Basking Shark: The Relationship of Man to the Natural World

Basking Shark: The Relationship of Man to the Natural World

‘Basking Shark: The Relationship of Man to the Natural World’

Tone and Mood

  • MacCaig presents an initial tone of fear and awe, gradually shifting to reflection and humbling realisation as the poem progresses.
  • The encounter with the shark prompts a deeper contemplation about the nature of existence and the relationship between man and the natural world.

Imagery

  • The basking shark is referred to using the simile, “like a rock cleft in the sea”, emphasizing its size and intimidating presence.
  • The phrase “room-sized monster with a matchbox brain” serves as a metaphor for the disparity between the physical enormity of the shark and its limited cognition.

Speaker’s Perspective

  • Initially, the speaker expresses dismay and terror at the sudden encounter, showing his feeling of insignificance compared to the creature.
  • As the encounter sinks in, the speaker begins to contemplate the transience of humans and their place in the natural world, realising his evolutionary connection to the shark.

Language

  • MacCaig employs words like “slounge”, “shoggled” and “slime of everything” to depict a grotesque, yet fascinating picture of the natural world.
  • The use of enjambment between the stanzas reflects the unpredictability and fluctuating rhythms of the sea and the shark’s movements.

Themes

  • The poem contemplates the themes of man’s insignificance and their evolutionary heritage, triggered by the humbling encounter with the shark.
  • Other themes include the mysterious marvel of nature and the contrast between fear and fascination in experiencing the natural world.

Summary

  • ‘Basking Shark’ by Norman MacCaig explores the humbling experience of a close encounter with a basking shark, prompting a pondering on the relationship of man to the natural world. Using stark and evocative language along with effective imagery, MacCaig draws a vivid picture of the encounter and its subsequent introspections. The poem deeply delves into the themes of man’s insignificance, the marvel of nature and our evolutionary heritage, making it a profound reflection on human existence and our place in the wider world.