From the Irish of Pangur Ban (for Mairin): Structure & Language Techniques

“From the Irish of Pangur Ban (for Mairin)”: Structure

Four stanzas: The poem is split into four stanzas, which represent different elements of the narrative – introducing the cat, exploring the nature of the cat’s actions, juxtaposition with the author’s own struggles, and concluding thoughts.
Varied line lengths: Boland employs varied line lengths to reflect the unpredictable chase of the cat – short for sudden actions and longer for drawn out thoughts or reflections.
Use of free verse: The lack of consistent metrical form and rhyme scheme may represent the author’s artistic freedom, paralleling the cat’s freedom in its hunt.

Metaphorical language: Metaphors are used throughout the poem to draw parallels between the cat’s hunt and the pursuit of knowledge or artistic inspiration.
Juxtaposition: Boland frequently juxtaposes the cat’s focused hunting with her own unstructured pursuit of writing craft, creating a comparison between the two.
Alliteration and consonance: The use of alliteration and consonance serves to create a rhythm, reflecting the rhythmic nature of the cat’s actions.
Vivid imagery: Boland’s use of imagery allows the reader to vividly picture the scenes described – allowing the theme of the pursuit of knowledge to take a tangible form.
Personification: The cat is personified, gaining human characteristics and therefore allowing a deeper comparison between its actions and the poet’s own process.
Symbolism: The cat is symbolic of focused pursuit, success and satisfaction in one’s endeavours. It can be seen as a representation of the desired state of the poet in her artistic process.