“Whatever You Say Say Nothing”

E519064

“Whatever You Say Say Nothing” is a poem by Seamus Heaney that reflects on the political and cultural tensions in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

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Label Occurrences
“Whatever You Say Say Nothing” canonical 1

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Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf poem
about self-censorship in a divided society
social codes governing speech in Northern Ireland
the limits of language in times of conflict NERFINISHED
author Seamus Heaney NERFINISHED
countryOfOrigin Ireland
depicts cultural tensions in Northern Ireland
everyday life during the Troubles
political tensions in Northern Ireland
genre lyric poetry
political poetry
hasForm free verse
hasPerspective Catholic nationalist background
hasTone bitter
critical
ironic
reflective
satirical
influencedBy Northern Irish political conflict
sectarian violence in Belfast and Derry
language English
literaryMovement contemporary Irish poetry
postcolonial literature
mainSubject Northern Ireland conflict NERFINISHED
The Troubles NERFINISHED
censorship and silence
identity in Northern Ireland
language and politics
sectarian tension
partOf Seamus Heaney’s body of work on Northern Ireland
setInPeriod The Troubles in Northern Ireland NERFINISHED
theme British–Irish relations NERFINISHED
Catholic–Protestant division
coded speech
fear of speaking openly
national identity
pressure to remain silent
public versus private truth
role of the poet in conflict
surveillance and suspicion
violence and its normalization
usesDevice colloquial language
enjambment
imagery of everyday life
irony
political allusion

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Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

North hasPart “Whatever You Say Say Nothing”