By Norman McCaig
Questions
1. How do the opening lines act as an introduction to
the poem?
Highlights a smell familiar to us all. Can relate to
smell which represents idiosyncratic (individual)
atmosphere of a hospital.
“bobbing” shows
speaker’s feelings
of not being
“there”. Creates
impression of
boats on waves and
suggests feelings
of helplessness; he
is being carried
along.
Metaphor – the smell is so
overpowering that is becomes a
comb, touching every strands of
his senses.
The hospital smell
combs my nostrils
as they go bobbing along
green and yellow corridors
The colour of pus/vomit
stressing the unpleasantness of
the situation.
Synedoche – since not just his nostrils
are moving along, as the image would
suggest. This emphasises the
overpowering nature of “the hospital
smell”, since it has blocked out his
other senses. Smell is overpowering and
shows the vivid memory of the
hospital.
Speaker perhaps unwilling to give
into reality of situation. Use of
colours which we associate with
hospitals (+smell) reinforces
reality of situation.
Questions
1. How do the opening lines act as an introduction to
the poem?
Infinitive verbs
Stanza One
Captures attention
Set at sea
Shark is in
charge
Unusual term to use for
an oar, you stub your toe.
This suggests tripping over
something, which
highlights a theme of the
poem, the idea that this is
the shark’s territory, not
the human who belongs
on land.
Metaphor comparing the
shark to a rock – bulky/solid
without feeling or
intelligence
To stub an oar on a rock where none should be,
To have it rise with a slounge out of the sea
Is a thing that happened once (too often) to me.
Slounge – onomatopoeia –
noise of waves, clumsy
movement
Although the poet is
frightened he tries to inject
humour to make light of the
situation
Poem
Central Concern of the
text
Themes (1)
Themes (2)
Imagery (1)
Imagery (2)
Word Choice (1)
Word Choice (2)
Structure (1)
Structure (2)
Visiting Hour
Basking Shark
Comparing Questions
1.How does the poet feel?
2.What is the turning point of the poem?
3.How is the setting shown?
Visiting hour
Basking Shark
Themes (1)
Anger – that he can do
nothing in the face of death
Nature - Rise with a slounge
out of the sea.
Existence
Himself
Themes (2)
Facing Reality –
Understanding the impact of
death and loss and that we as a
species are not immortal.
Imagery (1)
Decay
A withered hand trembles on
its stalk
Facing Reality –
Understanding that we as a
species are the ones who cause
the most death and destruction.
That we are not the masters of
evolution.
Central Concern of the text
Tone / Mood
Word Choice (1)
Word Choice (2)
Structure (1)
Facing up to mortality
Reflection
Striking words
“Guzzling”
Turning point - Ward 7
Who is the monster?
Reflection
Serious with humour
shoggled
Turning Point - Moves from
observation to reflection