as it could start one wayand end another).
What is the structure and form of the poem.
Next look at the use of language-
identify simile, metaphor, oxymoron, repetition, personification.
You need to underline these and then explain images or suggestions created by these.
Really its about animal cruelty and how a child's view of this changes as he grows and sees the wider picture.
Good luck