Basking Shark Flashcards
To stub an oar… To have it rise
two infinitive clauses
unusual sentence structures creates a sense of tensions suspense and confusion
rock where none should be
word choice
tension continues through the idea that there is something there that is unexpected
suggests large size and immovability
slounge
word choice
suggests relaxed movements of the shark, it is unbothered
once (too often)
parenthesis
adds a note of humour to the poem, the experience shook the poet to the core and he doesn’t actually want to experience it again
But not too often - though enough
caesura
provides breaks in the sentence, contrasting the poets previous ideas about the experience and allowing him to reflect that made it was a positive experience
gain
word choice
the poet feels enriched by the encounter
met
word choice
sense of reciprocity - he doesn’t see himself as superior
tin-tacked
alliteration
provides evocative description of the noise of the rain and how it’s hitting the water
that room sized monster with a match box brain
metaphors
provide contrast as the sharks size and scale does not affect its brain size making it unthreatening
displaced
word choice
experience caused poet to reflect of relationship between humanity and the natural world
Centuries back
word choice
references evolution a throw back to prehistoric time scale the shark hasn’t changed but humans have provides contrasts
decadent townee
word choice
self deprecating tone he has realised how he has removed himself from the natural world for the comforts of the town and hedonistic desires
wrong branch
word choice
recognises that we all come from the same initial matter - we are linked and he is criticizing humanity’s sense of superiority
a spring is all the clearer
analogy of his growing clarity and how we have come to be
slime of everything
metaphor
references the organic matter that all things were derived from
So whos the monster?
rhetorical question
philosophical question posed to the reader is unanswered
rinal reflection forces us to consider out dismissive response to creatures like these “monsters” instead we should focus on recognising our own capacity for monstrosity and corruption
the tall fin slid away and then the tail
word choice
evocative language emphasises the magnificence of the creature and how unthreatening it is
the thought made me grow pale
word choice
suggests how the experiences as been a positive one for McCaig as it has allowed him to realise all things come from the same place so why should humans act superiro
