Basking Shark- Stanza 3 Flashcards
“displaced”
. Connotations of
“displaced more than water”
. Metaphor
. The violent movement of water is being compared to the movement of the speaker within the evolutionary process
. Just as the shark’s presence moves the water and causes the speaker to shift his place within the boat so too does the shark’s presence cause the speaker to question his current place in the evolutionary process
. This is effective as it makes clear that the large presence of the shark has forced the speaker to rethink his position within the evolutionary process and food chain. It highlights how this experience has completely altered how the speaker views mans relationship with seemingly monstrous sharks and ultimately, nature.
“shoggled”
.Word choice
.Connotations of unsettling, shaken awake and disturbed
.This suggests that the encounter with the impressive force of the shark has unsettled the speaker and disturbed his initial way of thinking and mindset. However, there is also a gentleness in the encounter with the shark as if he has been
softly shaken awake from his previous assumptions about his life and the role he plays in it
“Centuries back”
. Enjambment
. This is effective as it emphasises the importance of the speakers sudden change in focus onto the long-standing relationship between man and nature throughout the process of evolution. It makes use of the basking shark as a glance into the past early stages of evolution as it emphasises the fact that the shark is ancient and prehistoric. However, in comparison to the entire process of evolution, over millions of years, a century isn’t actually that long a time. Therefore suggesting a closer relationship between man and nature than the man had earlier believed.
“decadent”
. Connotations of
“townee”
.Word choice
. Connotations of urban, modern lifestyle and separation from nature
.This suggests the substantial separation present between the speaker and nature as he’s from an urban lifestyle. As the speaker, sits in the middle of the ocean, he’s met with a shark which is an enormous creation of nature. This creation of nature hits him with the realisation of how pathetically dependent he is on the superficial modern desires and lifestyle. This also highlights how out of touch he is with nature and his surroundings
“Shook”
. Connotations of
“wrong branch”
. Connotations of
