Stanza 2: Awe and Prehistoric Connections

In the second stanza, Norman MacCaig deepens the exploration of the encounter with the basking shark. The poet's choice of words creates a vivid image of the scene, with the sea described as "tin-tacked with rain," using alliteration to replicate the metallic sound of raindrops hitting the boat.

Example: The phrase "sea tin-tacked with rain" creates an auditory image, helping readers imagine the setting more vividly.

MacCaig employs a striking contrast in the line "That roomsized monster with a matchbox brain." This juxtaposition of size descriptors emphasizes the shark's enormous body while highlighting its relatively small brain, adding a layer of complexity to the creature's portrayal.

Definition: Juxtaposition - The act of placing two or more things side by side, often to compare or contrast them.

The stanza also reveals a shift in the speaker's perspective. While initially implying a reluctance to repeat the experience, the line "But not too often - though enough" suggests a newfound appreciation for the encounter, recognizing its value despite the initial shock.

Highlight: This stanza marks the beginning of the speaker's transformation, moving from fear to a more nuanced understanding of the experience.

Stanza 3: Displacement and Evolutionary Reflection

The third stanza of "Basking Shark" by Norman MacCaig delves deeper into the speaker's psychological and philosophical response to the encounter. The poet uses powerful imagery and word choice to convey the profound impact of this meeting on the speaker's sense of self and place in the natural world.

Quote: "He displaced more than water. He shoggled me / Centuries back - this decadent townee / Shook on a wrong branch of his family tree."

The word "shoggled" is particularly effective, describing not just a physical jolt but a metaphorical displacement through time. This unique term emphasizes the jarring nature of the realization that follows.

Vocabulary: "Shoggled" - A Scottish term meaning to shake or joggle, implying both physical and mental disturbance.

MacCaig's use of "decadent townee" to describe the speaker is self-deprecating, suggesting a disconnection from nature that the shark's presence suddenly bridges. The metaphor of shaking "on a wrong branch of his family tree" powerfully conveys the speaker's sudden awareness of his evolutionary links to prehistoric marine life.

Highlight: This stanza marks a crucial turning point in the poem, where the encounter shifts from a physical experience to a profound contemplation of human evolution and our place in the natural world.

Stanza 5: Reflection and Transformation

The final stanza of Norman MacCaig's "Basking Shark" brings the poem to a thought-provoking conclusion, challenging the reader's perceptions and summarizing the transformative nature of the encounter. The speaker's initial fear and shock have given way to a more nuanced and appreciative view of the shark and, by extension, the natural world.

Quote: "So who's the monster? The thought made me grow pale / For twenty seconds while, sail after sail, / The tall fin slid away and then the tail."

The rhetorical question "So who's the monster?" is a powerful device that prompts both the speaker and the reader to reconsider their initial judgments. It suggests that the true "monster" might not be the shark, but perhaps human beings who have distanced themselves from nature.

Highlight: This question marks the culmination of the speaker's shift in perspective, from seeing the shark as a frightening creature to recognizing the beauty and significance of the encounter.

MacCaig's use of "sail after sail" to describe the shark's fin and tail as it moves away creates a graceful, almost majestic image. This description contrasts sharply with the initial portrayal of the shark as a "monster," further emphasizing the change in the speaker's perception.

Example: The comparison of the shark's fin and tail to sails evokes an image of a ship moving through water, lending a sense of dignity and purpose to the creature's departure.

The poem concludes with the shark's disappearance, but the impact of the encounter lingers. The speaker's momentary paleness suggests a mix of awe, respect, and perhaps a lingering trace of fear, encapsulating the complex emotions evoked by this close encounter with a powerful force of nature.