Chapter 1: Growing Up 1.3 Poem: Blackberry Picking by Seamus Heaney
Learning Intentions In this section you will … ✓ Explore how symbolism is used in poetry. ✓ Write for pleasure and to develop your individual voice. ✓ Respond imaginatively to a poem.
Before Reading and Listening
You are about to read the poem Blackberry Picking by Seamus Heaney. In this poem, Heaney recalls the fun he had picking blackberries in late summer. However, he gets upset when the fruit rots – even though he knows that this must happen when fruit is taken from a bush. The poem explores the idea that childhood is bittersweet – it can be a wonderful time, but it must also come to an end. 1.
In Heaney’s poem, the changing of the seasons is symbolised by the blooming of blackberries. Make a list of things that symbolise the start of: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter.
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2. Share your lists with your class. While Reading and Listening
Seamus Heaney was a wonderful reader of his own poetry. Using the link on page 30 you can listen to the poet reading this poem online. Listen to it as a class and underline the words or phrases that stand out to you during Heaney’s reading of the poem. It can be any word or phrase – you might like how it sounds, wonder what it means, or want to use it for yourself in a sentence. Discuss with your class why these words caught your attention.
