Onomatopoeia is a sound effect created when a word sounds like what it is describing. For example, ‘sizzle’, ‘crackle’, ‘thud’, ‘buzz’ and ‘boom’.
Heaney makes use of onomatopoeia in this poem. Pay attention to the descriptions of the berries in particular.
Listen to the poem being read and use your pencil to underline any onomatopoeic words that you hear.
Discuss
1. What poetic techniques stood out to you in this poem? 2. Could this poem be a metaphor?
Understand
1. When would the blackberries ripen and for how long? 2. Where did Heaney trek to fi nd the berries? 3. Choose your favourite example of onomatopoeia from the poem. 4. Find examples of each of the following in this poem: alliteration simile metaphor personifi cation rhyming couplet.
Explore
3 3 3
1. What is the tone or feeling in the fi rst stanza? 2. How does the tone or feeling change in the second stanza? 3. Do you think the speaker learned his lesson and picked fewer berries the next year?
Create
Write a short biography piece about the summers of your childhood. Try to include at least one onomatopoeic word. See if your classmates can spot the examples of onomatopoeia when you read your fi nished piece.
