Analyzing Poetry: Norman McCaig's "Basking Shark"

Key Themes and Techniques

• Themes Explored:

  • Evolution
  • Man’s relationship with nature
  • Isolation

• Literary Techniques:

  • Imagery
  • Metaphor
  • Word choice
  • Sound devices (alliteration, consonance, assonance)
  • Structure (use of rhyming triplets)

Title and Initial Setting

• "Basking Shark":

  • The only mention of the creature by name, establishes the subject and setting.

• Opening with an Infinitive Verb:

  • "To stub" initiates immediate action.
  • Use of "oar" immediately places the setting at sea.

Imagery and Sound

• Imagery:

  • Comparison of the shark to a rock (solid, immovable).
  • Visual imagery of sea and isolation.

• Rhyme and Structure:

  • Composed of five rhyming triplets, different from McCaig’s usual free verse.

Word Choice and Tone

• Neologism "slounge":

  • Suggests slow, leisurely movement.
  • Reflects the large and intimidating presence of a basking shark.

• Humor and Reflection:

  • Light-hearted tone with "thing once too often".
  • Reflective with "but not too often" leading to contemplation.

• Metaphors:

  • Raindrops on sea compared to "tin-tacked with rain".
  • Shark as "room-sized monster with a matchbox brain" suggesting physical size vs. perceived intelligence.

Epiphany and Reflection

• Metaphor of Displacement:

  • Shark displaces "more than water" implying a profound mental shift.
  • Epiphany: Realization about humanity's disconnection from nature.

• Negative Self-Reflection:

  • "Decadent townee" reflects on loss of natural connectivity.
  • Humankind perceived as the "black sheep" in nature.

Onomatopoeia and Evolution

• "Swish":

  • Sound of water reflecting clarity of thought.
  • Imagery of "swishing up dirt" indicating enlightenment.

• Evolutionary Reflection:

  • Humanity's path from primordial "slime" contrasted with shark’s simplicity.
  • Question "who's the monster?" implies humans as destructive.

Conclusion: Profound Impact

• Change in Perspective:

  • Shark as "sale after sale" metaphorically compared to a sailing ship.
  • Shift from viewing it as a "monster" to appreciating its elegance.

• Final Imagery:

  • "Tail" symbolizes the end of an enlightening experience.

• Structural Observations:

  • Short and lyrical form with rhyming triplets, distinct from McCaig's usual style.

Summary

• A profound and lyrical poem that challenges perceptions of humanity's place in nature, encouraging reflection through rich imagery and thoughtful metaphors.