Hyena

Question 1

What does the repetition of ‘I am’ show?

Answer 1

That he is arrogant.

Question 2

What is the effect of the punctuation in “I am panting, it is midday, I have found no water-hole”

Answer 2

It breaks it up like taking breaths.

Question 3

“I am very fierce without food and although my eyes
are screwed to slits against the sun
you must believe I am prepared to spring.”

Answer 3

Like giving someone dirties. Threatening because he is desperate. Arrogant - still thinks he is great, even at a disadvantage. Must = comanding.

Question 4

“What do you think of me?”

Answer 4

Are you scared yet?

Question 5

“I have a rough coat like Africa”

Answer 5

Thick skinned. Comparing himself to a country that we know as being harsh to live in.

Question 6

Repetition of “Africa”

Answer 6

Patriotic. Africa is a big part of the world, he thinks he is too.

Question 7

Repetition of ‘I’ in “I trot, I lope, I slaver, I am a ranger”

Answer 7

He is big headed, bragging.

Question 8

“Do you like my song?”

Answer 8

Aggressive. Rhetorical. Said to make you feel smaller. Song = Creepy.

Question 9

“Moon”

Answer 9

Moon normally refers to romance but here its brutal.

Question 10

“Slave of the darkness”

Answer 10

Has no choice but to act this way. Trapped by darkness. Born this way.

Question 11

“Mud walls” “Ruined places” “My pelt is silver”

Answer 11

He is the only good thing.

Question 12

“I sniff a broken drum”

Answer 12

He is desperate. Only goes for broken things. Dismissive of humans.

Question 13

What is the significance of the dull colours in stanza 3 changing to bright colours in stanza 4?

Answer 13

Once he gets food he begins to see colour.

Question 14

“It is said I am a good match for a dead lion”

Answer 14

Well known. Enjoys the Fame. Not quite good enough for a live lion.

Question 15

“Golden” “Silver”

Answer 15

Lion = 1st 
Hyena = 2nd
Gold = Respect for lion.

Question 16

“Tear”

Answer 16

Violent word. As easy as tearing paper.

Question 17

“My tastes are easy”

Answer 17

He is desperate, not picky.

Question 18

“Crowd of fangs”

Answer 18

Metaphor. Many close together is frightening.

Question 19

“And I use them”

Answer 19

Intimidating.

Question 20

“Tongue” “Fangs”

Answer 20

Tools to eat the lion. He is proud of them. Fangs = ferocious word choice.

Question 21

“I am not laughing”

Answer 21

He answers himself as he thinks we are wrong. We know the sound as a laugh but he is menacing.

Question 22

“But I am not snarling either”

Answer 22

He doesn’t have to snarl to scare us.

Question 23

“I am waiting”

Answer 23

Repetition of first line. Reminder of patience. Shows he’ll do whatever it takes.

Question 24

Repetition of “For the”

Answer 24

Repetition of structure. List of the ways we can die.

Question 25

“Slide” “Seize” “Slack”

Answer 25

Alliteration. Emphasis on ways we can be caught.

Question 26

“I am crouching in my dry shadows”

Answer 26

Crouching = Deliberately hiding.
My = The territory is his.
Dry = Reinforces the harsh environment.

Question 27

“My place”

Answer 27

Suggests an assigned role. He is designed to do this. His niche.

Question 28

“Pick you clean”

Answer 28

Suggests that he isn’t the first there.

Question 29

What is the focus of Stanza 1?

Answer 29

Appearance.

Question 30

What is the focus of Stanza 2?

Answer 30

Habitat.

Question 31

What is the focus of Stanza 3?

Answer 31

Day becomes night.

Question 32

What is the focus of Stanza 4?

Answer 32

Teeth.

Question 33

What is the focus of Stanza 5?

Answer 33

Hyena waiting to strike.

Question 34

Themes?

Answer 34

Hierarchy in the natural world. Human survival. Harshness of nature. Death.

Question 35

Kraal.

Answer 35

Traditional wooden African settlement.

Question 36

Veldt.

Answer 36

African plain.

Question 37

Pelt.

Answer 37

Coat.

Question 38

Carrion.

Answer 38

Carcass, meat.

Question 39

Sinews.

Answer 39

Muscle.

Question 40

Lope.

Answer 40

Clumsy movement.