Death of a Naturalist

Question 1

who wrote death of a Naturalist?

Answer 1

Seamus Heaney

Question 2

what did Seamus Heaney mostly write about?

Answer 2

-mainly wrote about themes such as childhood, nature and politics

Question 3

context and meaning of Death of a naturalist?

Answer 3

-narrator remembers how he used to collect frogspawn from a flax dam
-were enthusiastic about nature and the sticky frogspawn. However, once the narrator grew up, they found frogspawn disgusting
-the shift is the narrators perception of nature highlights the way people’s views change as they grow up

Question 4

perspective of death of a Naturalist?

Answer 4

first person

Question 5

describe and analyse the form of death of a Naturalist?

Answer 5

-blank verse- which makes the poem sound more conversational
-lack of rhyme scheme might suggest that change is not always predictable

Question 6

describe and analyse the structure of death of a naturalist?

Answer 6

-2 stanzas, each one presents a different attitude towards nature
-1st stanza- enthusiastic about nature and seems secure
2nd stanza- changes- relationship becomes more troubled- nature is presented as unfamiliar and threatening

Question 7

how is military language used in death of a naturalist and in what quotes?

Answer 7

2nd stanza- military language creates a threatening atmosphere. suggests that the narrators innocence has been lost- now see nature as harmful and dark

Question 8

how is contrast used in death of a naturalist and in what quote?

Answer 8

“dragon-flies, spotted butterflies”- “warm thick slobber”- juxtaposition
-uses contrast to show how the narrators views on nature have changed. the Juxtaposition in the poems title shows that the poem is about both life and death- the speaker’s interest in living creatures comes to an end

Question 9

how is the use of senses used in Death of naturalist and in what quotes?

Answer 9

-“strong gauze of sound around the smell”- use of sibilance mimics sound of flies buzzing- use of sensory imagery lets the reader become immersed in the poem and focuses their attention on the poem’s setting

Question 10

finish the quote, “bubbles gargled…

Answer 10

delicately”

Question 11

analyse the quote, “bubbles gargled delicately”

Question 12

finish the quote, “dragon-flies, spotted..

Answer 12

butterflies”- “warm thick slobber”

Question 13

finish the quote, “the slap and…

Answer 13

plop were obscene threats”

Question 14

analyse the quote, “the slap and plop were obscene threats”

Answer 14

the onomatopoeia makes the sounds stand out and seem more threatening- further emphasising the narrators change in feeling against nature