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Basking Shark Poem Analysis by Norman MacCaig | Aunt Julia, Visiting Hour Poem & More

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Alyssa

8/4/2022

English

Basking Shark Poem Analysis

Basking Shark Poem Analysis by Norman MacCaig | Aunt Julia, Visiting Hour Poem & More

Norman MacCaig's "Basking Shark" explores a transformative encounter between the poet and a massive marine creature, leading to profound reflections on evolution and humanity's place in nature.

Key aspects:

  • The poem describes MacCaig's unexpected encounter with a basking shark while rowing
  • Themes include evolution, human nature, and our relationship with prehistoric creatures
  • The poet questions who the real "monster" is - the peaceful shark or humans
  • Rich use of literary devices including metaphor, alliteration, and word choice
  • Structure follows a narrative arc from fear to understanding
...

8/4/2022

1039

*Repitition -
• It emphasises the
Shark and draws the
readers attention towards
as it.
*Nord choice/Metaphor-
•Rock'-
Suggests
hardness of t

View

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.

*Repitition -
• It emphasises the
Shark and draws the
readers attention towards
as it.
*Nord choice/Metaphor-
•Rock'-
Suggests
hardness of t

View

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.

*Repitition -
• It emphasises the
Shark and draws the
readers attention towards
as it.
*Nord choice/Metaphor-
•Rock'-
Suggests
hardness of t

View

Stanza 4: Clarity and Self-Discovery

In the fourth stanza of Norman MacCaig's "Basking Shark", the poet uses the metaphor of water clearing to represent a moment of profound realization and self-discovery. This stanza marks a significant shift in the speaker's perspective, moving from shock and displacement to a deeper understanding of his place in the natural world.

Quote: "Swish up the dirt and, when it settles, a spring / Is all the clearer. I saw me, in one fling, / Emerging from the slime of everything."

The imagery of dirt being swished up and then settling to reveal clearer water is a powerful representation of the mental process the speaker undergoes. Initially, the encounter with the shark stirred up confusion and unsettling thoughts, but as these settle, a clearer understanding emerges.

Example: Just as muddy water becomes clear when it settles, the speaker's thoughts become more lucid after the initial shock of the encounter.

The word "emerging" is particularly significant, suggesting a kind of rebirth or new self-awareness. By connecting himself to the "slime of everything," the speaker acknowledges his evolutionary origins and his fundamental connection to all life forms, including the basking shark.

Highlight: This stanza represents the climax of the speaker's internal journey, where the encounter with the shark leads to a profound moment of self-realization and connection with nature.

*Repitition -
• It emphasises the
Shark and draws the
readers attention towards
as it.
*Nord choice/Metaphor-
•Rock'-
Suggests
hardness of t

View

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.

*Repitition -
• It emphasises the
Shark and draws the
readers attention towards
as it.
*Nord choice/Metaphor-
•Rock'-
Suggests
hardness of t

View

Page 6: Final Reflection

The concluding page presents the poem's central question about the nature of monstrousness and humanity's place in the natural world.

Quote: "So who's the monster?"

Highlight: The final stanza uses sailing imagery to describe the shark's departure, suggesting grace rather than menace

The conclusion challenges readers to reconsider their own assumptions about nature and humanity's relationship with prehistoric creatures.

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Aug 4, 2022

6 pages

Basking Shark Poem Analysis by Norman MacCaig | Aunt Julia, Visiting Hour Poem & More

user profile picture

Alyssa

@ascott222

Norman MacCaig's "Basking Shark" explores a transformative encounter between the poet and a massive marine creature, leading to profound reflections on evolution and humanity's place in nature.

Key aspects:

  • The poem describes MacCaig's unexpected encounter with a basking shark while... Show more

*Repitition -
• It emphasises the
Shark and draws the
readers attention towards
as it.
*Nord choice/Metaphor-
•Rock'-
Suggests
hardness of t

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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.

*Repitition -
• It emphasises the
Shark and draws the
readers attention towards
as it.
*Nord choice/Metaphor-
•Rock'-
Suggests
hardness of t

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

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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.

*Repitition -
• It emphasises the
Shark and draws the
readers attention towards
as it.
*Nord choice/Metaphor-
•Rock'-
Suggests
hardness of t

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Stanza 4: Clarity and Self-Discovery

In the fourth stanza of Norman MacCaig's "Basking Shark", the poet uses the metaphor of water clearing to represent a moment of profound realization and self-discovery. This stanza marks a significant shift in the speaker's perspective, moving from shock and displacement to a deeper understanding of his place in the natural world.

Quote: "Swish up the dirt and, when it settles, a spring / Is all the clearer. I saw me, in one fling, / Emerging from the slime of everything."

The imagery of dirt being swished up and then settling to reveal clearer water is a powerful representation of the mental process the speaker undergoes. Initially, the encounter with the shark stirred up confusion and unsettling thoughts, but as these settle, a clearer understanding emerges.

Example: Just as muddy water becomes clear when it settles, the speaker's thoughts become more lucid after the initial shock of the encounter.

The word "emerging" is particularly significant, suggesting a kind of rebirth or new self-awareness. By connecting himself to the "slime of everything," the speaker acknowledges his evolutionary origins and his fundamental connection to all life forms, including the basking shark.

Highlight: This stanza represents the climax of the speaker's internal journey, where the encounter with the shark leads to a profound moment of self-realization and connection with nature.

*Repitition -
• It emphasises the
Shark and draws the
readers attention towards
as it.
*Nord choice/Metaphor-
•Rock'-
Suggests
hardness of t

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

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Improve your grades

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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.

*Repitition -
• It emphasises the
Shark and draws the
readers attention towards
as it.
*Nord choice/Metaphor-
•Rock'-
Suggests
hardness of t

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

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Page 6: Final Reflection

The concluding page presents the poem's central question about the nature of monstrousness and humanity's place in the natural world.

Quote: "So who's the monster?"

Highlight: The final stanza uses sailing imagery to describe the shark's departure, suggesting grace rather than menace

The conclusion challenges readers to reconsider their own assumptions about nature and humanity's relationship with prehistoric creatures.

*Repitition -
• It emphasises the
Shark and draws the
readers attention towards
as it.
*Nord choice/Metaphor-
•Rock'-
Suggests
hardness of t

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Stanza 1: The Unexpected Encounter

The first stanza of Norman MacCaig's "Basking Shark" sets the scene for a startling encounter at sea. MacCaig uses vivid language to describe the moment when the speaker's oar hits what is initially thought to be a rock, but turns out to be a massive shark.

Highlight: The line "To stub an oar on a rock where none should be" immediately creates tension and surprise, drawing the reader into the experience.

The poet employs repetition to emphasize the shark and focus the reader's attention on this unexpected presence. The word choice "slounge" is particularly effective in conveying the slow, lazy movement of the creature as it surfaces.

Vocabulary: "Slounge" - A combination of "slouch" and "lounge," suggesting a slow, relaxed movement.

MacCaig's use of the phrase "toooftentoo often" implies that while this encounter was memorable, it's not something the speaker wishes to repeat frequently. This subtle hint adds depth to the speaker's complex feelings about the experience.

Quote: "Is a thing that happened once toooftentoo often to me."

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Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀

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This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!

Paul T

iOS user

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️

Thomas R

iOS user

Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades

Brad T

Android user

Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend

Aubrey

iOS user

Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀

Marco B

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!

Paul T

iOS user