The word choice of “Counting,” “sick boy” “classes to a close” also work well to connote the ominous mood which dominates the opening stanza. Since, he is waiting to be driven “by neighbours” it is expressed that he feels alienated.
In addition to word choice in the opening stanza, Heaney uses the structure of the verse to create his narrative voice. This makes the reader aware that Heaney is recapturing the fourteen year old boy because this was a turning point in this life and the autobiographical style, taking us from the beginning to the end of the experience, engages our sympathy as he conveys his sadness as he grapples with the enormity of the loss.
Each stanza has a very simple structure. They all consist of three lines each. They are quite short which reflects on Christopher’s life which was very short. Heaney doesn’t use a rhyme scheme or even a complex vocabulary because he wants to convey and reflect the Innocence of his younger brother but also shows the loss of his innocence and strength. The poem is clearly structured to focus on the funeral of Christopher and then later on focus on Christopher’s corpse, the arrival of the corpse is a effective turning point in the poem.
Heaney’s colloquial reference reminds us of the euphemisms people use to express their sympathy. Often people can’t effectively convey their feelings and make clumsy efforts to comfort those who can’t be comforted. “And Big Jim Evans saying it was a hard blow” is in contrast with “a bumper knocked him clear” uses euphemism in this part trying to soften the words of Big Jim Evans on that occasion because of the situation. It is ironic that Heaney has mentioned “a bumper knocked him clear” towards the ending of the poem.
Heaney’s use of parenthesis is also a effective technique as it conveys how devastating that Christopher’s death really is. In second stanza Heaney’s use of contrast here is very interesting. When he mentions “He had taken funerals in his stride” he was trying to explain to the readers that his father could handle virtually everything and yet he mentions “I met my father crying.” This highlights the surprising and unusual nature of his father’s outburst. He comes to realise that his father is like any ordinary human being and not some mythological god who can carry the world on their shoulders. Where as in the fifth stanza the poem introduces Heaney’s mothers reaction to this situation, and how different and what a contrast her emotions were compared to Heaney’s father. “In hers and coughed out angry tearless sighs” she didn’t show how hurt she was by this tragedy. This was a contrast of what she felt inside and what she expressed on the outside.
The poem is structured to focus on the funeral and the body of Christopher which the poet describes as a “corpse.” Using the word “corpse” strips Christopher from his identity. We tend to pause and imagine the scene Heaney is creating of the body of his younger brother when he says “snatched and bandaged by the nurses.” The reality of his younger brother Christopher is aware by everyone in the room who is present. Everyone has to now face up to the reality. The care taken by the nurses to stop any disturbing marks on Christopher’s body reminds us that he has been stripped by his identity.
The use of “poppy bruise” had a very good effective on imagery for Heaney’s poem. This metaphor had a big impact on the way Heaney tried to convey the Imagery. This shows the shape of the bruise and connotes the colour of blood as well. Heaney associates this with remembrance of his brother Christopher.
When Heaney describes the baby’s actions showed the loss of innocence. He showed a contrast of what was really going on. “The baby cooed and laughed.” The baby was just oblivious to everything. It was a funeral and the baby’s action towards everyone else reminds us of the innocence of the child which applies to the loss of innocence throughout the poem.
The final stanza also gives us a sharp paining full feeling which reminds us of Christopher’s childhood. The fact being he never really had much of a childhood because he died so young. “A four foot box, a foot for every year.” The alliteration here highlights the fact that the coffin is actually Christopher’s cot. Even though this is a sad time, I cant help but notice the frustration that’s within Heaney as he places the image of a speeding car with a final memorial to the loss of life, potential and innocence within him.
The final line showed most loss of the poem. Some techniques were most effective like the use of alliteration on the last line. The contrasts Heaney made through out the poem also were very effective in the poem. Loss of innocence is inevitable with growing up. I think that’s the message Heaney was trying to convey.
