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Poet: Seamus Heaney
Poem: Requiem for the Croppies
Comment 9 of 9, added on November 22nd, 2009 at 11:42 AM.
english
I think Heaneys poetry is wonderful and memorable, his passion for nature and nostalgic thoughts is clear through his work and is a great inspriational writer
Demi Myhill from United Kingdom
Comment 8 of 9, added on May 18th, 2009 at 6:27 AM.
Requiem: Funeral, catholic.
croppies: irish rebels, (short hair).
'Requiem for the Croppies' is a poem to commemorate the anniversary of the Easter rebellion of 1916. It is a Sonet and was written in 1966. heaney begins with describing the battle, the line 'the pockets of our greatcoats full of Barley' tells us that barley was the only food they had. The poem is a narration and the narrator is one of the men who rebelled against England. In the 3rd line the reader see's that althought they were in their own Country, they had to run because the English were so powerful. The fact that the priest is in the same ditch as the homeless shows that every Irishman is equal, and a sence of esprit de corps is seen. The description of the rebellions in the first section comes to an abrupt stop when the realisation of Vinegar Hill is described, 'The fatal conclave'.Conclave meaning a secret meeting associated with Religion. They went to Vinegar Hill to die fighting for their religion. 'A People' and 'terraced' suggest that all the Irish are in it together on the same level, fighting for religion. The fact that they are using 'scythes (against) Cannons' shows that it was inevitable for them to lose against a much more prepared, richer Country. The line 'the hillside blushed' has a double meaning, it is showing that there is blood of Irishmen across the hill and also the shame of losing on their own hillside. The last line, In my opinion is the most important of the poem. It links with the first line and suggests that the defiance of Vinegar Hill is the seed for future insurrection. Heaney is here clearly showing his support for the nationalist cause. The Barley will feed the next army of men, the violence won't stop until there is justice, it is not the end and the dead will not be in vain, they will help feed the future rebellions.
Sadie from United Kingdom
Comment 7 of 9, added on January 20th, 2009 at 3:57 PM.
'Requiem for the Coppies'bY Seamus Heaney is a great poem!
Straight away he introduces us to the main subject of the poem through the title "croppies". "Croppies" was another name given to the people with realy short hair who were the rebel farmers of 1798 trying to save their land.
Heaney, portrays a scene often forgotten "We moved quick and sudden in our own country" but at the same time almost shows the reader a hint of anger that they are having to fight to keep possession of their (The Irish) country.
his use of "we" shows the reader which side they should identify with and support. At the very end of the poem Heaney also shows how little the Irish pay respect and remeber the martyrs who dies for their country.
Chelsea
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I think Heaneys poetry is wonderful and memorable, his passion for nature and nostalgic thoughts is clear through his work and is a great inspriational writer
Demi Myhill from United Kingdom