Exploring Seamus Heaney's 'My Personal Helicon'

Exploring Seamus Heaney's 'My Personal Helicon'

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson you will be able to analyse Seamus Heaney's poem 'My Personal Helicon' by considering:

•  its title, 
• theme, 
• language, 
• sound and rhythm, 
• structure and context. 

What do you already know about Seamus Heaney's poetry?

Who is Seamus Heaney?

Seamus Heaney was a renowned Irish poet and playwright, known for his rich, evocative verse and deep connection to the Irish landscape and culture.

Understanding the Title

The title 'My Personal Helicon' refers to a spring in Greek mythology that was a source of poetic inspiration. It suggests a personal source of creativity and inspiration for the poet.

Exploring the Theme

The poem explores the idea of childhood memories and their influence on creativity, as well as the connection between nature and the creative process.

Analyzing Language

Heaney uses vivid imagery and sensory language to evoke the natural world, creating a nostalgic and reflective tone.

Examining Sound and Rhythm

The poem features a musical rhythm and internal rhyme, echoing the flowing and lyrical nature of the natural world.

Understanding Structure

The poem consists of three stanzas, each with a distinct focus on childhood memories and their connection to creativity.

Contextual Analysis

Consider the historical and cultural context of Heaney's upbringing in rural Ireland, which heavily influenced his poetic themes and style.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.