Walking the Fine Line: Irish Landscapes of Violence, Identity and Ecology in the Poetry of Seamus Heaney and Derek Mahon

This study aims to provide a critical analysis of the works of Heaney and Mahon within the framework of three themes that are profoundly significant to both authors: memory, identity, and ecology. The comparative analysis of selected poems will shed light on their similarities and divergences in addressing violence and collective memory during the tumultuous period of the Troubles, the perception of their identity in relation to their homeland and, finally, their engagement with ecological themes. This thesis consists of three main chapters, with each chapter exploring how these two poets approach shared concerns while maintaining their unique poetic voices.