The Tollund Man: Key Quotes

“The Tollund Man: Key Quotes”

Opening Imagery

• “His naked front” - The use of the adjective ‘naked’ highlights the exposure and vulnerability of the Tollund Man, as he is displayed in a museum.
• “The pointed skin and bone” - Here, Heaney vividly describes the Tollund Man’s preservation, through the literal ‘skin and bone’ of the ancient body.

Portrayal of Death

• “his peat-brown head” - Heaney uses ‘peat-brown’ to blend the man and the land, insinuating that the Tollund Man is intrinsically linked with the earth he was buried in.
• “Those mild pods” - The unexpected use of ‘mild pods’ to label the Tollund Man’s eyes can be seen as an attempt to humanise his death, lending an intimate and tender note to his demise.

Connection to the Present

• “Out there in Jutland” - This is a geographical reference and thus establishes a connection between the past and the present. Heaney is reaching back into history to understand the present.
• “I will feel lost, unhappy and at home” - This paradoxical statement at the end of the poem epitomises Heaney’s complex feelings about the violence in both ancient and modern societies.

Reflection on Violence

• “Bridegroom to the goddess” - This personification suggests that the sacrificial killing of the Tollund Man had a religious or ritualistic purpose, offering a wider commentary on the nature of violence.
• “she tightened her torc on him and opened her fen” - The violent imagery brings to light the brutal sacrificial ritual that the Tollund Man was subjected to. It creates a grim parallel with Heaney’s contemporary Northern Ireland.