Hallaig: Form and Structure

Hallaig: Form and Structure

“Hallaig”: Form and Structure

Blank Verse Form

• “Hallaig” is written in a blank verse form. This style, with no rhyme scheme, allows for a conversational flow, creating a sense of natural speech and adding to the authenticity of the speaker’s emotions.

Hauntology of the Narrative

• MacLean uses hauntology throughout the poem. This concept of the presence of the past not only emphasises the speaker’s nostalgia and longing for the lost community of Hallaig, but also subtly addresses the cultural eradication of Gaelic Scotland.

Use of Repetition

• Repetition is a prevalent structural feature in “Hallaig”. Notably in the refrains “Time, the deer, is in the wood of Hallaig”, reinforcing the continuity of nature despite human absence and the ongoing flow of time.

Structural Juxtaposition

• MacLean structures the poem in a juxtaposition between the present emptiness of Hallaig (real time) and the past vibrance of the inhabitant’s life (imagined time). This contrast serves to highlight the loss that has occurred.

Stanza Structure

• The six-stanza form of the poem does more than just frame the narrative. Each stanza contributes to a broader image of Hallaig, helping to build a multi-faceted impression of the community’s destruction and the resulting grief.

Time Shifts

• Through shifting timeframes, MacLean enhances the omnipresent feeling of loss. In one moment, he describes Hallaig in the present, deserted and silent. Then, moments later, he conjures the image of a bustling community, filled with life and laughter, amplifying the contrast between what once was and now is.

The Poet’s Tone

• The tone of the poet oscillates between grief and hope throughout the stanzas. This tonal variation reflects the shifting perspectives of the poet as he processes the loss of his community.