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A cheetah is innocently lolling in the long grass. All around are buck, apparently unaware of its presence.
Then, as hunger takes hold, the cheetah looks for its prey. Immediately the buck break into a stampede
and the cheetah gives chase.
A NOTE ON THE POET
Information on Charles Eglington is very sketchy indeed.
We know that he was born in Johannesburg and worked there as a journalist and a magazine editor. His
name, however, is connected more with translations of other people's work -- especially Afrikaans writers
-- than with his own.
There appears to have been only one book of Eglington's poetry published, and that happened after his
death. He did, however, have several poems in the book Homage to Fernando Pessoa, the
Portuguese poet Pessoa apparently being a great influence on Eglington.
(If anyone has any other information on Eglington, we would be very grateful to have it.)
Have you looked at the questions in the right column?
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TEST YOURSELF!
Read the left column and then answer the following questions:
"Indolent and kitten-eyed,
This is the bushveld's innocent
The stealthy leopard parodied
With grinning, gangling pup-content."
- The poet paints a picture of a seemingly harmless creature. What words does he use to portray this
innocence? Give the meaning of each word you list. (6)
[Need help?]
"Indolent" -- lazy or idle;
"kitten-eyed" -- looking as innocent as a wide-eyed kitten (big eyes always give the impression
of innocence;
"innocent" -- harmless.
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- Why does the poet speak of "parodied"? (4)
[Need help?]
A parody is a rather poor but often funny imitation of something.
Leopards and cheetahs are roughly the same size. Each has spots. The cheetah, however, has a
strangely small head (see picture above) which makes it look odd in comparison to the very beautiful
leopard with its big head.
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- Comment on the use of alliteration in "with grinning, gangling pup-content". (4)
[Need help?]
Alliteration is the repetition of a consonant, used to provide a lyrical or poetic effect.
The alliterated "g" creates the effect of pulling one's lips back, often in disdain. The effect is to
present the cheetah in a somewhat disdainful light, looking at the cheetah as though it were a clumsy,
stupidly smiling puppy.
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"Around the vast arena where;
In scattered herds, his grazing prey
Do not suspect in what wild fear
They'll join with him in fatal play."
- What is an OXYMORON? Provide an example of an oxymoron used in these four
lines. (3)
[Need help?]
An OXYMORON happens when two words of seemingly opposite meaning are placed side by side.
"Fatal play" is an oxymoron.
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- Why does the grazing prey not suspect that the cheetah is there? (4)
[Need help?]
The cheetah is slouched in the long, brown grass. Perhaps the buck can't see him. Perhaps he is
downwind of them so that they also can't smell him.
On the other hand, buck know very well that there is nothing to fear from a cheetah if he is not hungry.
Instinct tells them exactly when it is time for them to run.
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"Till hunger draws slack sinews tight
And vibrant as a hunter's bow;
Then, like a fleck of mottled light,
He slides across the still plateau."
- Comment on the simile "vibrant as a hunter's bow". (4)
[Need help?]
"Vibrant" means "intensely alive". When the hunter's bow is stretched taut, it is full of life
and ready to shoot its arrow at its prey.
When the cheetah is hungry, it too comes intensely alive and is ready to spring into motion to bring down
its prey.
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- One poetry anthology describes "plateau" as a "flat area of land". Is this
correct? (2)
[Need help?]
Technically, the explanation is only partly correct. A "plateau" is essentially a RAISED area of flat
land. One always has to climb up to the top of a plateau.
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"A tremor rakes the herds: they scent
The pungent breeze of his advance;
Heads rear and jerk in vigilant
Compliance with the game of chance."
- The poet twice mentions that the hunt is a game in which the animals partake, although it ultimately
has fatal consequences. Would you like to comment on this game? (4)
[Need help?]
It certainly looks like a game. The buck usually pronk around, conveying the message, "Look at me!
I am alive and well. I can easily outrun you. Rather choose another, weaker buck to chase."
The cheetah surveys this pronking buck and thinks, "Mmmmm. That buck looks alive and well, but
is it? Maybe it's just putting on a show so as to put me off chasing him."
Once the chase has started, it's a case of who can outlast the other. The cheetah is fast -- very fast --
but only in a straight line. The buck is more nimble and can turn more quickly.
If the buck being chased can simply escape capture for just a short while, the cheetah will become
exhausted and will have to give up.
Unfortunately, however, the game does have fatal consequences most times. Eventually a buck will be
caught and will die.
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"His stealth and swiftness fling a noose
And as his loping strides begin
To blur with speed, he ropes the loose
Buck on the red horizon in."
- What image is the poet using in these lines? (2)
[Need help?]
The poet is using the image of the great American game, where the cowboy must chase down and
capture a frisky steed or horse, using a lasso or looped rope to pull it down.
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