New
New
Year 11
Eduqas

Understanding 'Death of a Naturalist'

I can explain the story that the poem tells, as well as how the poem is used as a metaphor.

New
New
Year 11
Eduqas

Understanding 'Death of a Naturalist'

I can explain the story that the poem tells, as well as how the poem is used as a metaphor.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Seamus Heaney's 'Death of a Naturalist' tells the story of a young child who frequents a flax-dam to observe the nature.
  2. The naturalist is the young speaker, whose enthusiasm and love of nature "dies" in the poem.
  3. The speaker's intrigue and excitement for nature is replaced by a fear of nature.
  4. The poem could be a metaphor for growing older and becoming more disillusioned with the world around you.
  5. Arguably, the adult frogs could represent the ugliness of the adult world.

Common misconception

Students think that the frogs are literally attacking the speaker.

The description in the poem of the frogs as an army is the speaker's perception of the frogs - it is how he imagines them to be behaving.

Keywords

  • Naturalist - a person who studies plants, animals, insects and other living things

  • Obscene - shocking and offending

  • Intrigue - interest and curiosity

  • Disillusioned - feeling disappointed in the reality of something you thought would be better than it actually is

Show the students some pictures of flax-dams or some videos about how flax is prepared and used so that they better understand the context.
Teacher tip

Equipment

A copy of the Eduqas poetry anthology is required for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of upsetting content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a metaphor?
Correct answer: a figure of speech that involves comparing two things using the verb "to be"
attribution of human emotions or characteristics to nature or inanimate objects
repetition of syllables at the end of a verse or line
a figure of speech that involves comparing two things using 'like' or 'as'
Q2.
Which of the following words have negative connotations?
nimble
Correct answer: obscene
Correct answer: vengeance
warm
Q3.
What might the word 'obscene' mean?
Correct answer: appalling
heartbreaking
challenging
pleasant
Q4.
What does the word 'nimble' mean?
boisterous and aggressive
gentle and soft in nature
Correct answer: quick or light in movement
awkward and uncomfortable in gait
Q5.
Which of the following words suggests decay?
aroma
Correct answer: festered
Correct answer: rank
maturing
scented
Q6.
Which of the following poems explore the theme of a loss of innocence?
'A Wife in London'
Correct answer: 'Afternoons'
'To Autumn'
'Living Space'

6 Questions

Q1.
What is a Naturalist?
Correct answer: a person who studies plants, animals, insects and other living things
a person who studies rocks and boulders
a person who studies stars, planets and the universe more widely
Q2.
Who does the speaker learn about frogs from in 'Death of a Naturalist'?
his parents
his friend
Correct answer: his teacher
his cousin
Q3.
What tone does the speaker adopt when describing the transforming frogspawn in 'Death of a Naturalist'?
a horrified and appalled tone
an indifferent tone
a sympathetic and concerned tone
Correct answer: an amazed and excited tone
Q4.
'Death of a Naturalist' could be a for our loss of innocence as we mature from childhood to adulthood.
Correct Answer: metaphor
Q5.
Which of the following sentences uses the word 'disillusioned' correctly?
She was a disillusional woman - always making things up!
Correct answer: He had become disillusioned with his job - he didn't want to go to work anymore.
Her friend was a disillusioned - how could he have done this to her?
Q6.
What might the adult frogs represent in 'Death of a Naturalist'?
Correct answer: The adult frogs could represent growing up.
The adult frogs could represent security and safety.
Correct answer: The adult frogs could represent the ugliness of the adult world.
The adult frogs could represent youth and innocence.
The adult frogs could represent knowledge and power.