Death of a Naturalist - Seamus Heaney Questions!
Things that I did as a child, that I would not enjoy now . . . - Playing with toys, like Barbie dolls.
- Watching children's TV
programmes, like the Tweenies.
- Getting muddy and dirty!
How do your feelings change as you grow up . . . ?
- You feel more mature, and older, and more like an adult.
- You realise you are interested in different things.
- You don't want to feel embarrassed or "behind" your friends.
I think the poem is about . . .
When Seamus Heaney was a child, and he was enjoying himself by playing in the nature, with frogs, and in the dirt, and about how he loves it, and feels awed by it. Then, in the second half, he becomes more scared and disgusted by the nature, as he grows older in life.
The opening lines evoke nature beautifully. This is because he uses such images as using the word 'heart', which would show love, and admiration for it.
He also creates a vivid impression of learning about the tadpoles at school by saying things such as 'Miss Walls would tell us' with explanations of what frogs are like, as the teacher had told them. He sounds confident that Miss Walls was always right, and she knew exactly what she was talking about, which sounds like the way a young child would look up to a teacher.
The poem explores ideas linked to nature and growing up. This is because Seamus Heaney has an ambivalent relationship with nature, and is not sure whether he loves it or hates it. This is especially related to growing up, as when you grow up, you feel more disgusted by some aspects of nature.
