Seamus Heaney- The turnip snedder
The Turnip-snedder
The poem “The Turnip-Snedder” by Seamus Heaney is about an archaic machine that was used in traditional farming, to cut the heads off turnips. The turnip-snedder is personified and portrayed in multiple ways. It is personified in a monstrous way but also in a very god like and powerful manner. The turnip snedder is also used to reflect the idea how some people refuse change even though it is inevitable. The poet’s attitude is nostalgic with a sinister undertone of violence and terrorism.
The poem is written in couplets and contains two sentences. The couplets mimic the sound and feel of turning the turnip-snedder, making it seem like a cycle. The first sentence introduces the turnip snedder as an archaic machine that refuses to adapt to change, with a slight undertone of violence. In the second sentence, the snedder is personified and portrayed as God like with a sinister tone. The overall rhythm of the poem is irregular and this reflects the struggle of manual labor and tough work, creating a sense of disharmony. The irregular rhythm reflects how things always change and that change is inevitable.
The title “The Turnip-Snedder” has a very ominous tone but it also sounds powerful, personifying the turnip-snedder. The word “sned” is derived from old English meaning “to cut” and “to kill by cutting”. By using old English, Heaney extends on the idea that the turnip-snedder is archaic and no longer used. It also hints at the violence that the turnip snedder is capable of and links to the victims of terrorism and massacre on a metaphorical level. Heaney dedicated this poem to Hughie O’ Donoghue as he is the photographer of the picture that inspired Heaney to write this poem. This shows how Heaney is always trying to find inspiration in traditional Irish things as a process of being able to relate and find his identity.
In the opening lines, Heaney introduces the setting and by using the word “age” it creates a sense of a period of time that has
The poem “The Turnip-Snedder” by Seamus Heaney is about an archaic machine that was used in traditional farming, to cut the heads off turnips. The turnip-snedder is personified and portrayed in multiple ways. It is personified in a monstrous way but also in a very god like and powerful manner. The turnip snedder is also used to reflect the idea how some people refuse change even though it is inevitable. The poet’s attitude is nostalgic with a sinister undertone of violence and terrorism.
The poem is written in couplets and contains two sentences. The couplets mimic the sound and feel of turning the turnip-snedder, making it seem like a cycle. The first sentence introduces the turnip snedder as an archaic machine that refuses to adapt to change, with a slight undertone of violence. In the second sentence, the snedder is personified and portrayed as God like with a sinister tone. The overall rhythm of the poem is irregular and this reflects the struggle of manual labor and tough work, creating a sense of disharmony. The irregular rhythm reflects how things always change and that change is inevitable.
The title “The Turnip-Snedder” has a very ominous tone but it also sounds powerful, personifying the turnip-snedder. The word “sned” is derived from old English meaning “to cut” and “to kill by cutting”. By using old English, Heaney extends on the idea that the turnip-snedder is archaic and no longer used. It also hints at the violence that the turnip snedder is capable of and links to the victims of terrorism and massacre on a metaphorical level. Heaney dedicated this poem to Hughie O’ Donoghue as he is the photographer of the picture that inspired Heaney to write this poem. This shows how Heaney is always trying to find inspiration in traditional Irish things as a process of being able to relate and find his identity.
In the opening lines, Heaney introduces the setting and by using the word “age” it creates a sense of a period of time that has