Revisit the poem "Clearances" by Seamus Heaney on page 157 of Reading the World (linked at the beginning of this test).

Question

Revisit the poem "Clearances" by Seamus Heaney on page 157 of Reading the World (linked at the beginning of this test).

Choose a phrase from the poem that has a double meaning. What do you think the metaphorical meaning of the phrase is?
Justify your thesis with complete reasoning.
Some possible phrases: "peeling potatoes," "bringing us to our senses," "cold comforts," "fluent dipping knives." You may choose a different phrase, these are just suggestions.
Remember that there is not necessarily a correct meaning for a phrase; I am interested in your personal interpretation. As long as it is well-justified it can be a correct answer.

Answer 1

The phrase I have chosen is "cold comforts," which appears in the fourth stanza of the poem. This phrase has a double meaning, as it can refer to both literal and metaphorical comfort. On a literal level, the phrase could refer to the physical comfort of a warm blanket or a hot drink on a cold day. On a metaphorical level, the phrase could refer to the idea of emotional comfort, such as the comfort of being surrounded by loved ones or the comfort of knowing that one is not alone in their struggles. In the context of the poem, I believe the phrase is referring to the metaphorical comfort of being able to find solace in the memories of a loved one, even after they have passed away. This is supported by the fact that the poem is about the death of Heaney's mother, and the phrase appears in a stanza that talks about how her memory will remain with him. Thus, the phrase "cold comforts" could be interpreted as a metaphor for the comfort of being able to remember a loved one, even after they are gone.