Quotations & Analysis: Stanza Five

Question 1

How does the phrase “So who’s the monster?” encapsulate the poet’s building feelings throughout the poem?

Answer 1

This shows us that McCaig is not so confident anymore as to who the superior being is.

This magnificent, awesome creature is monstrous simply due to its size, but it is now clear McCaig considers humanity to be the true monster.

Question 2

How does the phrase “for twenty seconds” emphasise humanities ignorance?

Answer 2

The fact the poet only thought of this “for twenty seconds” shows that he did not think about it that long, emphasising how man is the monster.

Question 3

How do the phrases “sail after sail” and “tall fin slid away” describe the shark, how does this contrast the beginning of the text?

Answer 3

The shark here is described in a more elegant manner, which contrasts its demeaning description earlier on.

This shows us that McCaig has thought about the issue and believes that the shark was never really in the wrong.

Question 4

Describe the events of the fifth stanza.

Answer 4

In the fifth stanza, his opinion of the shark changes and the poet reveals that he is not so sure of his own superiority over the rest of nature.