BLACKBERRY-PICKING

‘Blackberry-Picking’

By Seamus Heaney

Key Lines (flesh, briars, peppered)

“Its flesh was sweet like thickened wine: summer’s blood was in it” “Briars scratched and wet grass bleached our boots” “Peppered with thorn pricks, our palms as sticky as Bluebeard’s”

“Its flesh was sweet like thickened wine: summer’s blood was in it”

Simile, Metaphor, Imagery

“Briars scratched and wet grass bleached our boots”

Sibilance, Imagery

“Peppered with thorn pricks, our palms as sticky as Bluebeard’s”

Alliteration, Simile, Imagery

Key Theme Childhood (Sweetness) (we, that)

“We trekked and picked until our cans were full” “That hunger sent us out with milk cans, pea tins, jam-pots”

Key Theme Childhood (Sourness) (sweet, year)

“The sweet flesh would turn sour” “Each year I hoped they’d keep, knew they would not”