“North”, published in 1975 is divided into two parts. The first contains poems which are more symbolic in nature, taking themes such as the myth of Hercules and Antaeus, the bog bodies of Northern Europe, the Vikings and other historical figures which Heaney uses to link to the ‘Troubles’ in Northern Ireland.

The second, much shorter section, contains poems which relate more directly to the political situation in Heaney’s homeland.

In addition to reading the poems themselves, we shall also be ‘hearing’ Heaney’s voice as he discusses the poems in interviews and letters. We will consider the poems from the first section in weeks one and two and the second part in week three.

Copies of the collection (used/new) are available on Bookfinder.com and Amazon.co.uk

The poems will also be emailed to participants approximately 2 weeks before the course if they prefer to print them at home.