Postscript

Question 1

Heaney advises reader to drive out to the west of Ireland

Answer 1

And some time make the time to drive out west

Question 2

When the reader should go to the Flaggy Shore

Answer 2

In September or October

Question 3

Metaphor for the swans

Answer 3

By the earthed lightning of a flock of swans

Question 4

Description of the swans

Answer 4

Their feathers roughed and ruffling, white on white

Question 5

There is a mysterious inbetweenness about this place

Answer 5

You are neither here nor there. A hurry through which known and strange things pass

Question 6

Unexpected moment of revelation at the end of poem

Answer 6

And catch the heart off guard and blow it open

Question 7

Repetition of time

Answer 7

And some time make the time to drive out west

Question 8

There is no point in trying to take a photo of the scene, or even try and capture it in your memory because it will always look better in the moment

Answer 8

Useless to think you’ll park and capture it/More thoroughly

Question 9

The wind hits the car and causes a moment of revelation

Answer 9

As big soft buffetings come at the car sideways/And catch the heart off guard and blow it open