Hunting snake Judith Wright Essay

The main subject of the poetry is the fast appearance of the snake in the grass in the grass and the surprised reactions of the poet and her companion. The snake does no harm to the walkers and they in turn do not harm the snake.As an environmentalist, Wright sought to preserve the earthy surround in Australia. She c bed intensely for the uncreated hoi polloi who lived in close engagement with nature which the settlers did not. The poem, on the show, is about the sudden appearance of the snake only when it could also be about the various creatures that lived in Australia and the animal chummy way of life of the aboriginal people.The initial emotion that overtakes the poet and her companion is knock or surprise. They are walking along a grassy speckle (not a jungle) when they see the snake reeling by. Soon this surprise is overtaken by admiration for the perfection of its body, the symmetry of the scales on its surface and the single given(p) (fierce intent) interest grou p of its prey.StructureThe poem has a tightly controlled structure that does not permit much innovation. The beginning of the poem describes a peaceful scene when nature is full of the mellow sunshine of autumn, thence comes the surprise of finding a snake in their midst. But in that location is no sudden movement or strong emotion express so at that place is no change in the structure either.The poem has four quatrains with a traditional hoarfrost scheme of abab, cdcd, efef in the first of all three stanzas but the fourth stanza is ghhg. The change in the last stanza is kindred the letting out of breath (We took a deeper breath of day,) after having unconsciously held it while the snake was around. Thereby emphasising the relief that the observers felt. If you extend beyond the surface level meaning, you could explore the symbolism here is Wright challenging the attitude that we own towards the indigenous Aboriginals, by highlighting the appraisal that the observers have m ade (that the snake is dangerous) when in actual fact, it is just going about its unremarkable life? Are we too quick to put forward a judgement on a people group that has different valuesto us?You might like to link this to A Different History, as the Brits coined the category, Aboriginal Australians after they begin colonising Australia in 1788. Notice how language is used to knead stereotypes.LanguageThe language used is very simple but the resource is strong making it a visceral poem. The choice of sibilants (we scarcely intellection still as we stood) mimics the movements of the snake to highlight the immediate fear that the observers olfactory perception towards it. Again, are we afraid of what we wearyt fully understand and therefore, make unnecessary judgements?ImageryThe use of strong imagery marks the poem. The hatchway images are of a balmy day in autumn when there is a mellow fruitfulness everywhere. The calm is broken by the sudden arrival of the snake. The pict ure of the snake in single minded pursuit of its prey, tongue darting as it feels the ground, the grass parting as it moves through are pen pictures which allow us to see the face. The poem focuses on the event rather than the narrator allowing us to share in the emotions. Symbolically, is Wright encouraging us not to impulsively respond to our immediate reactions when faced with something unknown, or something that we dont fully understand, so that we reflect upon our preconceived notions about a person/situation? Thus, is she challenging the stereotypes surrounding the Aboriginies?Movement / RhythmThe rhyme scheme is a simple abab, cdcd, efef and ghhg. The rigidity of the scheme allows the poet to focus on the event rather than on the emotions or the feelings of the poet. The movement of the snake is copied in the movement of the lines and the sibilants evoke a slithering sensation.SoundsAlliterative and sibilant sounds as in sun glazed his curves of diamond scale, we scarcely c erebration still as we stood convey the impression of a slithering movement of the snake as it moved fast over the grass. Thesedevices continue to colligate to the relationship that humanity has with nature we should respect nature, the natural world and the people who live in it.Figures of SpeechThrough an extended metaphor, the poet tells us of the symbiotic relationship between the snake and man. There is no maudlin dress down about the prey or the cruelty of the snake as a hunter but merely an acknowledgement of the sense of purpose basis the movement of the snake. Mainly, Wright depicts this symbiotic relationship so that man reflects upon his treatment of a) the natural world around him and b) the indigenous people group found in a country.