Casualty
Poetry
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Seamus Heaney
Casualty Theme
Themes
Violence and Innocence : Violence during “The Troubles” in Ireland is the major theme of this poem. The fisherman was killed just because he wanted a drink and broke the curfew. He did not mean harm. He was not political or violent. But he still became a “casualty.” The poem shows how ordinary, innocent people suffered and died in a time of political conflict.
Friendship and Respect : The...
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Casualty Quotations
Quotes
“He was blown to bits
Out drinking in a curfew”
Exp: The fisherman was killed in an explosion while drinking during curfew hours. He did not follow the rules, but he was not doing anything evil. This shows how innocent people also became victims of violence during The Troubles in Ireland.
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Casualty Summary
The poem “Casualty” is about an ordinary man—a fisherman—who is killed in an explosion during the violent time of The Troubles in Northern Ireland. Heaney writes about this man with deep respect and sadness. The poem shows how political violence destroys innocent lives.
The poem has three parts, and each part shows a different side of the story— the man’s life, his death, and Heaney’s memories of...
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