Death of Naturalist : Quotations
Death of Naturalist is a notable literary work by Seamus Heaney. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Death of Naturalist.
Quotations
Quotes
“There were dragonflies, spotted butterflies,
But best of all was the warm thick slobber
Of frogspawn…”
Exp: The boy enjoys watching all the insects and frogspawn in the flax-dam. It shows his childish joy and curiosity about nature’s simple things.
“Then one hot day…
With cowdung in the grass the angry frogs
Invaded the flax-dam;”
Exp: This shows the change in the scene. Now, the boy thinks the calm place becomes dirty and full of angry frogs. It marks the boy’s fear and loss of innocence.
“The dam gross bellied frogs were cocked
On sods;”
Exp: The poet describes the ugly, swollen frogs sitting on the ground. Now, they seem strange and threatening to the boy, no longer cute.
“I sickened, turned, and ran. The great slime kings
Were gathered there for vengeance.”
Exp: The boy becomes afraid and disgusted by the frogs. He feels that nature is now angry and dangerous, not lovely anymore.
“If I dipped my hand the spawn would clutch it.”
Exp: This line shows the boy’s imagination and fear. What was once fun now feels strange and scary to him.