Further Analysis of a Poem 'The Play Way' by Seamus Heaney

Rhyme and Mood
a. rhyme
This poem consists of 20 lines. It is divided into five stanzas that have 4 lines. The first, second, and third stanzas have half rhymes. The fourth and the fifth have the perfect rhymes. The rhymes are abca, abca, abca, abca, and abca.
b. Mood
In reading this poem should be expressed in confidence. The reader should behave as if he has a belief in his self ability.
Figurative Words
a. Simile Meaning
    -    pumps the classroom up tight as a tire
This lines has a simile because the class room is illustrated like a tire which can be pumped. The poets maybe use this expression to depict the situation resulted when the teacher play Beethoven instrument and the students is taking a note.
    -    They note stretch taut as snares
This line is categorized to have simile because it uses ‘as’ to mark the similarity between stretch taut and the snares.

Personification
    -    the music strides to challenge it
It has personification because it uses the words stride which means ‘walk with long’. This verb usually used by a living creature not the music but here it is described to be able to walk on. The meaning is maybe the music is playing and it is very beautiful and powerful like the sun.
    -     The big sound has silenced them
In this line, the big sound is not a living creature but it is described as it can make the other silent.
    -    The pens are busy
Something usually has characteristics to be busy is human but in this case it is the pens which are busy. The pens are personified since being characterized like human who can be busy.
    -    Their blundering embrace of the free
Here, the word ‘their’ refers to the pens. The pens are described as if they are able to ambrace. They are personified like the human so that line is a part of personification meaning.
Deep interpretation
     This poem tells about the education for the children. Someone as the teacher teaches them a free writing to express their emotion. In this case, it is experienced by listening ot the Beethoven’s instrument. As we know, Beethoven is the prolific composer. In this poem, the use of the language is not really difficult. Only a few uncommon words are found here like jive, taut, and snares.  
Message
The message that wants to be conveyed to us by the poets here is about the children and their world. It is about the way to educate the children. Children are a special creature because of their youth.  The teacher should let the children build their own world. Teacher should not dictate their mind like what they expect toward the children. But, they should be given the chance to be whatever will be. The teacher should give them chance to freely writing about their expression.