Literary Analysis Of Blackberry Picking, By Seamus Heaney

The poem “Blackberry Picking" is written by Seamus Heaney and carries the overall message of how to enjoy the evolution of life before it is corrupted by death. Seamus Heaney is trying to convey this message by describing the life cycle of berries. “At first, just one, a glossy purple clot among others, red, green, hard as a knot.” In this line, the author uses figurative language to ignite reader’s memories and senses of the beauty and excitement of youth. By rhyming “clot” and “knot” Heaney reminds his reader how strong and rebellious people frequently get during their years of youth. Those qualities are often necessary to explore the choices to move further in life with satisfaction. The ripening of berries is as juicy and adventurous as …show more content…
This line takes the reader to the next stage in life where filled with some wisdom an individual is ready to grab the experiences that are satisfying and gratifying. “Hunger” fires up each person for familiarity and excitement. With alliterations “briars” and “bleached” Seamus Heaney really spins an imagination of what is possible when an individual has a goal of a certain experience. Hunting for delicious berries worth of every scratch and pain as well as various scenarios of life that people are hungry for. “Once off the bush the fruit fermented, the sweet flesh would turn sour. I always felt like crying.” In this line, the author is using several poetic devices to emphasize the frustration of the upcoming death that humans have experienced forever. “Off the bush” carries a negative connotation instigating anxiety in the reader while creating an image of darkness and sadness. “Fermented fruit” and “flesh” reminds the reader that his life is coming to the end. It is obvious and almost here. “Felt like crying” is taking a reader to the child-like response about the realities of …show more content…
The poem “Blackberry Picking" is written by Seamus Heaney and carries the overall message of how to enjoy the evolution of life before it is corrupted by death. Seamus Heaney is trying to convey this message by describing the life cycle of berries. “At first, just one, a glossy purple clot among others, red, green, hard as a knot.” In this line, the author uses figurative language to ignite reader’s memories and senses of the beauty and excitement of youth. By rhyming “clot” and “knot” Heaney reminds his reader how strong and rebellious people frequently get during their years of youth. Those qualities are often necessary to explore the choices to move further in life with satisfaction. The ripening of berries is as juicy and adventurous as the time of youth for each human individual. “Then red ones inked hunger sent us out with milk-cans, pea-tins, jam-pots where briars scratched and wet grass bleached our boots”. This line takes the reader to the next stage in life where filled with some wisdom an individual is ready to grab the experiences that are satisfying and gratifying. “Hunger” fires up each person for familiarity and excitement. With alliterations “briars” and “bleached” Seamus Heaney really spins an imagination of what is possible