Death of a Naturalist S.H

Question 1

“wove a strong gauze of sound around the smell”

Answer 1

Synesthesia, a mixing of the senses (sound and smell) describing the flies, it is thick like the gauze. Medical connotations of ‘gauze’. Assonance emphasises the power of sound.

Question 2

“jampotfuls of jellied”

Answer 2

Alliteration draws attention to the childish vocabulary, enhances the innocence of this experience. A level of naïvety.

Question 3

“fattening dots burst”

Answer 3

‘Burst’ is exciting and and dynamic. The speaker is fascinated by the frogs in a childlike way, very excited and amazed by it.

Question 4

“when the fields were rank”

Answer 4

‘Rank’ has militaristic connotations, implying that something has changed, the smell of the outdoors is now disgusting and and foul. No longer seems fascinated by it.

Question 5

“their loose necks pulsed like sails”

Answer 5

Repulsive image that connotes a flotilla of ships, like an armada. Something opposing and threatening, showing his awareness and fear of his emerging sexuality.

Question 6

“I sickened, turned, and ran”

Answer 6

Triadic structure (three verbs in quick succession), conveys the intensity of his physical reaction. He is so repulsed by it now (as an adult) that he wants to rid himself of it.