Short Notes on J. M. Synge’s Riders to the Sea-------- Glossary & Word notes with explanations

 Glossary

poteen–alcohol made illicitly, typically from potatoes.

perished–died, especially in a violent or sudden way

turf–grassland like peat, as is used for fires

sorrow–a feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment, or other misfortune

tacking–fastening or fixing in place

destitute—extremely poor and lacking the means to provide for oneself

lament–a passionate expression of grief or sorrow

querlously–behaving in a complaining, fussy manner

jobber–a person who buys or sells things; a middleman; a wholesaler

keen–wail; cry

curragh–a small, round boat with which one uses a paddle

start–jump up in surprise; to be startled

hags–female spirits/goblins

head–tip of the island

hookers–one-masted fishing boats used on the English and Irish coasts (source: m-w.com)

middling–somewhat; sort of; in the middle

easy–content; calmed

queer–strange

pitiful–sad; worthy of sympathy

defiantly–stubbornly; boldly

Word notes and explanations:

  1. Spinning Wheel


    • Definition:       A device used for spinning thread or yarn from natural fibers.

    • Explanation: The spinning wheel is part of the domestic backdrop of the play and represents the daily, monotonous life of the women. It also symbolizes the cyclical nature of life, death, and suffering, as the spinning wheel never stops.

  2. New Boards/ White Boards

    • Definition: A long, flat piece of wood used in construction or for other purposes.

    • Explanation: The white boards in the play are intended for making Michael’s coffin. The board symbolizes death and the inevitability of loss, and the presence of these boards foreshadows Bartley’s death as well.

  3. Bundle

    • Definition: A collection of items wrapped or bound together.

    • Explanation: The bundle in the play contains Michael’s clothes, which confirms his death. This bundle is central to the play’s plot as it links directly to the idea of loss and tragedy.

  4. Donegal

    • Definition: A county in the north-west of Ireland.

    • Explanation: Donegal is mentioned as the place where Michael’s body is believed to have been washed ashore. This shows the vastness of the sea's reach, and how the men of Aran are connected to distant parts of Ireland by the sea.

  5. Almighty God

    • Definition: A Christian term referring to God as all-powerful.

    • Explanation: In Maurya’s final prayer, she invokes Almighty God to have mercy on her dead sons' souls and her own. This reflects the deep religious faith in the face of tragedy, even though this faith does not save her from suffering.

  6. White Rocks

  • Meaning: This refers to a specific location on the Aran Islands or the surrounding coastal area. The white rocks could be a landmark known to the islanders, often associated with the sea and the dangers that come with living near it. In the context of the play, such landmarks help to set the scene of the harsh and rugged environment where the characters live.

  1. Middling Bad

  • Meaning: A colloquial expression meaning "fairly bad" or "quite bad." It indicates something that is not the worst, but still unpleasant or troublesome. This phrase reflects the local dialect of the Aran Islands, which gives the dialogue an authentic feel and adds to the realism of the characters' lives.

  1. The Turf-loft

    • Definition: Peat used for fuel in rural Ireland.

    • Explanation: The mention of turf being brought into the house highlights the rural, isolated lifestyle of the characters. It signifies the hard, simple life they lead, connected deeply to the land and sea for survival.

  2. Connemara

Meaning: Connemara is a region in the west of Ireland, known for its rugged landscapes and close association with traditional Irish culture. In the play, Connemara is referenced as a place Bartley intends to go to sell horses at the Galway fair. The mention of Connemara adds to the geographical and cultural setting of the play, placing it firmly within the west of Ireland.

  1. Young Priest

    • Definition: A clergyman in Christian traditions, particularly in Roman Catholicism.

    • Explanation: The priest plays a subtle role in the play, offering comfort but also reinforcing the idea of fatalism. He tells the family that they should accept Bartley’s departure, even though danger looms, underscoring the Christian resignation to fate and the will of God.

  2. Green Head

Meaning: This could refer to another specific location along the coast, likely a headland or promontory. It is a geographical feature that is important to the islanders in terms of navigation and understanding their environment. The "green" suggests that it is covered in vegetation, contrasting with the often barren, rocky landscape of the islands.

  1. Hooker' Tacking

Meaning: A "hooker" refers to a type of traditional Irish fishing boat, particularly common in the west of Ireland. "Tacking" is a sailing maneuver used to move a boat against the wind by changing direction. In the play, this phrase would be familiar to the islanders, emphasizing their connection to the sea and their understanding of the challenges of navigation.

  1. New Rope

    • Definition: A strong, thick line of twisted fibers or threads.

    • Explanation: Bartley takes a rope to tie the horses, but it later serves a symbolic purpose connected to death. It represents the thin thread of life and fate, as ropes are frequently associated with coffins and burials in the play.

  2. Nails for the coffin

    • Definition: Metal spikes or fasteners used in making coffins.

    • Explanation: The nails for Michael's coffin, brought by Bartley, are symbolic of death and the inevitability of fate. These simple objects represent the inescapable cycle of death in the lives of the islanders.

  3. The pig with the black feet

Meaning: This is a specific reference to an animal that the family owns, described with particular characteristics. It could serve as a symbol of the family's meager possessions and livelihood. In the play, such details about animals and property reflect the characters' rural, subsistence lifestyle.

  1. Another cock for the kelp

Meaning: This phrase refers to the practice of burning seaweed (kelp) to make ash, which was historically used as a fertilizer or for producing soda ash. "Another cock" refers to a rooster, likely an offering or a resource for this work. The phrase highlights the characters' dependence on the sea and the land for their survival, and the tough, agricultural life they lead.

  1. The stick Michael brought from Connemara


Meaning: This refers to a stick that Michael, Maurya's son, brought from the Connemara region. The stick has sentimental value, symbolizing Michael's presence even after his death. Objects like this one carry emotional weight in the play, representing memories and connections to lost family members.

  1. Keen

    • Definition: To keen means to wail in grief, particularly at a funeral. It is a traditional mourning practice in Ireland.

    • Explanation: The keening women in the play reflect the Irish tradition of expressing sorrow vocally, and it foreshadows the deaths that have occurred or are about to happen.

  2. Galway Fair

    • Definition: A market or gathering for buying and selling goods, often held periodically.

    • Explanation: Bartley leaves for the Galway Fair, a real event in Ireland where livestock like horses were sold. This fair becomes symbolic of his journey towards doom, as he leaves despite warnings and foreboding signs.

  3.   The Star and Moon

Definition: Astronomical bodies; in literature, often used as symbols or omens.

Explanation: Maurya interprets the appearance of a star near the moon as an evil omen, reinforcing her belief in the inevitability of Bartley’s death. These celestial bodies symbolize the larger, uncontrollable forces at work in the universe, beyond human intervention.

  1. Spring well

    • Definition: A natural source of water, typically found in rural areas.

    • Explanation: Maurya walks to the spring well, and on her way, she has a vision of Michael. This well symbolizes a source of life, but her journey to it coincides with the symbolic presence of death, intensifying the themes of life, death, and the cyclical nature of existence.

  2. Omen

    • Definition: A sign or warning that is believed to predict a future event, often negative.

    • Explanation: Maurya perceives certain occurrences, like seeing Bartley ride off with a grey pony, as omens of death. Her fear of omens represents the community’s deep-rooted belief in fate and the uncontrollable forces of nature.

  3. Cake

  • Definition: A small, flat piece of bread or baked goods.

  • Explanation: Maurya forgets to give Bartley the cake as a parting gift and blessing. The cake symbolizes the nurturing and protective role of the mother, but its absence hints at the doom awaiting Bartley.

  1. Aran Islands

    • Definition: A group of islands located off the west coast of Ireland in Galway Bay.

    • Explanation: The play is set on one of the Aran Islands, which reflects the harsh, isolated life of the inhabitants. The sea dominates their existence, making it both a source of sustenance and a constant threat.

  2. Blessing

    • Definition: Words or gestures meant to invoke divine favor, especially from a parent to a child.

    • Explanation: Maurya’s inability to give Bartley her blessing before he leaves intensifies the sense of impending tragedy. In Irish culture, a mother’s blessing was believed to provide protection, and its absence suggests Bartley’s inevitable fate.

  3. Cloak

    • Definition: A long, loose outer garment worn for warmth or protection.

    • Explanation: Maurya is often seen wearing her cloak, a symbol of protection and shelter. However, in the play, the cloak also represents the weight of sorrow and grief that Maurya carries as she loses her sons to the sea.

  4. Bartley’s Grey Pony


    • Definition:       A light-colored horse.

    • Explanation: The grey pony that Bartley rides is part of Maurya’s prophetic vision of death. In Celtic mythology, horses are often associated with the passage to the afterlife, and the grey pony symbolizes Bartley's fate.

  5. Nine Days

    • Definition: A period of mourning traditionally lasting for nine days.

    • Explanation: Maurya has been mourning Michael for nine days, an allusion to the traditional Irish wake and period of mourning. The nine days of waiting signify the prolonged suffering and emotional burden of loss.

  6. Vision

    • Definition: A supernatural or spiritual sight, often considered a premonition.

    • Explanation: Maurya’s vision of seeing Michael riding behind Bartley on a grey pony foreshadows Bartley’s death. The vision acts as a turning point, intensifying the feeling of inevitability and predestination in the play.

  7. Aran Sea

    • Definition: The vast ocean surrounding the Aran Islands.

Explanation: The sea in the play is not just a body of water, but a force of nature with its own will and power. It represents both life (as a provider of livelihood) and death (as it claims the lives of the men), symbolizing the uncontrollable forces of fate.
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