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Seamus Heaney's Blackberry-Picking

445 Words2 Pages

In the poem “Blackberry- Picking,” by Seamus Heaney, the author uses contrasting illustrative diction to develop the overall meaning of the poem that perfection does not last forever. In lines 4 and 5, Heaney states, “At first, just one, a glossy purple clot among others, red, green, hard as a knot”. Here, the author’s word choice represents the contrast between developing and perfect blackberries. The author uses words such as “glossy” and “hard” to distinguish the difference between perfection and imperfection. By demonstrating this contrast, the author emphasizes that the perfection of a blackberry is limited to a set time frame. In addition, in lines 17-20, Heaney states, “We hoarded the fresh berries in the byre. But when the bath

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