Death of a Naturalist : Poem Anthology

“Festered in the heart..”

“Of the town land: green and heavy”

An ominous tone is created at the start of the poem

The nature seems both unforgiving and language like festering is used

However the speaker ignores this and focuses on the positives

Shows how the young are optimistic and see the best in situations

The child is not repulsed by this and is drawn in curiously

He finds beauty in the situation

“Grew like..” and “I would fill jam pots..”

“Clotted water” and “of the jellied specks”

The speaker describes his fascination with the tadpoles

The simile is used to dhow the frogspawn and how the child sees it as exciting

He is intensely watching and amazed by it

Alliteration of the tadpoles shows the speakers young age and delight

“Wait..”

“ and watch”

Alliteration is sued again which shows his enthusiasm and curiously

He is excited to see them develop

He sees the beauty in nature and is inquisitive about the frogs

Child like wonder and excitement

“Then one hot..”

“Day when fields were rank.”

There is a Volta (sudden change) within the poem as the speaker grows up

A juxtaposition can be seen through the before (young) and after

He uses language such as rank and invaded and other negative language

They hold negative connotations showing he truly sees the ugly in the situation now

Changing attitude with age

“Bass..” and “gross-bellied..”

“Chorus” and “frogs were cocked.”

The croaking not only shows how he views the disgusting aspects of nature

It can also be a metaphor for growing up and how your voice changes and gets deeper as you grow

You change physically and mentally as you grow up

Complete contrast to his previous amazement with the frogs

He now sees them as grotesque and disgusting

“If i dipped my..”

“Hand the spawn would clutch it.”

Hyperbolic metaphor

Used to reinforce how the world become scarier as you get older - it is not longer an idyllic place filled with curiosity

The actions now are one of panic and juxtapose the previous fascination

The monosybllic last line is full of certainty that the frogs are dangerous

He feels endangered by nature, no longer at peace with it