The Snake Trying Class 9 English Notes (Beehive Poem)

Must-Remember Key Points

• {"point":"Central Theme: The poem contrasts the harmless beauty of nature (the snake) with the irrational fear and aggression of humans."}
• {"point":"Poet's Stance: The poet is an observer who admires the snake and pleads for its life, urging the pursuer to let it go."}
• {"point":"The Snake's Description: It is described as beautiful, graceful, small, and green. It is explicitly stated to be harmless, even to children."}
• {"point":"The Conflict: The main action is the snake 'trying' to escape the 'pursuing stick', a symbol of human threat."}
• {"point":"Movement: The snake's movement is described with elegant words like 'glides' and 'curvings', emphasizing its grace."}
• {"point":"The Escape: The snake successfully escapes into the green reeds, disappearing from the human threat."}
• {"point":"Message: The poem conveys a strong message of coexistence and the need to appreciate all creatures, rather than killing them out of prejudice."}
• {"point":"Key Literary Device: The most significant device is the transferred epithet in 'pursuing stick'. It is the human who is pursuing, not the stick."}

Theme and Message of The Poem

The central theme of 'The Snake Trying' is the conflict between humanity and the natural world, driven by human prejudice. The poet, W.W.E. Ross, presents a snake not as a symbol of evil or danger, but as a graceful and beautiful creature fighting for its life. The poem opens with the snake trying to escape a 'sudden stroke', immediately establishing it as a victim. Its movements are described with elegance – 'thin long body', 'graceful shapes', and how it 'glides' through the water. This positive portrayal directly challenges the conventional fear of snakes.

The antagonist in the poem is the unseen human with the 'pursuing stick'. This represents human intervention and aggression, an instinctive reaction to kill what we fear without understanding it. The poet acts as a mediator, pleading 'O let him go'. He emphasizes the snake's innocence, stating it is 'harmless even to children'. The poem's message is a powerful plea for coexistence. It urges us to look beyond our ingrained fears and appreciate the intrinsic beauty of all living beings. The snake's eventual escape into the safety of the 'green slim reeds' is a small victory for nature, a moment of relief where it returns to its natural habitat, safe from human harm.

Key Terms and Literary Devices

Glides

To move smoothly and continuously along, as the snake moves through the water.

Stroke

A hit or blow, in this context, the attack on the snake with a stick.

Reeds

Tall, slender-leaved plants of the grass family that grow in or near water.

Vanishings

The act of disappearing. In the poem, it refers to the snake's body disappearing among the reeds.

Transferred Epithet

A figure of speech where an adjective or epithet is transferred from the noun it should describe to another noun in the sentence. Example: 'pursuing stick' (the person is pursuing, not the stick).

Alliteration

The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of words in close succession. Example: 'He is harmless'.

Personification

Giving human qualities or abilities to inanimate objects or animals. The poem's title itself, 'The Snake Trying', personifies the snake by giving it the human-like intention of 'trying'.

Imagery

The use of descriptive language that appeals to the senses. Example: 'small and green', 'green slim reeds' creates a visual image.

The Snake vs. The Human Pursuer

How to Score Full Marks

When answering questions about 'The Snake Trying', always focus on the contrast presented by the poet. Contrast the snake's beauty ('graceful shapes') with the human's violence ('stroke'). Contrast the snake's harmlessness ('harmless even to children') with the human's baseless fear. Use direct quotes from the poem to support your points. For questions about the message, clearly state that the poet advocates for respecting nature and coexisting peacefully with all creatures, challenging human prejudices.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• What is the snake trying to escape from? The snake is trying to escape from a person trying to hit it with a stick (the 'pursuing stick').
• How does the poet describe the snake's body and movements? The poet describes the snake's body as 'beautiful', 'graceful', 'small and green'. Its movements are described as 'curvings' and it 'glides' through the water.
• What literary device is used in the phrase 'pursuing stick'? The literary device is a transferred epithet, as the person is pursuing, not the stick.
• What is the final plea of the poet? The poet pleads, 'O let him go,' asking the pursuer to allow the harmless snake to escape into the reeds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions