‘Poetry implies a decision to change the function of language’. With a reference to a number of poems consider the validity of this statement by Valéry
The writer must be adept at analysing poetry which means talking of its structure form and language, is there alliteration, assonance onomatopoeia, double entendre etc, how does it look on the page, line length, length of stanza and what is its effect and how does it relate to the question. The key words to focus on are; Decision why did Heaney decide to suse the format of poetry or decide to write this particular poem in this form? What was he able to carry across to the reader more effectively by changing the language? Does the statement even apply if so why? and if not why not? (which is why it says “consider” in the title) The function of language and it’s and validity are also key words.
This essay is part of a module called “approaches to text and will therefore need to be laden with an understanding of theorists and critics but they are secondary to the main source of poems which is Seamus Heaney’s North. no other poems are permitted.
You will need to take all the poems you use from; Seamus Heaney North (Faber and Faber) ISBN:978-0-571-10813-8
Use as many as you’d like but I would advise you to focus on three in particular. Which three is up to you, so long as your able to construct a diverse argument for the three that you have chosen find ways in which the language, structure and form of the poem changes the content bearing in mind these poems are all about his vision of Ireland from a personal perspective but also a historic perspective.
As aforementioned this particular module focuses on theory and ways of reading text therefore the poems you chose must have something to say in the way of “Intertextuality” – the interrelationship between texts, especially works of literature; the way that similar or related texts influence, reflect, or differ from each other: the intertextuality between two novels with the same setting., “Post Colonialism” – Postcolonialism or postcolonial studies is an academic discipline featuring methods of intellectual discourse that analyze, explain, and respond to the cultural legacies of colonialism and imperialism, to the human consequences of controlling a country and establishing settlers for the economic exploitation of the native people and their land (in Heaney’s case it will be related to Ireland and the English and Scandinavian invasion that marred Ireland historically , “psychoanalysis” – Psychoanalysis is a set of psychological and psychotherapeutic theories and associated techniques, created by Austrian physician Sigmund Freud and stemming partly from the clinical work of Josef Breuer and others I will upload a file that may be useful in identifying poems with this feature.
The most important thing is the answering of the question thoroughly, do not repeat yourself too much and show a clear development of argument. https://www.colorado.edu/humanities/THEORY/Genette_Structuralism%20and%20Lit%20Criticism.pdf
The above link mentions Valery who is quoted and may provide a good source for you to back up ideas. Howver, needless to say avoid plagiarism at all costs, if it’s something that relates directly to what you have to say take it as a quote and reference it and say how it adds to your argument.
I’ve specified five sources and I believe I have given you two the seamus heaney book and the critical essay by Genette in the above link.I have been unable to locate a virtual link to a ‘Valéry and the poetics of language’ but that also might be a key thing to look at or not.
Also use MHRA referencing style. And use UK English instead of US. I do not have much time to go over this but my style is usually quite ambitious so try to ambitious with your analysis but keep it at an undergraduate first year level.