Basking Shark

Question 1

To stub… To have

Answer 1

Infinitive Verb
makes it unclear who is doing what

Question 2

on a rock

Answer 2

Metaphor for shark
explores that it is solid but also without intelligence

Question 3

slounge

Answer 3

Word Choice: necologism combination of slow and lounge
highlights it’s size and slow/clumsy movement

Question 4

(too often)

Answer 4

Parenthesis is used to create humerous tone
despite MacCaig feeling scared he is trying to make light of the situation

Question 5

But

Answer 5

Turning point, his opinion is changing

Question 6

-

Answer 6

dash indicates a pause, now in no rush, fear fades

Question 7

gain

Answer 7

Word Choice: connotations of benefit, gift postive
he thinks it’s worthwhile

Question 8

met

Answer 8

Word Choice: tells us he is no longer in shock, shark is more like a person

Question 9

sea tin-tacked with rain

Answer 9

Aliiteration: reflects sight/sound of the sea
no longer scared as he can focus on small details

Question 10

roomsized

Answer 10

Word Choice: emphasises huge size of shark

Question 11

monster

Answer 11

Word Choice: dergotry reminds us of a basic animal low down on evolutionary scale (dinosaur)

Question 12

with a matchbox brain

Answer 12

suggests contrast in physical and mental abilities
it’s stupid/unintelligant despite it’s size

Question 13

displaced more than water

Answer 13

Word Choice: suggests movement/change
shark has moved waves and makes MacCaig rethink his position on the evolutionary scale

Question 14

shoggled

Answer 14

Word Choice: suggests shaking
shows the impact of the meeting
once again the shark is in charge

Question 15

Centuries back

Answer 15

Enjambment: makes us focus on the word, shows he is thinking very far back even prehistoric

Question 16

decadent townee

Answer 16

Word Choice: luxury, materialism, self-depricating
he is urban, lost a sense of his purpose/origin, far removed

Question 17

Shook… wrong branch

Answer 17

MacCaig is in the wrong, interrupted the shark

Question 18

family tree

Answer 18

Word Choice: suggests connection/relationship, shark and humanity are linked, all have the same beginning

Question 19

Swish

Answer 19

Onomatopoeia: movement of the shark
continues idea of displacement

Question 20

dirt

Answer 20

Metaphor for human’s idea of themselves
a murky thought of how we have evolved

Question 21

clearer

Answer 21

Word Choice: suggests clarity, he can see things for what they are

Question 22

one fling

Answer 22

Word Choice: suggests thrown suddenly
one encounter changes dramatically our pov

Question 23

Emerging

Answer 23

Word Choice: suggests rising, developing which links with evolution, reflects his new clarity

Question 24

slime of everything

Answer 24

Metaphor for evolution
Word Choice: suggests we all came from the same substance, all connected, nature was first

Question 25

So who's the monster?

Answer 25

Rhetorical Question: makes the reader question who is superior MacCaig is unsure shark is the monster figure humanity is the monster

Question 26

grow pale

Answer 26

Word Choice: suggests shock and panic at this realisation

Question 27

twenty seconds

Answer 27

Word Choice: not a long time, empahises again that humans are the monster as we don't really care or think about the big questions for long

Question 28

sail after sail, The tall fin slid away and then the tail.

Answer 28

shark is described as an elegant contrast to the beginning of poem fluid/calmer/sophisticated movements tall suggests importance of shark MacCaig has a new found respect for shark/nature