"Funeral Rites" by Seamus Heaney

Paper Summary:

This paper reviews Seamus Heaney's poem, "Funeral Rites". The paper illustrates how this poem reflects Heaney's attempt to show the process required for the violence to end, while also challenging people to rethink their views on the violence. The central theme presented in this paper, is how the chaos of death and violence is understood and processed through the use of rituals. The paper also discusses the extensive use of imagery and symbolism in the poem.

From the Paper:

"The symbols in the poem are also important to the meaning. The most significant symbol is the funeral procession itself. This procession has two meanings. Firstly, it represents the ritual that allows the real meaning of the violent events to be overlooked. Secondly, it represents the process of coming to understand and deal with the reality of the events. In the poem, the funeral procession leads to the river of knowledge and then to the grave site where the mythical figure Gunnar is invoked. Gunnar is a Viking hero who sacrificed himself to end a long fight. The reference to the violence in Ireland is clear, with Gunnar a symbol of sacrifice. The funeral procession as a whole, represents the path that needs to be followed for Ireland to return to peace. Just as a funeral procession leads to the acceptance of an individual's death, the funeral procession represents a process of coming to an understanding of the situation in Ireland and the way to overcome the violence and find the path to acceptance and forgiveness."

More papers on "Funeral Rites" by Seamus Heaney:

• Analytical Essay # 23115 : "Seamus Heaney"
• Analytical Essay # 16189 : "Seamus Heaney and 'Digging'"
• Analytical Essay # 123185 : "Funeral Rites and Burial Practices"

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