death of a naturalist Flashcards
who is this poem written by?
seamus heaney
where is Seamus Heaney from?
Ireland
what upbringing does he have?
Roman Catholic
what community did Heaney come from?
a farming community- his work is heavily based on observations of the natural world
what does the first stanza show?
the wonder of nature- “best of all”, “and wait and watch”
how many stanzas does this poem have?
2 stanzas
in the first stanza how is foreshadowing used?
some negative language is used- foreshadows the change at the end of the stanza and the whole second stanza
what is the memory in the opening stanza?
the memory of collecting frog spawn as a child
what does the title mean?
naturalist- someone who studies the natural world and they are interested in exploring the environment
death of a naturalist- the naturalist is not interested in nature anymore due to understanding the darker side of nature
why is enjambment used in the poem?
to show the child’s enthusiasm and excitement about the frogs and nature
what person is the poem written in?
1st person
what is blank verse?
no rhyme
why is blank verse used?
makes it sound conversational and personal
what is the significance of the iambic pentameter not always being secure?
sometimes it runs over- spills into 11 syllables- reflecting on the abundance and richness of nature and also the unpredictable nature of change
what does the second stanza show?
the adult perspective of the danger and darkness of the natural world- the side of nature that was hidden and shielded by innocence when he was a child
why is contrast used in this poem?
to reveal the troubled relationship that develops with nature
what is synaesthesia?
combining all the senses at once
why is synaesthesia used?
the abundance of sensory imagery highlights the richness and abundance of nature- the vast variety of nature
what religion was Heaney exposed to growing up?
Roman Catholic- links to sexual maturity- the initial naive description of the “mammy” and “daddy” frogs- contrasts with the grotesque imagery layer on- reflective of the church’s attitudes to sex and reproduction
how are the frogs described in the second stanza?
“obscene threats”
“mud grenades”
“great slime kings were gathered there for vengeance”
when is military imagery and personification used in the poem?
in the second stanza
what is there a shift in between the first and second stanza?
a shift in tone- a volta
what does the volta show in the poem?
shows a fractured relationship with nature- nature is unfamiliar and threatening
how is foreshadowing shown in the first stanza?
“festered”
“rotted”
“sweltered”
“punishing sun”
“gargled”
how is the first stanza laced with childhood innocence?
he is not scared by the flax- dam- even tho it festers and swelters, it captivates the child
what does the juxtaposition of the “gargled delicately” do?
makes it seem like it is a chemistry experiment- does not scare the child- it is fascinating to him
“the clotted water”- seems like vampires and blood- all interesting and thrill-seeking to a child
how is the child’s excitement conveyed?
by the superlative phrase- “but best of all was the warm thick slobber of frogspawn”
what type of dialogue is used in the first stanza?
childish vernacular
how does this poem link to Heaney’s Irish background??
the word “mammy”
how does Heaney make the first stanza encapture a hot summer’s day on the farm?
uses alliteration and assonance so that the language almost feels heavy and sticky
how does the second stanza start with?
a harsh monosyllabic line
what is the effect of the hyperbole of “the great slime kings”?
it could sound humorous but then in the next like it says the word “vengeance” which shows how terrified the child is
