Basking Shark: Stanza 5

‘Basking Shark: Stanza 5’ - Theme - Human’s Position in Nature

Key Ideas

• The poem ‘Basking Shark’ by Norman MacCaig reflects on the relationship between humans and nature.
• In the fifth stanza, the poet’s encounter with the basking shark prompts a profound reconsideration of humanity’s place on earth.

Symbolism

• The shark is a potent symbol of nature’s raw power and inherent mystery, instilling a sense of awe and humility in the speaker.
• The “beginnings of our trace” symbolises the evolutionary history that ties humans to the rest of nature.

Imagery

• MacCaig uses evocative metaphors like “shook on a wrong branch of his family tree” to capture a vivid image of our evolutionary past.
• The figurative phrase “slife-struck” also contributes to the image of the poet realising the interconnectedness of all life.

Language

• The poet’s choice of terms like “a room-size monster”, “slife-struck” and “half-out of water” paint a dramatic, intriguing picture of the encounter.
• The use of the word “room-size” before “monster” serves to underscore the creature’s enormity and the sense of fear and intimidation it incites.

Context

• The stanza narrates a profound moment of awakening, with the speaker reconsidering man’s superiority and acknowledging our shared ancestry with nature.
• The theme of man and nature evolves, revealing a stark contrast between humanity’s perceived dominance over nature and reality.

Summary

• In the fifth stanza of ‘Basking Shark’, MacCaig combines vivid imagery, symbolic representations, and introspective language to critically examine humanity’s relationship with the natural world. The encounter with the shark leads the speaker to question human superiority, offering a thought-provoking pondering on our shared evolutionary history and our place within the grand tapestry of life.