Basking Shark Flashcards
How does Basking shark show contrast?
the man’s view of the shark at the start vs the end
How does Basking shark show loss?
Speaker loses arrogant preconceived ideas of evolution
How does Basking shark show suffering?
Suffering in the uncertainty of preconceived ideas on evolution
How does Basking shark show relationships?
Between man and shark
How does Basking shark show character/surroundings?
The speaker and the natural world (the shark)
How does Basking shark show symbolism?
The shark symbolises the beauty in the natural world
Contrast quotes
- “That roomsized monster with a matchbox brain”
- “So who’s the monster?”
- “The tall fin slid away and then the tail”
“That roomsized monster with a matchbox brain”
“Roomsized monster” vowels elongate to match size of shark. “Matchbox brain” vowels are short and clipped to match small brain size. Suggests large stupid creature lowdown on evolutionary scale.
“Monster” also suggests dangerous
View changes in contrast at end and it is humans who are the dangerous and less evolved species compared to shark.
“So who’s the monster?”
Rhetorical questions shows doubt of speaker. Contrast to definitive stance at start. Now doubting who the real dangerous species is.
“The tall fin slid away and then the tail”
Word choice suggests elegant fluid motions. Contrast and change to original view of clumsy (Slounge) and inferior (Matchbox brain) to this now graceful majestic animal. Relationship is not as clear as monster vs man, closer to natural world than thought.
Loss quotes
- “That roomsized monster with a matchbox brain”
- “So who’s the monster?”
- “The tall fin slid away and then the tail”
Suffering quotes
- “So who’s the monster?”
- “Decadent townee”
- “Emerging from the slime of everything”
“Decadent townee”
Self deprecating term for civilised human. Suggests that humans are obsessed with material wealth and items, not appreciating true beauty in nature. Speaker left to consider how wrong his previous ideas were on the true monsters.
“Emerging from the slime of everything”
Suggests everything is connected, shark and human. Leaves suffering of knowledge human actions are not justified due to nature having monsters, we have become the real monsters in mistreating the nature we derive from. Closer to natural world than first thought
Relationships quotes
- “Emerging from the slime of everything”
- “Shook on the wrong branch of his family tree”
- “The tall fin slid away and then the tail”
