A Kite for Michael and Christopher: Structure & Language Techniques

“A Kite for Michael and Christopher: Structure & Language Techniques”

Seamus Heaney: The Poem’s Perspective

• “A Kite for Michael and Christopher” is shared from the perspective of an older, detached observer who reflects upon the experience of flying a kite.
• This detached viewpoint creates an atmosphere of loss and longing.

Structure: Non-rhyming & Free-Form

• The poem follows a non-rhyming, free-form structure, allowing for natural expression of thought with a story telling feel, resembling spoken language.
• It is divided into three sections, each representing a different state or moment: the expectation of flight, the act of flying, and the aftermath.

Language Techniques: Simile, Metaphor & Sensory Detail

• Heaney employs simile effectively, comparing the kite to a “broken world” symbolising the fragmented nature of Heaney’s contemporary society, and the kite’s flight to “winnowed grain”, speaking to the selective, discriminating nature of memory.
• The poem uses metaphor; the kite itself is symbolic of hope, freedom, and the potential for transcendence.

Imagery: Colour & Natural Elements

• Colour is used to evoke specific moods and feelings; the “rainbow” of the kite represents hope, while the “blue” light speaks to the desolation and despondency felt by the children.

• Heaney employs natural elements to illustrate the highs and lows of the kite’s journey, such as the “wind” representing unseen forces driving life’s experiences.

Syntax: Repetition & Rhythm

• The poem features rhythmic repetition (“high, higher”) that helps to emphasise the emotional trajectory of the poem.

Diction: Elevation & Decline

• The diction used in the poem draws a clear line between the notions of elevation and decline, reinforcing the key themes and providing a metaphorical commentary on the cycles of life and death.