Lines 1-7
A mix of positive and negative language is used; positive language include green, delicately and wove. The descriptions of the insects and the area are positive. There are also negative words such as festered, rotted, sweltered, punishing. These contrast well. Metaphors are also used, 'wove a strong gauze of sound'. Heaney uses an oxymoron in the form of 'gargled delicately', as gargling is a harsh action, and cannot be done gently.
Lines 8-16
The words 'school' and 'jampotfuls' suggest that a child is describing this scene. 'Warm thick slobber' and 'fattening dots burst' is imagery that would appeal to a child. The word 'slobber' is an example of onomatopoeia. 'Grew like clotted water' is a simile, as the frogspawn looks like jellied-water, but it is not. These techniques make the poet seem very naive and innocent, unaware of what the frogspawn would become. More words and phrases used to describe the frogspawn include 'clotted water', 'warm thick slobber', 'jellied specks', 'the fattening dots burst.
Lines 17-23
The poet then explains how his interest in frogspawn and nature was sparked by a primary school lesson. This is shown by 'Miss Walls told us...' and the way frogs mating us explained in a way children could understand 'The daddy frog was called a bullfrog'. These lines conclude the first stanza. On the whole, the language is very childish, innocent and naive, this shows that Heaney is writing this from a child's perspective, from when he was a child.
Lines 24-39
The second stanza describes a situation later on, in which the tadpoles become adult frogs. Heaney describes walking down to the pond, and he describes how the frogs have developed. The frogs are described as being ugly and threatening. 'Obscene threats'. 'Mud grenades'. Heaney was horrified and sickened, and all of his excitement of the frogspawn and tadpoles vanish. This is why the poem is called 'Death of a Naturalist' The tone of this section is completely different from the first, positive language replaced by negative language.
Monday 10 January 2011
Tuesday 4 January 2011
Storm on the Island - Seamus Heaney
Key Themes
Storm on the Island is a simple poem describing the destructive force of a storm, and how we feel fear towards it even though we cannot see it, or hear it, but yet we still fear it. The themes are natural power, fear and isolation, and man's relationship with nature.
Key Techniques
Heaney uses blank verse, enjambment, caesura (a deliberate pause), assomance (the repition of similar vowels), an oxymoron, similes and metaphors. The whole poem is in one stanza, as the storm is continous and relentless.
Lines 1-5
There is a repition of the word 'we' in the first line. This sets a sense of community, saying that the people on the island and secure, and are in it together. It then states how the community are prepared for the storm, with squat, sturdy houses, with robust rooves and walls. In line 2 there is an assomance of the words 'roof' and 'good'. The use of the word 'wizened' describing the earth is interesting, as it means old, feeble, but also wise and experienced. Nothing grows on the island, so there is nothing on the island that can be destroyed by the oncoming storm. There is a caesura on the first line, a deliberate pause after the word prepared. At the end of lines one and two, there are breaks, commas or full stops. The rest uses enjambment, to make the poem flow continously. This contrasts because the first lines are preparation, after that it is the effects of the storm.
Lines 6-10
'Full blast' is a strong piece of enjambment, imposing a sense of the unexpected. Caesuras are common in these lines. It uses a coversational tone, 'you know what I mean'. This makes is personal, and reassuring. He talks about how there are no trees or foliage around him, he feels isolated, and seeks reassurance. He refers to 'tragic chorus', suggesting this storm keeps repeating and continuing just the same as before. The wind is personified, 'it pummels your house' described violently.
Line 11-19
The repitition of the word 'no' in 'no trees, no shelter' makes the poet seem even more isolated. An powerful oximoron is used, the waves 'exploding comfortably'. This shows the power of the sea, but also that the situation is not extraordinary. More caesuras are used. The analagy of the sea being a tame cat turned savage is effective, is says that the sea and weather were nice and normal, but suddenly turned vicious and evil. The word 'spit' is onomatopoeia and personification, and gives the readers imagery about the sea's movements. There are numerous references to warfare and conflict, such as 'bombard', 'strafe' and 'dives'. This makes the storm seem very poweful, a force to be reckoned with. The last line is a reflection, stating how we are afraid of something we cannot see, only feel the effects. The oximoron 'huge nothing' makes an effective mockery of this.
Tuesday 14 December 2010
Comparing Digging and Follower
Both of these poems are about childhood memories and childhood traditions.
Heaney states in both poems that his whole family were farmers, and he was expected to be a farmer too. The expectancy was for him to carry on looking after the family farm, to keep the tradition running.
He remembers being a child and admiring and looking up to his father, and his grandfather before that. They were both hardcore farmers, and during his childhood he wanted to be like his father, following him around. He remembers one time when he brought his grandfather some milk, and he barely took a break to drink it, he just kept on working. This shows his determination and how hard working he was. He remembers how strong his father was, and how he was in perfect harmony with his working animals.
The poems do not reveal much about his relationship with his father as an adult. It is likely that he thinks well of him, and that he is probably dead now.
But as an adult, he realizes that he was not cut out for farming, and writing poems was what he is content doing, as it is something he is good at and enjoys. However, he feels no regret about this.
Although the poems are similar, there are also differences between them. Digging describes more about the family tradition of farming and the expectancy for him to carry it on, while Follower describes how he used to admire his father, and stumble behind him, and nowadays the positions have been reversed.
Heaney states in both poems that his whole family were farmers, and he was expected to be a farmer too. The expectancy was for him to carry on looking after the family farm, to keep the tradition running.
He remembers being a child and admiring and looking up to his father, and his grandfather before that. They were both hardcore farmers, and during his childhood he wanted to be like his father, following him around. He remembers one time when he brought his grandfather some milk, and he barely took a break to drink it, he just kept on working. This shows his determination and how hard working he was. He remembers how strong his father was, and how he was in perfect harmony with his working animals.
The poems do not reveal much about his relationship with his father as an adult. It is likely that he thinks well of him, and that he is probably dead now.
But as an adult, he realizes that he was not cut out for farming, and writing poems was what he is content doing, as it is something he is good at and enjoys. However, he feels no regret about this.
Although the poems are similar, there are also differences between them. Digging describes more about the family tradition of farming and the expectancy for him to carry it on, while Follower describes how he used to admire his father, and stumble behind him, and nowadays the positions have been reversed.
Tuesday 23 November 2010
Heaney 'Follower'
'His shoulders globed like a full string strung.' - This can be interpreted to mean his father was strong, hardworking, and Seamus admired him. It also shows that he protects his son.
'The horses strained at his clicking tongue' - This shows his father had complete control over his horses, and the rest of his work. He is very precise and efficient, and passionate about what he does.
'With a single pluck/Of reins, the sweating team turned around' This shows his father worked together with his agricultural animals, and was not cruel to them, but they got the job done. Again it shows his control over them.
'Dipping and rising to his plod' This is a standard routine, he has been farming all of his working life, he is well mint at it.
'I stumbled in his hob-nailed wake' This shows that Seamus does not help his father, he wants to be like him, but cannot keep up with him, as his father will not slow down for him.
'I was a nuisance, tripping, falling,/Yapping always' This means that Seamus would have been annoying to his father, but he did not tell him to go away or lose his temper. Seamus respects his father for this, as he now realizes how hard this would be.
In this poem, the young Heaney is portrayed, in my opinion, to be like an animal, not understanding his father does not really want him to be there, but thinking he is helping.
At the end of the poem, Heaney describes how the positions of him and his father have been reversed, as his father is dead. His father is not physically following him, but Heaney is concerned about the guilt he carries because he has not carried on his heritage of farming, and he cannot live up to his father.
'The horses strained at his clicking tongue' - This shows his father had complete control over his horses, and the rest of his work. He is very precise and efficient, and passionate about what he does.
'With a single pluck/Of reins, the sweating team turned around' This shows his father worked together with his agricultural animals, and was not cruel to them, but they got the job done. Again it shows his control over them.
'Dipping and rising to his plod' This is a standard routine, he has been farming all of his working life, he is well mint at it.
'I stumbled in his hob-nailed wake' This shows that Seamus does not help his father, he wants to be like him, but cannot keep up with him, as his father will not slow down for him.
'I was a nuisance, tripping, falling,/Yapping always' This means that Seamus would have been annoying to his father, but he did not tell him to go away or lose his temper. Seamus respects his father for this, as he now realizes how hard this would be.
In this poem, the young Heaney is portrayed, in my opinion, to be like an animal, not understanding his father does not really want him to be there, but thinking he is helping.
At the end of the poem, Heaney describes how the positions of him and his father have been reversed, as his father is dead. His father is not physically following him, but Heaney is concerned about the guilt he carries because he has not carried on his heritage of farming, and he cannot live up to his father.
Friday 19 November 2010
Heaney 'Digging', brief analysis.
Reading for Meaning
At the start of the poem, Seamus is looking out of his window, watching his father digging flowerbeds, admiring him.
This reminds him of the past, his father digging and his grandfather doing the same, as digging is a part of his family and his heritage.
He also associates his grandfather being very skilled at digging.
This reminds him of his childhood, seeing his grandfather dig and after that seeing his father dig. He remembers once he brought his grandfather a bottle of milk, he drunk it down then continued his work instantly. Heaney admires his passion and determination.
Heaney identifies that his father and grandfathers skill was digging. He decides that his skill is writing, his pen is a powerful weapon, and his writing is an equivalent of their digging.
First Impressions
The poem is about admiration for his father and grandfather, remembering his childhood, and about skills, his being writing whilst his father and grandfathers was digging, and farming.
The words that stuck out to me were the words used to describe digging, gravelly, straining rump, along with the metaphor to a gun, and the descriptions of the passion his father and grandfather had about digging.
Heaney is different to his father because he made his living from farming, and he makes his living from writing. They both have important skills.
At the start of the poem, Seamus is looking out of his window, watching his father digging flowerbeds, admiring him.
This reminds him of the past, his father digging and his grandfather doing the same, as digging is a part of his family and his heritage.
He also associates his grandfather being very skilled at digging.
This reminds him of his childhood, seeing his grandfather dig and after that seeing his father dig. He remembers once he brought his grandfather a bottle of milk, he drunk it down then continued his work instantly. Heaney admires his passion and determination.
Heaney identifies that his father and grandfathers skill was digging. He decides that his skill is writing, his pen is a powerful weapon, and his writing is an equivalent of their digging.
First Impressions
The poem is about admiration for his father and grandfather, remembering his childhood, and about skills, his being writing whilst his father and grandfathers was digging, and farming.
The words that stuck out to me were the words used to describe digging, gravelly, straining rump, along with the metaphor to a gun, and the descriptions of the passion his father and grandfather had about digging.
Heaney is different to his father because he made his living from farming, and he makes his living from writing. They both have important skills.
Wednesday 17 November 2010
Gillian Clarke!
>Born in Cardiff, Wales.
> Poet, playwright, editor, translator
> President of Ty Newydd, the writers´ centre in North Wales which she co-founded in 1990.
> Freelance tutor of creative writing, primary schools to adults.
>Her poetry is studied by GCSE and A Level students throughout Britain.
>She has a daughter and two sons, and now lives with her architect husband on a smallholding in Ceredigion, where they raise a small flock of sheep, and care for the land according to organic and conservation practice.
http://www.gillianclarke.co.uk/home.htm
> Poet, playwright, editor, translator
> President of Ty Newydd, the writers´ centre in North Wales which she co-founded in 1990.
> Freelance tutor of creative writing, primary schools to adults.
>Her poetry is studied by GCSE and A Level students throughout Britain.
>She has a daughter and two sons, and now lives with her architect husband on a smallholding in Ceredigion, where they raise a small flock of sheep, and care for the land according to organic and conservation practice.
http://www.gillianclarke.co.uk/home.htm
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