The New Pastoral: Plot

The New Pastoral: Plot

“The New Pastoral”: Plot

Setting and Narration

  • “The New Pastoral” takes place in post-colonial Ireland. The setting is rural, capturing the Irish countryside’s history.

  • The poem employs a first-person narrative, where Boland directly addresses the readers, creating an intimate and personal tone.

Sequence of Events

  • The beginning frames the poem within the context of rural life and traditional pastoral poetry.

  • Boland critiques the conventional idealisations of rural life, revealing the harsher realities of the countryside the narrator experiences, leading to the creation of what she terms the “New Pastoral”.

  • The climax occurs when Boland directly challenges the tired old stereotypes and romantic notions of Ireland’s rural setting.

Engagement with the Past

  • Boland engages with the historical, social, and political repercussions of colonisation on Ireland, particularly on its agrarian society.

  • She redefines the traditional pastoral poetry, to represent an honest portrayal of rural Ireland, encompassing its past struggle and current realities.

Linking Poems

“Night Feed”

  • Boland’s consistent focus on the mundane realities of life links “The New Pastoral” to “Night Feed”. The poems illuminate everyday life, using domestic and rural imagery.

“The Famine Road”

  • Similar to “The New Pastoral”, “The Famine Road” explores the harsh realities of rural life, emphasizing the impact of historical events.

“The Black Lace Fan My Mother Gave Me”

  • This poem, like “The New Pastoral”, investigates the intersection of personal and political histories, engaging with themes of memory and recall.

“Mother Ireland”

  • Both “The New Pastoral” and “Mother Ireland” offer a critical examination of traditional Irish symbolism, moving beyond tired stereotypes.