Review of Snake by D.H. Lawrence

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Review of Snake by D.H. Lawrence

Vocabualry:

*Carob-tree: a red flowered tree originally in the Mediterranean area.

* pitcher : tall, round container with an open top and large handle.

* flickered: moved

* mused : think about

* bowel: bottom of earth

* perversity: offensive

* log: tree trunk

* clatter: v. loud sound of hard things hitting

* convulsed : violent movement

* writhed: to twist and turn in great pain

* paltry: worthless

Background :

D.H. Lawrence belongs to the 20th Century. He was interested in the

idea of contrasts. Most of his writings deal with the conflict between

opposities such as instinct and artificiality apects of modern life,

good and evil, light and darkness, man and animal. He believed that

human nature in general is made of opposities.

"Snake" is a 74 line free verse poem. It incorporates a narrative

element recording the poet's encounter with a snake at his

water-trough .This poem was written when D. H. Lawrence and his wife

were living in Taormina ,Sicily in 1920. This poem is derived from

Lawrence's actual experience there.

Theme:

The setting is a hot July day upon which the poet takes his pitcher to

the water-trough , where a snake is drinking The poet here recreates

the image of the traditional snake which is usually associated with

evil. He introduces two types of snakes ; the literary snake and the

allegorical one. He suggests an allegorical(metaphorical) meaning to

the idea of the snake. The snake , according to Lawrence represents

Nature that ties Man to the earth .However, he criticizes the way the

Man in modern age deals with this nat...

... middle of paper ...

...nique of modern poetry. Moreover, he

used this technique to make the reader share with him his feelings and

draw a realistic picture of his experience.

However, at some points, the writer uses different vocabulary to

atrract the attention to turning points in the poem , for example

words like "mused", "dignified" , "humility" , " proceed" to refer to

the majesty of the snake.

To sum up, it is clear that D. H. Lawrence is interested in the idea

of contradictions in life. He believes that life is bounded with

oppositions. However, in this poem he shows how he appreciates nature

and rejects all man's reason and teachings which is based on the

stereotype image of the snake. This confusion in the poet's mind is

illustrated successfully and effectively in a way that made us

identify and sympathize with this snake .

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