Death of a Naturalist, Seamus Heaney

Question 1

“Death of a Naturalist”

Answer 1

Metaphorical - the death of someone’s passion or interest in nature.

Question 2

“sweltered”, “festered” “gargled”

Answer 2

The tone of the poem at the beginning is almost enthusiastic – the verbs “sweltered”, “festered”
and “gargled” suggest the speaker is almost relishing the vile smells of the dam.

Question 3

Language such as “jampotfuls”, “fattening dots” and “mammy frog”

Answer 3

Suggest childhood innocence and appreciation of nature.

Question 4

“in rain”

Answer 4

Hinting something negative on the horizon.

Question 5

“Then one hot day”

Answer 5

The tone changes on “ Then one hot day” and the tone becomes more aware of the dangers –
“angry frogs”.

Then shows change in time.

Question 6

“angry”, “invaded”

Answer 6

Negative language choices show the persona feels scared or uncomfortable.

Question 7

“The air was thick with a bass chorus”

Answer 7

Nature is strong, fearsome and impenetrable.
Frogs seem to have ganged up on the persona.

Question 8

Final words – “spawn would clutch it”

Answer 8

Shows the contrast with when he would collect the “jellied specks” – he has grown up and no longer wants to play the games of his childhood.

Question 9

Structure

Answer 9

Structure mirrors the shift from innocence to fear.
Long, flowing lines at the start show childlike excitement.
Enjambment and lists reflect overflowing curiosity.
Structure becomes more tense and abrupt in the second half.
Tone shift matches boy’s loss of innocence and fear of nature.