Heaney's Use of Childhood Memories in The Death Of A Naturalist

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Heaney's Use of Childhood Memories in The Death Of A Naturalist Seamus Heaney is an Irish poet who was born in April 1939 and still lives today. Seamus Heaney was a very bright boy who as a country boy attended local primary schools and colleges to gain scholarships at Colleges. At college Heaney was taught Latin and Irish and moved on to Queens University in Belfast. In the course of his career Seamus Heaney has always contributed to the promotions of artistic and educational causes both in Ireland and abroad. Heaney’s poems are all about childhood. The have the theme of childish adventures. ‘Blackberry Picking’ is at one level about picking blackberries and all the fun that goes with them. Yet, as there is to all the poems, there are many hidden meanings. In general, all the poems are about growing up and leaving the past behind. They go through many of the feelings that are felt during this period of time. He also has many other poems such as ‘Death Of A Naturalist’, ‘Mid-term Break’ and ‘Digging’. This essay discusses the ways that the poet Heaney has used his childhood experiences to create this collection of poems. ‘Mid-Term Break’ is an incredibly sad poem. It is basically about a little boy, who was actually Seamus Heaney's brother, who was sadly killed by a speeding car. Seamus Heaney describes in the poem of what he did that day when he's younger brother was killed. The stanza begins with the "morning" in line one, but it is two o'clock in line three, showing that many hours have passed in waiting. Enjambment is used to link one part of the poem to the next. For example, it says ‘hands’ then a space, then ‘And tell…’... ... middle of paper ... ...row up, he then finds himself scared of them. As now he has developed a kind of conscience and has obviously been taught to fear the unknown. In depth it may mean that he has been shocked by some of the changes in his life, yet they have been for the best. Looking at the poems, I have learnt that Seamus Heaney's poems can be very meaningful and in depth. You could have so many ideas of what the poem is suggesting, which makes you think what’s happening, and what the poem is all about. Heaney has used his memories to produce the poems. He uses them as a kind of diary and a list of his reflections. It is very autobiographical and can be read as quite personal. He has lost his innocence in life, and gained knowledge, it shows that you learn from experience. Everyone grows up, and these poems show the stages of this.

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