Basking Shark

Question 1

To stub an oar on a rock where none should be

Answer 1

Suggests the hardness and immovability of the object encountered and creates opening tension as it was unexpected

Question 2

happened once (too often) to me

Answer 2

Suggests that the speaker does not wish to have this encounter again

Question 3

I count as gain

Answer 3

Suggests that the speaker although found it frightening believed that he found it worthwhile and enriching

Question 4

roomsized monster with a matchbox brain

Answer 4

Suggests that there is a contrast in size of the shark’s enormous body compared with its tiny brain

Question 5

Shook on a wrong branch of his family tree

Answer 5

Suggests that the speaker is reminded that this shark is also part of our own family tree and is linked to us in much the same way as any other ancestor

Question 6

He shoggled me Centuries back

Answer 6

Suggests that the speaker imagines a glimpse of the early evolutionary stage of the emergence of land creatures from our common ancestors, marine life

Question 7

So who’s the monster

Answer 7

Suggests that the poet initial, dismissive response to the shark as a brainless, inferior creature has been reversed

Question 8

For twenty seconds while sail after sail

Answer 8

Suggests that the creatures fin and tail is above the water giving us the impression of the vast surface area and the shape

Question 9

Swish up the dirt and, when it settles, a spring is all the clearer

Answer 9

Suggest that while initially the dirt would muddy the water and make it impossible to see through, eventually once settled it would be clearer, like the speakers mind after this meeting

Question 10

Emerging from the slime of everything

Answer 10

Suggests the primeval slime from which we and all other living organisms were created linking the evolution of humanity with that of the shark