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What do you understand by the poet’s reference to the ‘voice of my education’ and ‘voices in me’? Explain how he reacts to these voices.
The ‘voice of my education’ refers to what he had been taught whereas the ‘voices in me’ are what he is feeling.
Look closely at the description of the snake in stanza 3. How does the poet use language to create a picture in your mind?
Suggested answer: the snake comes out of a crack in the wall and is lithe and leisurely (it moves slowly and silently). He uses language such as ‘slack’ and ‘soft’. The snake is described in a non-threatening way, perhaps building up a contrast with the shocking brutality at the end of the poem.
Explain how the poet’s language reflects the contrast between the behaviour of the snake and the attitudes suggested by the voices.
Words like ‘slowly’ and ‘dreamily’ make the snake seem calm whereas the voices seem to be arguing with each other. The poem moves back and forwards between the reasons for killing the snake and reasons for not killing it.
What reason does the poet give for throwing the log at the snake?
He is cross that the snake is leaving.
Why do the voices say that the poet should kill the snake and what are the poet’s reasons for not wanting to?
The snake should be killed because it is a golden yellow colour and in Sicily all snakes that are this colour are poisonous. However, the poet likes the snake so does not want to kill it. He is also afraid of killing it.
Comment on the phrase ‘I picked up a clumsy log’. In what ways can a log be said to be ‘clumsy’?
The size of the log made it difficult to hold and made the poet clumsy.
Describe the poet’s thoughts and feelings at the end of the poem, after the snake has gone. Comment particularly on what you understand by the last two lines.
He feels bad about throwing the log and was cross that he had acted on what other people had educated him to do rather than how he felt.
Consider closely the language used by the poet to describe the snake and his thoughts about it in the first part of the poem, as far as the line ‘And climb again the broken bank of my wall-face’ (stanza 12) and compare it with the language of the remaining stanzas.
The first part of the poem includes words that create a sense of calm beauty. These include ‘slowly’, ‘peaceful’, ‘dreamily’. The second half has a much harsher language such as ‘horrid’, ‘convulsed’ and ‘writhed’, and creates a picture of things suddenly changing.
What are the poet’s first reactions when he sees the snake at his water-trough? Quote from the poem to support your answer.
He thought he should not go close to the snake.
He 'must stand and wait'.
How does the rhythm of the stanza beginning ‘I think it did not hit him’ reflect the actions described? Look at the enjambment and the length of the sentences, for example.
The rhythm of the stanza seems much faster than the rest of the poem and reflects the sudden action of throwing the log.
In the early stages of the poem, do you think the poet is in any danger from the snake? Quote from the poem (especially from stanzas 3 and 5) in your answer.
He was in no danger since the snake does not seem to be frightened by the poet.
'The snake looked at me vaguely', 'mused a moment', and stopped and drank a little more.