Basking Shark Flashcards
What techniques does “rock” use on line 1
Word choice / metaphor : this shows us the similarities between them
What techniques does “to stub, to have” use?
Infinitive / creates tension
What techniques does “slounge” use ?
Word choice / Made up word : has connotations of the words lazy and slow
What techniques does “once” on line 3 use?
Word choice : this suggests it’s a unique experience to only happen once.
What techniques does “not too often” use ?
Word choice : he sees value in the experience
What techniques does “gain” on line 4 use ?
Word choice : thinking deeply about the experience
What techniques does “met” on line 7 use ?
Word choice / personification : MacCaig changed tone and saw the shark as being human.
What techniques does “tin-tacked” use ?
Alliteration / onomatopoeia: imitates the sound of rain on the sea
What techniques does “room-sized monster with a matchbox brain” use ?
Contrast : this enormous animal with a tiny brain. Word choice : emphasises the size of the shark.
What techniques does “he displaced more than water” use ?
Word choice: Reflected on the poets emotions now he is conflicted
What techniques does “shoggled” use ?
Word choice: this word tells is that MacCaig is shaking also tells is the shark made him rethink his life.
What techniques does “centuries back” use ?
Word choice: he’s starting to explore the ides of evolution.
What techniques does “shook” and “wrong branch” use ?
Metaphor: he’s shaken by the encounter not from fear but from ideas about the human race
What techniques does “swish” use ?
Onomatopoeia : suggests the sound of moving water.
What techniques does “swish up the dirt and, when it settles, a spring” use ?
Metaphor: the process of MacCaig feelings and thoughts bumping into the shark he was scared and confused.
What techniques does “fling” use ?
Word choice: self depreciating MacCaig pictured himself as something evolution just flung out.
What techniques does “slime” use ?
Word choice: emphasises the basis of our beginning. Whereas the word ‘everything’ shows how instinct humans are from other species.
What techniques does “so who’s the monster?” use ?
Rohotircal question: this question is what the whole poem lead up to.
What techniques does “the thought made me grow pale” use ?
Word choice: the answer is shocking humanity is the real monster as it is humans who are murdering these sharks for no reason.
What techniques does “for twenty seconds while” use ?
Ironic : the human who is the most intelligent species needs time to think about the answer
