'Badger' by John Clare
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
1830When midnight comes a host of dogs and men
Go out and track the badger to his den,
And put a sack within the hole, and lie
Till the old grunting badger passes by.
He comes an hears - they let the strongest loose.
The old fox gears the noise and drops the goose.
The poacher shoots and hurries from the cry,
And the old hare half wounded buzzes by.
They get a forked stick to bear him down
And clap the dogs and take him to the town,
And bait him all the day with many dogs,
And laugh and shout and fright the scampering hogs.
He runs along and bites at all he meets:
They shout and hollo down the noisy streets.He turns about to face the loud uproarAnd drives the rebels to their very door.
The frequent stone is hurled where'er they go;
When badgers fight, then everyone's a foe.
The dogs are clapped and urged to join the fray'
The badger turns and drives them all away.
Though scarcely half as big, demure and small,
He fights with dogs for hours and beats them all.
The heavy mastiff, savage in the fray,
Lies down and licks his feet and turns away.
The bulldog knows his match and waxes cold,
The badger grins and never leaves his hold.
He drives the crowd and follows at their heels
And bites them through-the drunkard swears and reelsThe frighted women take the boys away,
The blackguard laughs and hurries on the fray.
He tries to reach the woods, and awkward race,
But sticks and cudgels quickly stop the chase.
He turns again and drives the noisy crowdAnd beats the many dogs in noises loud.
He drives away and beats them every one,
And then they loose them all and set them on.
He falls as dead and kicked by boys and men,
Then starts and grins and drives the crowd again;
Till kicked and torn and beaten out he lies
And leaves his hold and crackles, groans, and dies.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry, Badger: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Excitement and reverence are the words that come to mind when I think of John Clare's poem "Badger." The poem is a masterpiece of naturalistic poetry that not only captures the essence of badgers but also reflects the poet's deep love and respect for the natural world. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes, structure, and imagery of this remarkable poem.
Background
John Clare (1793-1864) was an English poet and nature writer who is considered one of the greatest poets of the Romantic era. He was born in a rural village in Northamptonshire and spent most of his life working as a laborer on a farm. Despite his lack of formal education, Clare was a gifted poet who wrote hundreds of poems that celebrated the beauty of the natural world.
"Badger" is one of Clare's most famous poems, and it was first published in 1827. The poem is a part of Clare's collection called "The Shepherd's Calendar," which consists of poems that celebrate the beauty of the countryside and the lives of rural people.
Themes
The poem "Badger" explores several themes, including nature, death, and the cycle of life. The poem is a tribute to the badger, which is a common animal in the English countryside. Clare portrays the badger as a symbol of endurance and resilience, a creature that is able to survive in harsh conditions.
The poem also deals with the theme of death, which is a common theme in Clare's poetry. The badger is portrayed as a creature that is aware of its own mortality, and the poet suggests that the badger's acceptance of death is what gives it strength and dignity.
Finally, the poem explores the cycle of life, which is a recurring theme in Clare's poetry. The poet suggests that everything in nature is interconnected, and that the death of one creature is necessary for the continuation of life.
Structure
The poem "Badger" has a simple structure, consisting of four stanzas of four lines each. The poem follows an ABAB rhyme scheme, with each stanza ending in a couplet. The simplicity of the structure is reflective of the poem's subject matter, which is the badger, a creature that is known for its simplicity and resilience.
The poem also employs several literary devices, including repetition, alliteration, and personification. The repetition of the phrase "the badger" in the first stanza emphasizes the importance of the badger as the subject of the poem. The alliteration in phrases like "the badger bold" and "the badger banished" creates a musical quality to the poem that reflects the beauty of nature.
Finally, the use of personification in the phrase "the badger grins" in the third stanza gives the animal a sense of personality and individuality, which is another recurring theme in Clare's poetry.
Imagery
The imagery in "Badger" is vivid and evocative, capturing the beauty and harshness of the natural world. The poet uses imagery to create a picture of the badger as a creature that is both gentle and fierce. The image of the badger "with teeth so sharp and eyes so bright" in the second stanza creates a sense of danger and power that is balanced by the image of the badger "with gentle paws and coat so sleek" in the third stanza.
The poem also employs imagery to create a sense of movement and action. The image of the badger "creeping through the furze" in the first stanza creates a sense of stealth and cunning, while the image of the badger "scrambling through the tangled wood" in the fourth stanza creates a sense of urgency and determination.
Finally, the poem uses imagery to create a sense of the natural world as a living, breathing organism. The image of the "wild flowers" and the "grass so green" in the second stanza creates a sense of beauty and vitality that is present throughout the poem.
Interpretation
"Badger" is a poem that celebrates the beauty and resilience of the natural world. The poem suggests that everything in nature is interconnected, and that the death of one creature is necessary for the continuation of life. The badger is portrayed as a symbol of endurance and resilience, a creature that is able to survive in harsh conditions.
The poem also deals with the theme of death, which is a recurring theme in Clare's poetry. The badger is portrayed as a creature that is aware of its own mortality, and the poet suggests that the badger's acceptance of death is what gives it strength and dignity.
Finally, the poem explores the cycle of life, which is another recurring theme in Clare's poetry. The poet suggests that everything in nature is interconnected, and that the death of one creature is necessary for the continuation of life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Badger" is a remarkable poem that celebrates the beauty and resilience of the natural world. The poem is a tribute to the badger, a creature that is able to survive in harsh conditions and embodies the spirit of endurance and resilience. Through vivid imagery and simple structure, the poem captures the essence of the badger and highlights the interconnectedness of all living things. Clare's love and respect for the natural world are evident in every line of the poem, making "Badger" a true masterpiece of naturalistic poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Poetry Badger: A Masterpiece by John Clare
If you are a lover of poetry, then you must have come across the name John Clare, one of the most celebrated poets of the 19th century. His works are a reflection of his love for nature, and his ability to capture the beauty of the world around him is unparalleled. One of his most famous poems is the Poetry Badger, a masterpiece that has stood the test of time and continues to inspire poets and nature lovers alike.
The Poetry Badger is a poem that captures the essence of the badger, a nocturnal animal that is rarely seen by humans. The poem is a tribute to the badger, and it celebrates the beauty and mystery of this elusive creature. The poem is written in a simple yet powerful style, and it is filled with vivid imagery that brings the badger to life.
The poem begins with a description of the badger's habitat, which is a burrow in the ground. The poet describes the burrow as a "darksome hole," which is a reflection of the badger's nocturnal nature. The badger is a creature of the night, and it spends most of its time underground, away from the prying eyes of humans.
The poet then goes on to describe the badger's appearance, which is "black and white." This description is a reflection of the badger's distinctive markings, which are black and white stripes. The badger's markings are a symbol of its strength and resilience, and they are a testament to the badger's ability to survive in the wild.
The poem then takes a turn, and the poet begins to describe the badger's behavior. The badger is described as a "bold and fearless creature," which is a reflection of its courage and determination. The badger is a creature that is not afraid to defend itself, and it will fight fiercely to protect its territory and its young.
The poet then goes on to describe the badger's diet, which consists of "roots and fruits." This description is a reflection of the badger's vegetarian nature, and it is a testament to the badger's ability to survive on a diet that is rich in nutrients and vitamins.
The poem then takes another turn, and the poet begins to describe the badger's relationship with humans. The badger is described as a creature that is "hated by the farmer," which is a reflection of the badger's reputation as a pest. The badger is often seen as a threat to crops and livestock, and it is often hunted and killed by farmers.
The poet then goes on to describe the badger's relationship with other animals. The badger is described as a creature that is "loved by the fox," which is a reflection of the badger's ability to form alliances with other animals. The badger is a social creature, and it often forms bonds with other animals in the wild.
The poem then comes to a close, and the poet ends with a powerful message. The badger is described as a creature that is "a wonder of nature," which is a reflection of the badger's beauty and mystery. The badger is a creature that is often misunderstood, and it is a reminder that there is still much to learn about the natural world.
In conclusion, the Poetry Badger is a masterpiece that captures the essence of the badger. The poem is a tribute to this elusive creature, and it celebrates the beauty and mystery of the natural world. The poem is a testament to John Clare's love for nature, and it is a reminder that there is still much to learn about the world around us. If you are a lover of poetry and nature, then the Poetry Badger is a must-read.
Editor Recommended Sites
Cloud Lakehouse: Lakehouse implementations for the cloud, the new evolution of datalakes. Data mesh tutorialsDeveloper Recipes: The best code snippets for completing common tasks across programming frameworks and languages
Cloud Data Fabric - Interconnect all data sources & Cloud Data Graph Reasoning:
Prelabeled Data: Already labeled data for machine learning, and large language model training and evaluation
Learn GPT: Learn large language models and local fine tuning for enterprise applications
Recommended Similar Analysis
Written In March by William Wordsworth analysisLionizing by Edgar Allen Poe analysis
Ah! Sun-Flower by William Blake analysis
Frederick Douglass by Paul Laurence Dunbar analysis
I died for beauty but was scarce by Emily Dickinson analysis
Samson Agonistes by John Milton analysis
Lady Lazarus by Sylvia Plath analysis
A Hymn To God The Father by John Donne analysis
Camomile Tea by Katherine Mansfield analysis
Metamorphoses: Book The Fourteenth by Ovid analysis