Engels poem Snake

What is Snake about?

The poem is about a man who encounters a snake at a water trough. He admires the snake, but because society teaches him that snakes are dangerous, he throws something at it and later regrets his action.

What is the main theme of the poem?

The main theme of the poem is the conflict between emotional behaviour and learned behaviour from society. The speaker respects the snake, but society tells him he should fear or attack it.

How does the speaker feel about the snake?

At first, he feels admiration and respect. Later, he feels fear and confusion because of what he has been taught. After attacking the snake, he feels guilty and ashamed.

Why does the speaker throw a log at the snake?

He does it because the “voice of his education” tells him that a venomous snake should be killed. He acts against his own feelings.

Why does the speaker regret his action of throwing something?

He realizes that the snake was peaceful and had done nothing wrong. He feels he betrayed his own instincts.

What does the snake symbolize?

The snake symbolizes nature, wisdom, and freedom. It can also represent the conflict between instinct and society's rules.

What is meant by ‘the voices of my education‘?

It refers to the beliefs and prejudices that society has taught the speaker. This voice tells him that snakes are dangerous and should be attacked.

What atmosphere does the poem create?

The poem creates a calm and respectful atmosphere at first, but later it becomes tense and regretful when the speaker attacks the snake.

what is the main message of the poem?

The poem suggests that people should trust their natural instincts instead of blindly following society's prejudices and expectations.

Why is the snake compared to a king?

The speaker describes the snake as noble and majestic. This comparison shows his respect and admiration for the animal.

How is nature presented in the poem?

Nature is presented as beautiful, peaceful, and worthy of respect. The snake behaves naturally and does not threaten the speaker.

What is the poem’s structure?

it is a free verse poem with 19 irregular stanza’s and 74 unrhymed lines

What literary devices are used?

1. Alliteration

2. Enjambment

3. Metaphors and comparisons

4. Imagery

What is the effect of the rhyme scheme?

There is no strict meter or rhyme scheme, which allows the poem to flow naturally and mirror the slithering, fluid movement of the snake

How is the metaphor of a ‘king in exile‘ used?

The snake is compared to a ‘king in exile’, both unrelated to each other. The use of this literary device makes the snake seem like it’s royal, emphasizing the theme of respect for nature.

Why is enjambment used?

Enjambment creates a natural flow and makes the poem sound like a real memory or personal story. It also slows down the reading pace, allowing the reader to carefully follow the snake's movements and the speaker's thoughts.

What is the conflict in the poem?

The conflict is between the speaker's natural respect for the snake and society's belief that snakes are dangerous.

What emotion does the poem create?

The poem creates admiration, tension, and finally regret. The speaker respects the snake but feels guilty after attacking it.

How can Snake be compared to London?

Yes, both poems show the influence of society, but in different ways and to different degrees.

How does the influence of society differ in London and Snake?

London shows how society controls everyone, while Snake shows how society controls your thoughts

how is alliteration used?

There is a repetition of consonant sounds, for example ‘And trailed his yellow-brown slackness soft-bellied down’. The repetition of ‘s’ makes the sentence flow more smoothly.

What is the effect of repetition?

the use of repetition emphasizes the speaker's inner conflict and thoughts.

what is the effect of the rhythm?

The poet does use a natural rhythm, the lines vary in length, matching the long and sliding movements of the snake as well as the poet’s thoughts as he self reflects.

Which literary movement does the poem belong to?

The poem belongs to Modernism because it focuses on personal experience, psychology, and inner conflict rather than traditional heroic subjects.h

how can you tell when Snake was written?

You can tell it is from the Modernist period because it focuses on inner conflict and psychology. The speaker struggles between instinct and what society has taught him. The free verse style also fits modern poetry.