Analysis
“Hunting Snake” Judith Wright
** Australian poet fascinated by Aboriginal life and a reverence for nature. Poetic Devices:
Alliteration/hypnotic quality that lulls reader and reflects simple poetry of youth
Assonance/like alliteration, many soft repetitive sounds (‘w’ and ‘s’ particularly) that also mirror snake’s movements
Imagery/very strong, visceral poem. Sensory-oriented. Creates a strong, confident, beautiful, awe- inspiring image of snake (focus of poem)
Rhyme scheme/very simple until ‘twist’ at end that highlights a shift in focus – from close observation of snake to poet’s mix of complicated emotions – fear and awe
Blank narrator/ lets us a) focus on the event, not narrator, b) relate to experience (put ourselves there), c) makes poem more visceral
Extended metaphor/ the relationship between the poet and the snake is a reflection of how Man and Nature’s relationship should be characterized (ie, poet’s main message)
Structure:
This poem is also relatable because of its common experience – we all have ancient, instinctual reactions/relationship with Nature. Here it is shown to be ‘common’ at end, when neither person has to explain what just happened. They both know, they both share that instinct.
We are made uncomfortable by this realization that we’re not always in control – an illusion Modern Man likes to believe. On its own terms, this small snake manages to stop two grown adults in their tracks without even noticing them – it’s focused on hunting. The word lists show humans only as scared, whereas they show the snake to be powerful, scary, in control (of even life and death in a way), confident, etc. (we’re frozen, the snake is ‘great’ – nothing to do with size, note, it’s about presence and power; something small seeming great because of our awe/hubris).
** Australian poet fascinated by Aboriginal life and a reverence for nature. Poetic Devices:
Alliteration/hypnotic quality that lulls reader and reflects simple poetry of youth
Assonance/like alliteration, many soft repetitive sounds (‘w’ and ‘s’ particularly) that also mirror snake’s movements
Imagery/very strong, visceral poem. Sensory-oriented. Creates a strong, confident, beautiful, awe- inspiring image of snake (focus of poem)
Rhyme scheme/very simple until ‘twist’ at end that highlights a shift in focus – from close observation of snake to poet’s mix of complicated emotions – fear and awe
Blank narrator/ lets us a) focus on the event, not narrator, b) relate to experience (put ourselves there), c) makes poem more visceral
Extended metaphor/ the relationship between the poet and the snake is a reflection of how Man and Nature’s relationship should be characterized (ie, poet’s main message)
Structure:
- - 4 stanzas, 4 lines each (regular, simple, tight)
- - Simple rhyme (abab/cdcd/efef/ghhg) with ‘twist’ at end – draws focus, has a
tenderness/peacefulness of children’s poems. It can also be seen as a reflection of the
duality of the poem’s content (Man vs Nature)
- - There’s a musical effect (allit/asson/rhyme) which is romantic, hypnotic
Stanza 1. Harmonious, romantic world. Idealization of nature
2. contrasts suddenly with darkness/terror of snake. The snake’s appearance is abrupt
and shocking at end of harmonious stanza 1. This forces the reader to experience the shock the poet must’ve felt when real snake appeared – visceral
3. fear reaches its peak. Human’s fear aligns us more with the prey than snake – shows where we are on food chain, so to speak, and who is actually superior (Nature, when met on nature’s terms). This is humbling for Modern man who usually likes to align himself with ‘power’ animals.
4. twist here reflects the contrasting feelings of fear and awe
NB. This poem is not powerful because of its complexity or its unique experience; it’s powerful because of its tightly constructed simplicity/commonness/it’s relatable/visceral nature.
Analysis:
The simple structure reflects the simple content of the poem. It’s a microcosm that shows Man’s
relationship to Nature (an overarching theme for our course). It’s a small ‘snapshot’ of life that contains fear, old vs new (ancient instinct vs modern man’s ideas about his superiority), our modern detachment from life, a message that our relationship with nature should be characterized by fear/awe/respect/humility (concept of TONE reviewed)
This poem is also relatable because of its common experience – we all have ancient, instinctual reactions/relationship with Nature. Here it is shown to be ‘common’ at end, when neither person has to explain what just happened. They both know, they both share that instinct.
We are made uncomfortable by this realization that we’re not always in control – an illusion Modern Man likes to believe. On its own terms, this small snake manages to stop two grown adults in their tracks without even noticing them – it’s focused on hunting. The word lists show humans only as scared, whereas they show the snake to be powerful, scary, in control (of even life and death in a way), confident, etc. (we’re frozen, the snake is ‘great’ – nothing to do with size, note, it’s about presence and power; something small seeming great because of our awe/hubris).