Mossbawn Sunlight

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Mossbawn Sunlight by Seamus Heaney

aunt Mary baking - domestic activity - epitomises love

warm images - suns heat and the oven "the sun stood still" stillness, all positive images, time standing still

wholesome - aunts association with flour and bread

simplicity, ordinary, everyday, love hidden everywhere

violence and conflict completely absent, refuge from conflict and violence

celebration of aunts baking

family - deep affection, depicts her in a kind and nurturing nature

childhood perspective - evokes child mentality - fascinated w her baking, feeling of security

memory poem

poetry- care and patience in baking also important in creating poetry

warm peaceful mood

love

doesn't idealise her, real love, described affectionately yet realistically as "broad lapped" with "measling shins"

"and here is a space" "and here is love"

simile - sun = griddle sky = wall "the sun stood/ like a griddle cooling/ against the wall of each long afternoon"

assonance - repeat o and u sounds, long broad vowels slows the pace of the verse, relaxed.

"honeyed water" "helmeted" "heated" alliteration

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