death of a naturalist Flashcards
“death of a naturalist”
ambiguous title foreshadows a naturalist will die - perhaps link to heaneys brother’s death, the metaphorical interpretation is that the poets innocence and love for nature will die
“wove a strong gauze of sound around the smell”
synaesthesia - merging the senses to show the overwhelming force of nature, perhaps links to heaney being overwhelmed by the memories as they flow back all at once with the emotions attached
“frog spawn that grew like clotted water”
simile highlighting heaneys innocence in which he is unaware of a more mature, scientific description. Also emphasises the poets profound excitement he experiences when he views nature and its life processes
“you could tell the weather by the frogs”
poets fascination and passion for nature - remembers little facts, perhaps acted as a distraction from reality and truth of nature- attempt to preserve their childlike innocence
“then one hot day”
volta occurs - dark turning point is evident. Sudden change mirrors heaney’s sudden experience of grief due to his brothers death. He has been forced to grow up prematurely and was stripped of innocence. Juxtaposes the ‘rain’ in stanza 1.
“poised like mud grenades”
simile creating war like imagery - ‘grenades’. Military connotations create the idea of the poet now fearing nature and no longer posses a childlike, innocent mindset. Horrors of reality are exposed contrasting his fascination with nature. The new unsettling, threatening atmosphere symbolises heaneys loss of innocence which is manifested through nature. His life will never be the same, grief has transformed his life.
“i sickened, turned and ran”
caesura emphasises the suddeness of his actions. Displays his immediate reaction to the frogs. Perhaps links to how the poet wants to escape his new emotions due to disgust towards the frogs. They now act as a symbol of his childhood and happy times, times that he no longer experiences therefore causing heightened emotions of sadness and grief.
death of a naturalist poet
seamus heaney
death of a naturalist context
- irish poet: witnessed soldiers fighting in field
- brother died in car crash whilst heaney was at boarding school
-creates image of rural landscape
death of a naturalist structure
volta: change from innocence to anxieties and grief
enjambment - loss of innocence as time passes and he grows up
lengthy stanza represents that childhood is a long process and should be reflected on
