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Analysis Of The Poem ' The Old People ' And ' A Drink Of Water '

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Montague and Heaney both write about their observations on old age.
Compare and contrast two poems, one by ach poet, taking account of the methods which each poet uses to write about old age.

Both ‘Like Dolmens Round My Childhood, The Old People’ by John Montague and ‘A Drink Of Water’ by Seamus Heaney deal with the theme of old age in a rural Irish environment. ‘A Drink of Water’ tells the story of woman who Heaney sees collecting water from the well on his family land. Heaney then goes on to compare the older woman to the literal water pump she collects from, and comments on how this can be related to the theme of the poetic process itself. Montague takes a different approach to theme of old age. He reminisces on the elderly people who filled his childhood, and comments on the difference between his feelings about the old people when he was a child, and his feelings now that he has matured and grown up.
The poet’s use of structure is very important. Heaney’s use of a traditional sonnet form in ‘A Drink of Water’, but then personalises it. It could be said that he uses a traditional poetry form to emulate the traditional views of the woman in the poem, as can be seen from ‘Remember the Giver’ that is inscribed on her cup. Montague uses a series of vignettes in order for the reader to get to know the older people. Through these vignettes, the reader is allowed an insight into these people’s lives.
Both poems are highly personal, and this is portrayed in the tone. ‘Like

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