Themes

The poem “Death of a Naturalist” by Seamus Heaney explores two main themes, the relationship between man and nature and transformation. Motifs like reproduction or innocence further complete these themes.

Man and nature

The relationship between man and nature is presented in the poem from the perspective of a child, and the focus is on the shifting perspective he has on nature. Initially, he is fascinated by all aspects of nature, even those which are generally perceived as less appealing, such as frogs and their reproduction:

There were dragonflies, spotted butterflies,
But best of all was the warm thick slobber
Of frogspawn that grew like clotted water

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Transformation

The theme of transformation is explored in two ways in the poem, transformation in the natural world and human perspective. The idea of natural change is first subtly suggested by references to “all year” and spring as a season for collecting frogspawn which is to become baby frog. Then, the transformation process is observed by the young naturalist directly as the frog eggs or “the fattening dots burst into nimble/ Swimming tadpoles”.

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