Q3 of 23 Page 78

Answer the following briefly:

Bring out the importance of the potato harvest to the Irish?

From part 1 of the poem, it can be seen that the potato crop is essential for the Irish, as even though the farmers were numb, cold and aching, they continued to power through. This is because potato is the staple crop of Ireland, and having experienced the massive crop failure of 1845, the Irish are aware of the importance of a healthy crop.


More from this chapter

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3

Answer the following briefly:

Contrast the quality of the harvest being described here.


• by machine


• by hand


• during the famine

 3

Answer the following briefly:

How is the image of death linked in parts 2 and 3?

 3

Answer the following briefly:

How can Mother Earth give, as well as take away from her children?

 3

Answer the following briefly:

How does Heaney compare the past and present in the poem?