Hyena Flashcards
What does the repetition of ‘I am’ show?
That he is arrogant.
What is the effect of the punctuation in “I am panting, it is midday, I have found no water-hole”
It breaks it up like taking breaths.
“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.”
Like giving someone dirties. Threatening because he is desperate. Arrogant - still thinks he is great, even at a disadvantage. Must = comanding.
“What do you think of me?”
Are you scared yet?
“I have a rough coat like Africa”
Thick skinned. Comparing himself to a country that we know as being harsh to live in.
Repetition of “Africa”
Patriotic. Africa is a big part of the world, he thinks he is too.
Repetition of ‘I’ in “I trot, I lope, I slaver, I am a ranger”
He is big headed, bragging.
“Do you like my song?”
Aggressive. Rhetorical. Said to make you feel smaller. Song = Creepy.
“Moon”
Moon normally refers to romance but here its brutal.
“Slave of the darkness”
Has no choice but to act this way. Trapped by darkness. Born this way.
“Mud walls” “Ruined places” “My pelt is silver”
He is the only good thing.
“I sniff a broken drum”
He is desperate. Only goes for broken things. Dismissive of humans.
What is the significance of the dull colours in stanza 3 changing to bright colours in stanza 4?
Once he gets food he begins to see colour.
“It is said I am a good match for a dead lion”
Well known. Enjoys the Fame. Not quite good enough for a live lion.
“Golden” “Silver”
Lion = 1st Hyena = 2nd Gold = Respect for lion.
“Tear”
Violent word. As easy as tearing paper.
“My tastes are easy”
He is desperate, not picky.
“Crowd of fangs”
Metaphor. Many close together is frightening.
“And I use them”
Intimidating.
“Tongue” “Fangs”
Tools to eat the lion. He is proud of them. Fangs = ferocious word choice.
“I am not laughing”
He answers himself as he thinks we are wrong. We know the sound as a laugh but he is menacing.
“But I am not snarling either”
He doesn’t have to snarl to scare us.
“I am waiting”
Repetition of first line. Reminder of patience. Shows he’ll do whatever it takes.
Repetition of “For the”
Repetition of structure. List of the ways we can die.
“Slide” “Seize” “Slack”
Alliteration. Emphasis on ways we can be caught.
“I am crouching in my dry shadows”
Crouching = Deliberately hiding. My = The territory is his. Dry = Reinforces the harsh environment.
“My place”
Suggests an assigned role. He is designed to do this. His niche.
“Pick you clean”
Suggests that he isn’t the first there.
What is the focus of Stanza 1?
Appearance.
What is the focus of Stanza 2?
Habitat.
What is the focus of Stanza 3?
Day becomes night.
What is the focus of Stanza 4?
Teeth.
What is the focus of Stanza 5?
Hyena waiting to strike.
Themes?
Hierarchy in the natural world. Human survival. Harshness of nature. Death.
Kraal.
Traditional wooden African settlement.
Veldt.
African plain.
Pelt.
Coat.
Carrion.
Carcass, meat.
Sinews.
Muscle.
Lope.
Clumsy movement.
