The Lammas Hireling by Ian Duhig Revision
- Created by: sophielovesenglish
- Created on: 27-06-22 11:42
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- The Lammas Hireling by Ian Duhig
- What is the poem about?
- 1) A narrative using mythology to relay how someone was hired to work on a farm but turned out to be a warlock.
- 2) Raises questions about morality, denied sexuality and unreliable narration.
- Title
- 'Lammas' festival on first day of August Northern Ireland where labour for harvest is hired.
- 'Hireling' temporary labour.
- Structure
- -One speaker, follows narrative, 1st person.
- Something sinister is revealed about the speaker though they are not aware of it themselves.
- Cyclical
- Tone
- Irish dialect.
- Measured and methodical as if trying to hide or deny the truth.
- Techniques
- References to archaic language and folklore 'elf shot' 'heifer' 'muckle'
- Violent metaphor 'blew the small hours through his heart.' Transgression
- Simile 'like a stone mossing'
- Duplicitous language 'lovely head' reveal deeper meanings.
- Themes
- Guilt, violence, Catholicism, transgression.
- Questions: How much is he confessing? Is he homosexual? What happened to his wife? Was he really a warlock?
- What is the poem about?
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