Seamus Heaney is well represented by the author of the essay bearing Heaney's name on this webpage. Considering the relatively short length of the essay it is surprisingly thorough and brings up good points on the poet. Only a few oversights demand attention.
To begin with, the few paragraphs dealing with Heaney's life could definitely use some additional information. Reviewing the history of an author or poet can greatly enhance a reader's understanding of the topics dealt with in the author or poet's works. For example, if one does not know that the Tollund Man was found in a bog in the lowlands area of Europe (Holland, Netherlands, Belgium), one might assume Heaney viewed him in Ireland. Knowing changes the perspective of the reader and opens up new readings of the poem. The author of the essay does refer to the past behind the selected pieces, but gives little history besides that. Although the date of Heaney's birth might be important, the type of family he was raised in is more likely to have an impact on him. That Heaney is Catholic is vital considering the relevance of religion in Ireland. However, we do not know if he is a practicing Catholic. Does Seamus Heaney write to satisfy a religious urge, a feeling of indebtedness or protectiveness toward the church, or simply because poetry is his gift?
In addition to a pointed historical background, it is critical that portions of Heaney's work be included to allow the reader's eyes to the style and appearance of Heaney's poetry. While it is true that a majority of those reading the essay will be those who are interested in Seamus Heaney and have access to his poems, this assumption cannot be made. Part of the basis of the Ireland's Literary Voice page is to help engross the average web browser in the literature of Ireland. The next best thing to providing cited copies of some poems within the essay itself is to furnish readers with names of books of poetry by Heaney or links to other sources with poems. Nothing else could excite interest in a reader. Moreover, poetry must be read for its analysis to be understood completely. If one is told there is a two-person sonnet in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet between Romeo and Juliet it might be believed, but unless a book is opened and the passage is detailed it might not be understood. The same sense of "Tell me and I'll forget," applies to the analysis of an unseen poem.
Even without the poems as a guide the evaluation of the three poems in the essay is well written, if a little general. The concentration on "Digging" emphasizes the importance of the poem to both Heaney and the author of the essay. As the author states, "Digging" is the, "origin and comparison," for the rest of Heaney's works. Establishing such a base poem is very helpful, especially for researchers looking for information on Heaney. "Tollund Man" has a distinct stress as well, accenting the religious nature of some of Heaney's poetry. "Funeral Rites" addresses the political side of Heaney's writing. This trilogy makes a very complete picture of Heaney's work. The choice of representative poetry is a good one.
Overall, the Seamus Heaney essay is well-constructed and well-written. The gamut of poems presented is good for beginning research and gives several ideas and angles to approach the poet's work. The history of Heaney's life does seem to be a bit sparse for the relevance it has on his writing. History cannot be overlooked in any comprehensive essay on any poet, author or other artist. For additional information on Seamus Heaney available on the Web, search for The Irish Times on Yahoo.