« Compare and contrast the theme of violence in Heaney's beginning and end » « Heaney's poetry relates to sectarian murders in Northern Ireland a historical respectability not generally afforded in today's journalism” (Morrison, 68) Seamus Heaney was born in Derry, Northern Ireland. Derry was a bitterly divided city which soon became at the forefront of the 'Troubles'. In the 1970s, sectarian divisions in Northern Ireland reached a new extreme level and the "Troubles" became violent and dangerous in the early 1970s. With the change in the situation in the North, a change also occurred in Heaney's writing. His poems seemed to become more sociological and political as he delved into the troubled psychology of his native country's problems. In 1972, Heaney published "Wintering Out", this collection is pivotal in Heaney's works because we see many references to the Troubles. In 1975, still in the midst of problems, Heaney published "North", which was a much more in-depth analysis of the conflict. These two publications will be examined in the context of this essay which aims to examine the 'thematic of violence in Heaney's work during his early and later years'. We see the violence transgress Heaney's pastoral passions and push him to speak out as a citizen of Northern Ireland. Very much like the poets of the First World War, torn between an unconscious life and the fields of hell, Heaney chose to speak on behalf of citizens affected by the horrors of the Troubles. In recent decades, many literary critics, historians and political commentators have explored the conflicting relationship between violence and Irish literature, with Heaney at the center of criticism for his perhaps somewhat unbalanced view on the Troubles. Denis Donoghue said in his inspiring article ...... middle of paper ...... of war. Heaney described the violence as a nationalist, but he was always neutral, and some poems even came from the Protestant side of the conflict, such as "The Other Side". At times it appeared that Heaney was against the British occupation of his lands, but he was against violence on both sides. Heaney's progress in life was accompanied by the improvement of the situation in the North. This was reflected in his poetry as he gradually moved away from conflict, in his life and in his poetry. Although his views have earned Heaney much criticism, it can still be recognized that he will forever be the voice of the citizens on the unrest, alongside one of the greatest poets who have ever graced our country. George Cusack. “A Cold Look Inward: The Fieldwork of Seamus Heaney.” New Review Hibernia 6.3 (2002): 53-72. MUSE project. Internet. December 1. 2013. .