Seamus Heaney- Strange Fruit

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Discuss the context of Strange Fruit.
It is linked to the treatment of black people through bog body, written like a sonnet, encapsulates emotion in tight structure.
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Discuss different lines within the poem.
'Perishable treasure'- Personal emotion, still a human being, links to jewels in Bog Queen, much more to do with actual body here. 'Beatification'- religious term for someone who has passed on, usually killed, worshiped/prayers for dead, beyond that.
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Who is 'Diodorus Siculus' and how is he used in this poem?
He was a Greek philosopher who studied rituals of tribes. He discovered a lot about death and punishment. 'Confessed'- guilty of something, mature exophoric reference- link to end of Punishment.
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Discuss other lines within the poem.
List 'murdered...'- highlighting atrocities reveals attitude to death was casual, suggests a life taken without cause. 'Broken nose'- a victim, never explicitly states how she died but we know it was violent. 'Reverence'- bordering on worship.
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Discuss the importance of the following lexis; 'Outstaring' and 'Unswaddled'.
'Outstaring'- Going to live beyond history, can look despite 'eye holes black as pools'. No rhyme scheme, no control 'unswaddled'- unbound her hair, has no control over what is done to her even in death. Bog Queen- has hair cut off. Punishment links.
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Discuss the importance of other lexis in Strange Fruit.
'Prune skin', 'gourd'-Ugliness, references to plants as in other poems. 'Pash of tallow'- what candles were made of, reference to colour? Reduced to piece of animal? 'girl'- anyone could be married, not a barrier=link to Punishment('little adultress)
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What is the importance of the title?
Title links to 'perishable treasure', mature, link to Hol, song 'Strange Fruit'. Links to what was happening in Northern Ireland. Fruit- fresh, ripe crop- contrasts with reality.
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Discuss the importance of other lexis in Strange Fruit.
'Prune'- was once a plum, ripe and beautiful lost. Pronouns 'her'- used a lot, emphasise that she's more than a body , doesn't directly address. 'Blank as pools'- Similie, no reflection from them in contrast to Bog Queen.
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What is the significance of 'exhibition of its coil'?
Connected with hair as they've got it loose, now it's on show OR body put out in exhibition in museum OR embarrassed, they have made a fool out of her OR link to how they were an exhibition when watched.
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Discuss the importance of connected words within Strange Fruit.
'Eyeholes' and 'pools'- Assonance, vowels give a heavier and darker sound. Compound adjectives such as 'prune-skinned' and 'prune-stones'- holding it together.
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Give a brief overview of the poem.
Presenting her to us, starts from top of body to bottom, no direct message or personal opinions, last line- for more powerful than weapons, doesn't need praising. Imagery+phonology is control, assonance, tightly connected words-'pash' and'perishable'
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Discuss different lines within the poem.

Back

'Perishable treasure'- Personal emotion, still a human being, links to jewels in Bog Queen, much more to do with actual body here. 'Beatification'- religious term for someone who has passed on, usually killed, worshiped/prayers for dead, beyond that.

Card 3

Front

Who is 'Diodorus Siculus' and how is he used in this poem?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Discuss other lines within the poem.

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Discuss the importance of the following lexis; 'Outstaring' and 'Unswaddled'.

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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