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Dead Groundhog

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In the poem, the speaker uses the dead groundhog as a relating symbol of his feelings towards the inevitability of our death. Through his vivid diction and often emotional tone, this is achieved by the speaker. When the speaker first discovered the dead groundhog laying on the ground he described it as having his “senses shook.” This is the speakers first step of realizing the inevitability of death in his and everyone’s life. He then goes onto say the dead groundhog was “mind outshout our naked frailty.” The initial discovery of the dead groundhog symbolizes the pain and rude awakening the speaker now feels toward death. This is seen again when the speaker says the groundhog “began its senseless change, and my senses waiver dim.” …show more content…
The summer he spent this third visit to the spot was described as “massive and burning, full of life.” This is a major change from his dull visit in the Autumn. Here the speaker uses words such as “massive” and “burning” to describe his newfound passion for life. When the speaker finally approached the spot of the dead groundhog he noticed “there was only a little hair left, and bones bleaching in the sunlight” along with “no sign of the groundhog.” The phrase “bones bleaching” and the minuscule remnants left of the groundhog symbolize the speakers full realization and understanding of everyone's inevitable death. Here the speaker has reached the third and final step in the process of realizing and understanding death. His full understanding is then used to ignite a new passion and excitement for life. This is seen when the speaker remarks on how he thinks “of China and of Greece, of Alexander in his tent; of Montaigne in his tower, of Saint Theresa in her wild lament.” The speaker now choses to live his life fully like these accomplished people and groups of people rather than focusing on a reality he cannot change. In the poem titled The Groundhog, the speaker uses a vivid diction and an emotional tone to describe the three stages of the speakers realization of the inevitability of death. The speaker uses the dead groundhog as a way to present these stages and his emotions felt within

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