How does Heaney present Religion in ‘The Tollund Man’?

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The Tollund Man is the second poem in a collection of Heaney’s work inspired by the work of Glob which appeared in Heaney’s 3rd collection of poems Wintering out. Its theme of religion is clear from the opening line “Some day I will go to Aarhus” evoking the idea of a pilgrimage. Although the future tense and the vagueness of “some day” at the opening of The Tollund Man creates an element of foreignness and distance, destabilising our belief that Heaney will reach “Aarhus”, the use of “I will” creates a sense of hope and determination and hints at the devotion of religious minds. This is furthered by the fact that Heaney will travel so far to “see his peat-brown head” and his promise to “stand for a long time”, almost in a state of worship.
Idolisation of the bog man in the first stanza is undermined by the fact he is “naked”, implying he is vulnerable and not important, as he is carelessly “dug” up – This lack of dignity is also seen in Strange Fruit where Heaney describes the “prune-skinned”, “leathery beauty” of the girl. His lack of power in The Tollund Man is furthered as Heaney personifies the bog as an overwhelming female “goddess” who has “tightened her torc on him” and “opened”; waiting for a sacrifice. Whilst the bog man is first portrayed as having no power, Heaney then compares him to a “saint’s kept body” implying he has some of the same attributes as a King or Saint. He is described as a “saint”, highlighting the immortality of the Tollund Man as he has been perfectly preserved. By drawing parallels between religions and “dark”, ritualistic death and violence, the Tollund Man becomes a surrogate Christ as he is offered to the “Goddess” as her “Bridegroom”. Heaney’s descriptions of the Tollund Man’s “last gru...

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...spect for the Windeby Girl and Tollund Man. His terse language not only reflects the violent deaths of the bog people but also implies his anger as he has now witnessed the act of sacrificial death first hand in Ireland. Although Heaney uses violent language and imagery of torture and death in all of his bog poems he counteracts this by also presenting the idea of endlessness and the peace that can come after death. The preservation of the bodies found in the bogs reflects the belief in reincarnation and the opportunity to live forever in heaven, no matter how violent the death was; Heaney illustrates this view throughout The Tollund Man as despite comparing him to the “labourers”, he continuously affiliates the Man with “Saints” and “goddesses” and implies not only the Tollund Man’s immortality but also his ability to “germinate” and make others immortal too.

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