Emily Dickinson’s “the Snake” - 1972 Words

Josh Mclawhorn Eng 232 Professor Etheridge 9/24/2012 Emily Dickinson’s â€Å"The Snake† â€Å"The snake† by Emily Dickinson is a 24 line poem describing an encounter with a snake in the grass. The six stanzas of the poem flow together in an ABCB rhyme scheme yet are not formalized into any specific meter. â€Å"The Snake† says that Dickinson shares a friendly and appreciative connection with a snake because it is being of nature, just as she is a being of nature; but even while she appreciates this creature, whenever she encounters it; it still chills her to the bone. Through her use of style such as personification, descriptive imagery, metaphors, and similes Dickinson causes the reader to gain an appreciation of the snake; but then uses the same†¦show more content†¦Line four Dickinson goes on to say how Dickinson, or the speaker encountered these snakes often, and often during the morning. The fourth stanza Dickinson uses great style to convey imagery about what her snake reminds her of, and the way it moves to her readers. Line one and two of stanza four are â€Å"Have passed, I thought, a whip-lash / Unbraiding in the sun,-†, Line one describes the snakes body as a â€Å"whip-lash†. This word causes the reader to imagine that the snake reminds Dickinson of a whip. In the second line the word â€Å"unbraiding† is used to describe the way it looks when Dickinson literally sees her snake move. â€Å"Unbraiding† is an excellent use of a metaphor by Dickinson, comparing the snakes movements to something being unbraided. The reader can imagine a snake moving its body just like a shoelace moves as it is pulled and untied. Line three and four go as follows â€Å"When, stooping to secure it, / It wrinkled, and was gone.† Line three begins telling the readers about when Dickinson tried to catch the snake. In line four, the reader is told how Dickinson was unsuccessful when trying to catch the snake. She uses the word â€Å"wrinkled† to describe the snake’s movement as it disappears into the grass. â€Å"Wrinkled† is yet another example of Dickinson’s use of style in this poem. Using the word â€Å"wrinkled† in this situation, to describe the snake’s movements gives the reader a moreShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Snake And The Snake1707 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Snake† and â€Å"The Snake† Fred Min â€Å"Snake† by D.H. Lawrence 1. Emotional fear within oneself is a common foundation that dictates the â€Å"reaction† in relation to certain situations, such as the presence of a snake. In D.H. Lawrence’s â€Å"Snake†, the emotions of fascination and intense hospitality, although dysfunctional, heavily takes precedence over fear. 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