Basking Shark Flashcards
” To stub an oar on a rock where none should be”
The metaphor suggests the sheer size of the shark. Disorientates the poet.
” To have it rise with a slounge out of the sea “
‘slounge’ is onomatopoeia and suggests the noise of the waves as the shark leaves the water. Clumsy word reminds us of the bulk of the shark. The shark moves lazily
” a thing that happened once (too often) to me”
Brackets add humour. Poet was scared but now trying to make light of it since the basking shark is harmless. Didn’t like the experience; maybe frightened.
” I count as gain “
On reflection MacCaig feels that he has benefitted from the experience.
” that once I met “
Element of shock gone and now sounds as if the meeting was prearranged.
” sea tin tacked with rain “
Alliteration giving the noise of the rain. Metaphor comparing sea being hit with to tacks in a wall. Alliteration of the hard consonant ‘t’ helps to replicate the metallic sound of the rain hitting the boat.
” room sized monster with a matchbox brain”
‘room sized’ emphasises the sheer size and bulk of the shark. Contrast between the Sharks huge size and its small brain.
” He displaced more than water”
Pushed MacCaigs thoughts aback. The sighting of the basking shark has also altered MacCaigs thoughts sending them back to the past.
” He shoggled me
Centuries back”
The sighting has caused MacCaig think back to the beginning of time. Enjambment of centuries makes time feel longer and dragged out more. Emphasises how long it took for humans to evolve.
” this decadent townee “
Shark has stayed close to nature. Humans have been urbanised MacCaig is thinking of his relationship with the shark. The shark is inexperienced.
” shook on a wrong branch of his family tree “
MacCaig is reminded that this shark is part of our own family tree. Interlinked like an ancestor.
” swish up the dirt and when it settles a spring is all the clearer”
Realisation that humans have evolved from other animals. Poet sees himself in the shark as an ancestor. This experience has thrown him but after reflection he can make more sense of his life.
“Emerging from the slime of everything “
Humans have evolved from the earliest creatures. The word slime emphasises basedness of our beginning.
” So, who’s the monster?”
MacCaig questions who really is the monster. Is it the basking shark due to to its sheer size and appearance. Or is it humans for being so far from nature, corrupt and greedy.
” sail after sail, the tall fin slid away and then the tail”
Just as a sail boat is big and moves slowly so too does the shark. Emphasises how big the shark is as took time for the shark to pass.
