Quotations & Analysis: Stanza Three Flashcards
How does the use of word choice in the phrase “displaced” refer to the poet’s outcome from this encounter?
The word choice of “displaced” explores the idea that the shark has made him rethink his life, and man’s position on this earth.
How does the word choice of “shoggled” emphasise the shark’s position in this situation?
The word choice of “shoggled” shows once again, that the shark is in control, being able to move him.
This is self deprecating toward the poet.
How does the writer use structure in the phrase “centuries back” to emphasise just how he feels?
Enjambment is used in the phrase “centuries back” to draw attention to the word “centuries”.
This shows us that he is thinking back to prehistoric times when both man and this shark would have had an equal chance.
How does the word choice of “Decadent townee” emphasise that humanity has lost evolutions course?
The word choice of “decadent townee” shows that the writer (representing humanity) has moved far away from his origins.
“decadent” shows that he has lost a sense of purpose in his life, becoming too immersed in the pursuit of hedonistic pleasure.
How does McCaig use imagery in the phrase “Shook on a wrong branch of his family tree” to show an evolutionary link between the shark and the poet? (Stanza 3)
The metaphor of “shook on a wrong branch of his family tree” reminds the poet that the shark too is part of our family tree, and is inextricably linked to us in much of the same way as any other ancestor.
Describe the events of the third stanza.
In the third stanza, the poet begins to question his position in the evolutionary process.
