Basking Shark- Stanza 2 Flashcards
“But”
“-though enough”
. Single dash
. This is effective as the pause of the single dash emphasises and establishes the fact that the speaker would not want to repeat the experience
“gain”
“I met”
. Connotations of equal, human, and friendly
. This suggests how his approach to this encounter has now differed from earlier where the shark was an intimidating and terrifying presence however, now it seems almost human. It highlights how the speaker should not assume superiority over nature as the speaker and the shark come together as equals to form a friendly connection rather than an unsettled and scary encounter.
“tin-tacked”
. Alliteration
. This is effective as it emphasises the sharp,
metallic sound of the rain as it hits the water
and the boat, which makes it more vivid and impactful in the mind of the reader.
“roomsized monster”
. Metaphor
. The mass of the basking shark is being compared to the size of a room
. Just as a room is wide and vast so too is the basking shark bulky and intimidating
. This is effective as it makes clear that the basking shark has a large and terrifying presence which is impossible to ignore. It highlights how low down the shark is on the evolutionary scale, by comparing it to extinct dinosaurs which also emphasises its size, power and brutish nature.
“matchbox brain”
. Metaphor
. The brain of the basking shark is being compared to a matchbox
. Just as a matchbox is small and compact so too is the brain of the basking shark minuscule and barely noticeable
. This is effective as it makes clear that the basking shark has a tiny brain, which is inferior to the speaker’s brain and highlights the stark differences between the shark and the speaker. This also emphasises the physical size and strength of the shark as it does not need a substantial brain to hunt and overpower its prey.
