The Snake Emily Dickinson

Stanza I A narrow fellow in the grass Occasionally rides; You may have met him,--did you not, His notice sudden is.

Stanza I Not usual association with evil – “narrow fellow” Metaphor – “a narrow fellow” Human characteristics Personification – Movements as human “fellow” “rides” – Not slithers or crawls

Stanza I Rhetorical question – “did you not” – Reader lulled into sense of communion with nature – Encouraged to feel close Conveys the beauty of the snake – “rides” – “Alliteration of “s” sound Fluid movement

Stanza II The grass divides as with a comb A spotted shaft is seen; And then it closes at your feet And opens further on.

Stanza II Tone – Mysterious “grass divides” “closes at your feet” “And opens further on”

Stanza II Personification – “combs” – Human characteristics Diction – “spotted shaft” – Beauty of the snake

Stanza III He likes a boggy acre, A floor too cool for corn. Yet when a child, and barefoot, I more than once, at morn.

Stanza III Human characteristics – “floor” not ground – Looking for refuge Narrator – “child” – “barefoot” Closeness with nature? Interruption of human?

Stanza IV Have passed, I thought, a whip-lash Unbraiding in the sun,-- When, stooping to secure it, It wrinkled, and was gone.

Stanza IV Shift – Was observing/ fascinated with snake now wants to capture it. – “stooping to secure it” “whip-lash” – Instills fear in snake – “It wrinkled, and was gone”

Stanza V Several of nature’s people I know, and they know me; I feel for them a transport Of cordiality;

Stanza V Diction – “Transport” (carried away with emotion) – “Cordiality” (gracious)

Stanza VI But never met this fellow, Attended or alone, Without a tighter breathing, And zero at the bone.

Stanza VI Shift “But” Tone – Fear Issue arises when humans try to assert power Snake “rides” at its will “tighter breathing/ And zero in the bone”

Themes Respect of Nature Duality of Nature Elusiveness of the snake Oneness with nature but can lead to alienation from nature