Sophie Doyle
Education Assistant at the National Gallery of Ireland.
Listen Now Again exhibition.
‘You are like a rich man entering heaven
Through the ear of a raindrop. Listen now again.’
The Rain Stick
Seamus Heaney
Full episode
Sophie Doyle, Education Assistant at the National Library of Ireland. In our conversation, Sophie shares her extensive knowledge of the Listen Now Again exhibition, which celebrates Seamus Heaney’s life and work and is housed in the new Cultural and Heritage Centre, Bank of Ireland, Dublin.
Podcast episode recorded in collaboration with the JCT English Team
Some teacher reflection questions
Section I : 00:00 - 10:00 - Listen Now Again
Questions
The title of the exhibition comes from the final line in Seamus Heaney’s poem The Rain Stick. He was inspired, Sophie says in the podcast, by the unexpected music of this instrument.
Q. Can you think of a time when you were inspired by something unusual or unexpected?
The exhibition is in the heart of Dublin city centre and aims to be a space for visitors to breathe, sit and be.
Q. Where do you find space for calm in your everyday life?
Section II : 20:00 - 25:00 - Creativity & Conscience
Questions
Creativity reveals Heaney’s craft as an artist. Sophie gives the example of Heaney’s poem Postscript which Heaney continued to edit and change even after publication.
Q. Can a piece of writing ever be complete, in your view?
In Conscience, Heaney manages to address political issues indirectly. A Constable Calls is seen through the eyes of a child, yet also comments on the political situation at the time.
Q. How important do you think it is for poets and writers to address political issues? Do you think it is better to adopt Heaney’s indirect approach, or do you think writers should be more direct?
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