About the Poet
D.H. Lawrence is one of the most prominent figures in 20th century English literature. He was a novelist, story writer, poet, and painter. The poem, Snake is a part of the reptile section of his book Birds, Beasts, and Flowers. The poem was written when the poet lived in Taormina, Sicily. The poem is not written in a rhythm. It is written in free verse like a story. The poem represents the modern way of writing poems.
Theme
The poem ‘Snake’ gives a detailed description of the moments when the poet encountered a snake at his water trough. First, the poet talks about how he is fascinated by the snake but then later fear creeps into him and he did an inappropriate act for which he felt guilty. He said that his feelings were quite similar to the feelings of the ancient mariner.
The poet describes how a snake came to his water trough to drink water on one hot day. The poet threw a log at it but the snake escaped into a hole. The poet felt guilty and criticized himself for his actions. What he says in his reaction is the subject of the poem.
Summary of Class 10 English Poem Snake
In this poem ‘Snake’, the poet is full of admiration and respect for snakes. He regards them as a beautiful creation of God but at the same moment, he also fears them because of the education that he got when he was young.
It was a very hot day in Taormina, Sicily where the poet lived. The poet went to his water trough in the backyard of his house to fill water in a pitcher. The water trough was present in the deep and scented shade of the carob tree. There he saw a golden brown coloured snake drinking water from the trough. For a moment, the poet got scared but he was also very glad to have a guest. So, he patiently waited for his turn at the water trough.
The poet admired the beauty of the snake, which appeared to be harmless. He realized that the snake had just come to drink water and quench its thirst. It would return to its home peacefully. The poet had many conflicting thoughts in his mind. He says that his education in his childhood taught him that golden brown coloured snakes are poisonous and dangerous. His inner voice was coaxing him to kill him but at the same time, he was in full admiration of the creation of God.
The snake was unaware of the presence of the poet. It drank water to its satisfaction and raised its head dreamily. It flickered its forked tongue and also licked its lips. The snake looked like a God. Slowly it turned and moved away from the trough and probably it was on its way back to his hole. When the poet saw the snake moving away, he was terror struck. To prove himself that he was not a coward, he picked up a log of wood and threw it at the snake. The poet missed the target but the snake sensed danger and disappeared hastily inside the hole.
However, the poet stared with fascination at the snake but at the same time, a feeling of guilt for treating his guest in a dishonored way gripped him. He regretted his act of trying to hit the snake. In the beginning, he felt honored that it had come to his trough to drink water but later his fear forced him to kill it. He found his feelings of repentance quite similar to the feelings of an ancient mariner who had killed the Albatross bird. He considered his action of hitting his ‘guest’ to be a sin. He started hating himself and his human education.
The poet hoped and wished for the snake to come out of his hole so that he could apologize and make amends for his mistake. The poet thinks that the snake is actually the uncrowned king. So it hides in the interior of the Earth in exile. He felt that he missed a chance to crown and honour the king. The poet ardently wishes to crown the snake.
FAQs on Summary of Snake: A Poem by D.H. Lawrence
1. What is the central theme in D.H. Lawrence's poem 'Snake'?
The central theme of the poem 'Snake' is the conflict between natural, instinctual human responses and the artificial constraints of social education. The poet feels an innate admiration for the snake, seeing it as a majestic creature. However, his "voice of education" tells him to kill it, representing societal prejudice against nature. The poem explores themes of the sanctity of nature, human pettiness, and the profound guilt that follows an act against one's own conscience.
2. What conflicting emotions does the poet experience upon seeing the snake?
Upon seeing the snake at his water-trough, the poet experiences a profound internal conflict. Initially, he feels:
- Admiration and Awe: He is fascinated by the snake's graceful movements and considers it a guest, feeling honoured by its presence.
- Fear and Revulsion: His education reminds him that certain snakes are venomous and must be killed. This creates a sense of duty to act violently.
3. How does D.H. Lawrence use symbolism in the poem 'Snake'?
D.H. Lawrence uses rich symbolism to deepen the poem's meaning. Key symbols include:
- The Snake: It represents the raw, untamed, and powerful forces of nature. Described as a "king in exile" and one of the "lords of life," it symbolises a divine, pre-human world that modern man has rejected.
- The Water-Trough: This is a liminal space, a meeting point where the civilised world of the poet intersects with the wild, natural world of the snake.
- The Sicilian July Heat: The intense heat signifies a primal, passionate state of being, stripping away politeness and forcing a confrontation between instinct and intellect.
4. Why does the poet refer to the snake as "one of the lords of life" and an "uncrowned king"?
The poet calls the snake these titles to express his deep reverence and to elevate the creature beyond a mere animal. By describing it as an "uncrowned king," he suggests the snake possesses an inherent, natural royalty and authority that does not depend on human recognition. Referring to it as one of the "lords of life" frames the snake as a primordial, almost divine being emerging from the underworld (the "burning bowels of the earth"), representing a powerful life force that humanity has forgotten how to respect.
5. What is the significance of the poet's allusion to the 'Ancient Mariner' at the end of the poem?
The allusion to Coleridge's 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' is significant because it frames the poet's action as a sin against nature. Just as the Mariner senselessly shot the Albatross and was cursed to a state of spiritual torment and guilt, the poet feels he has committed a "paltry, vulgar, mean act" by throwing a log at the noble snake. He wishes for the snake's return so he can atone for his trespass, much like the Mariner had to learn to love and bless all of God's creatures to find redemption.
6. What does the poet's "voice of education" represent in the poem?
The "voice of education" represents the sum of societal conditioning, human-centric prejudice, and learned fear. It is the internalised, rational voice that tells the poet he must be brave and kill the potentially dangerous snake. This voice stands in direct opposition to his instinctual, emotional response of awe and respect. It symbolises the corrupting influence of a 'civilised' mindset that distances humans from the natural world and its creatures.
7. What is the moral or main message of the poem 'Snake'?
The primary message of the poem 'Snake' is the importance of respecting nature and trusting our innate instincts over acquired social prejudices. D.H. Lawrence suggests that modern human education has made us fearful and hostile towards the natural world. The poem serves as a moral lesson on the need to overcome this conditioning, appreciate the majesty of all living beings, and recognise the profound guilt that comes from betraying our own sense of what is right and beautiful.
