Pike by Ted Hughes

By: Bethany, Charmaine, Nayan and Brendan

Stanza 1

• “Pike, three inches long, perfect

Pike in all parts, green tigering the gold.

Killers from the egg: the malevolent aged grin.

They dance on the surface among the flies.”

Stanza 2

• “Or move, stunned by their own grandeur

Over a bed of emerald, silhouette

Of submarine delicacy and horror.

A hundred feet long in their world.”

Stanza’s 1 and 2

• The pike is a perfect killer

• Juxtaposition

• Describes the nature of the fish

• The poem is an extended metaphor- Fishing is a metaphor for self-discovery

Stanza 3

“In ponds, under the heat-struck lily pads” Making the pike seem of high status. Lily pads sacrificing itself and taking

in heat to keep the pike cool below it.

“Gloom of their stillness:”

Gloom is quite depressing and dark.

“Logged on last year’s black leaves, watching upwards.”

The pike is dominant. It has control over places it cannot reach. Black leaves are the dead lily pads which have sacrificed themselves for the pike.

“Or hung in an amber cavern of weeds”

This once again demonstrates the plants protecting the pike. It is calm waiting for its prey and hidden.

Stanza 4

“The jaws’ hooked clamp and fangs”

It is a perfect hunter. Shows its strength.

“Not to be changed at this date;”

Nothing needs to be changed about the pike. It was perfect since birth.

“A life subdued to its instrument;”

Could be suggesting a flaw in the pike. Although it is a perfect hunter, that is the only thing it can do. It is expected to be brilliant at hunting yet it may not

be that passionate about it. Could reflect the poet.

“The gills kneading quietly, and the pectorals.”Mechanical makings of the pike. It has power and efficiency in a calm

manner. It is the core muscle of the fish and shows the pikes strength by featuring it.

Stanza 5

“Three we kept behind glass,Jungled in weed: three inches, four,And four and a half: fed fry to them – Suddenly there were two. Finally one.”

The scene describes the poets experiences with the pike as he had as pets. He seems proud of catching these fish, even though they are so

small. Two pikes disappeared which shows they are all aiming to be the most dominant.

Stanza 9

“Stilled legendary depth:

It was as deep as England. It held

Pike too immense to stir, so immense and old

That past nightfall I dared not cast.”

Stanza 9

“legendary depth” and “as deep as England” show how powerful nature is

Repetition of the word “immense”

“That past nightfall I dared not cast.” Speaker was afraid.

Stanza 10

“But silently cast and fished

With the hair frozen on my head

For what might move, for what eye might move.

The still splashes on the dark pond,”

Stanza 10

“Silently cast and fished” and “hair frozen” suggests fear

“For what might move, for what eye might move.” Alliteration in “m”, and repetition of sentence

Oxymoron in “still splashes”

Stanza 11

“Owls hushing the floating woods

Frail on my ear against the dream

Darkness beneath night’s darkness had freed,

That rose slowly towards me, watching.”

Stanza 11

Owls symbolise many negative meanings

“Floating woods” and “dream” indicates mystery

Repetition of “darkness” in line 43 = stuttering of the speaker

“Darkness had freed” – more evil emerges

“That rose slowly towards me, watching.”

Sudden ending creates tension

“Slowly towards me, watching”, it could be something threatening

Speaker’s Tone

Fearful (many words used in the poem connote fear, enjambment used too)

Tensed (sudden ending)