Understanding 'Death of a Naturalist' by Seamus Heaney
I can explain the story that the poem tells, as well as how the poem is used as a metaphor.
Understanding 'Death of a Naturalist' by Seamus Heaney
I can explain the story that the poem tells, as well as how the poem is used as a metaphor.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Seamus Heaney's 'Death of a Naturalist' tells the story of a young child who frequents a flax-dam to observe the nature.
- The naturalist is the young speaker, whose enthusiasm and love of nature "dies" in the poem.
- The speaker's intrigue and excitement for nature is replaced by a fear of nature.
- The poem could be a metaphor for growing older and becoming more disillusioned with the world around you.
- Arguably, the adult frogs could represent the ugliness of the adult world.
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
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.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the Eduqas poetry anthology for this lesson.
Content guidance
- 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).
Lesson video
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