Seamus Heaney and the Dinnseanchas tradition

Abstract

This dissertation seeks to locate Seamus Heaney’s work within the dinnseanchas tradition. This is a Gaelic term which refers to an Irish poetic tradition, through which the lore of places is manifested. The introduction provides a brief overview of the importance of the dinnseanchas tradition in Heaney’s work. The first chapter will then outline how the dinnseanchas tradition came to be. Furthermore, it will highlight how other poets adopted the conventions of this Irish poetic tradition, leading up to how the sense of place plays an important part in establishing Heaney as a poet of the dinnseanchas tradition. The second chapter will provide a reading of the poems from the early volumes , namely, Death of a Naturalist (1966), Door into the Dark (1969) and Wintering Out (1972). Particular attention is paid to Heaney’s work as forming part of the dinnseanchas tradition in relation to how it is incorporated with specific, thematic concerns such as the Irish landscape and family traditions. The third chapter will then start off with a brief discussion highlighting important events in Irish history. An analysis of North (1975) highlights how Heaney still adheres to the conventions of this Irish poetic tradition yet also moves to exhibit his concern at the sectarian troubles in Northern Ireland. Finally, the conclusion will synthesise the points mentioned in this dissertation, while also allowing room for development on how the reader can link the works discussed to later works by Heaney, essentially showing how the past shapes the present.