The cyclops
The cyclops is not exactly a character within this poem, as its eye is used as a metaphor for a small mountain lake. However, its presence casts a mythological shadow over the poem. The speaker is clearly feels affected by Irish mythology.
The speaker
The speaker does not appear to be one person. Instead, the speaker seems to represent the Irish people as a collective voice.
The pioneers
The pioneers mentioned in the poem, who strip layers of the bog, are described as "our" pioneers, putting them in opposition to the American pioneers who migrated west.
