Snake

Read the extract and answer the following questions briefly:-

1         1. "But suddenly that part of him that was left behind convulsed in undignified haste.

                 Writhed like lightning and was gone into the black hole,

 a) Why did the snake "convulsed in undignified haste"?

 b) How was the snake's movement in contrast to its earlier movement?

 c) Find the literary device in 'writhed like lightning'.

      2.   I thought how paltry, how mean, how vulgar, what a mean act!

            I despised myself and the voices of my accursed human education.

            And I thought of the albatross

            And I wished he would come back, my snake.

 a) What was the paltry, mean vulgar act of the poet?

 b) What is an albatross and why did he think of it here?

 c) What did the poet do to despise himself?

 d) Write the meaning of the word ‘paltry’

     3.But suddenly that part of him that was left behind

        Convulsed in undignified haste

        Writhed like lighting, and was gone

        Into the black hole, the earth-lipped fissure in the wall-front,

        At which, in the intense still noon, I stared with fascination.

        And immediately, I regretted it.

a   a) Which part of the snake convulsed in undignified haste? Why?

b   b) Why did the poet stare at the snake with fascination?

c   c)  Write the meaning of the word ‘fascination’.

    4. And yet those voices;

      It you were not afraid, you would kill him!

      And truly I was afraid, I was most afraid, But even so, honored still more

     That he should seek my hospitality

      From out the dark door of the secret earth.

a) Do you think that the poet was really afraid of the snake?

b) What made the poet feel honored?

c) Why did the poet call the earth ‘secret’?