What is the Mood of Heaney’s Poem “Tollund Man?”

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Hi,

Seamus Heaney’s poem “Tolland Man” seems so confusing and difficult to understand its mood, which constantly changes. Can you please describe its mood in detail?

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Yes, you are right that the mood of this poem does not remain constant; and it varies from one part to another. The opening part of this poem shows expectation and determination—“ Some day I will,” also it is respectful when speaker wishes to “stand for a long time,” in front of dead one, “bridegroom to the goddess.” On the part of corpse, a sense of powerlessness prevails as larger forces are taking him along. The “torc” and “fen” of “goddess” consume him. Then, he is left to “turf cutters.” In the second part, he feels distressed, calling upon the words like “blasphemy” in order to depict his impotent lodgings. In the final part, Heaney persona undergoes despair, “sad freedom.”