"Examine DH Lawrence's 'Mountain Lion' and 'Snake', showing how the poet a) uses language and poetic techniques for the emotive effect. b) presents moral and social ideas.

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      Josh F Keeler                                 September 12th 2001

English and English Literature Essay:  Post 1900 Poetry (Social, Cultural and Historical Context).

“Examine DH Lawrence’s ‘Mountain Lion’ and ‘Snake’, showing how the poet                                a)  uses language and poetic techniques for the emotive effect.

                        b)  presents moral and social ideas.

Which of the two poems do you consider more effective and why?”

DH Lawrence (1885-1930) is one of the outstanding British authors of the early 20th century.  It was obvious from an early age that Lawrence was a gifted child.  Raised in a working class environment, he was the son of a Nottinghamshire miner.  His mother, however, was from a middle class background.  Due to the social contrast their marriage was not successful and Lawrence would often have to witness his father coming home drunk and beating his mother.  Despite his background, Lawrence received a first class education by earning scholarships through high school and university.  He attended Nottingham University, qualified as a teacher in 1908 and worked at a school in Croydon until 1912.  He rejected society and society rejected him and his somewhat radical views.  In the same year he eloped with Freiedra Weekley, the German wife of a professor at Nottingham University College, to travel the world.

During his extensive travels Lawrence was able to refine his views and develop a better understanding of the world around him.  Many of his poems were autobiographical, much like the poem “Mountain Lion”.  While staying in Mexico, in the Lobo Valley, he wrote “Mountain Lion” which was based on his experience with the native Mexicans.  The poem starts with a vivid description of the situation and scenery.  This is very characteristic of Lawrence’s poems.  He produces powerful but brief verses which set the scene for the reader.  He does this by using a selection of main points such as colours and distinctive features in the landscape.  After the scene is set there is immediate drama with the sudden entrance of two men.

“Men!

 Two men!

 Men!  The only animal in the world to fear!”

From the quote above one can see a powerful technique that is common to many of Lawrence’s poems.  He uses repetition for effect in conjunction with very short staccato phrases.  There is tension, a feeling of panic and an uncertainty of who the men are, as they seem of a dangerous nature.  It is also in this quotation that Lawrence reveals one of his key beliefs; his fear of man, a source of fear for the whole of creation.  The drama in the poem has begun but Lawrence has still not declared the subject.  One is left wondering from whose point of view the poem is.  Linked with the title there is the distinct possibility that it could be from the mountain lion’s point of view, which would also link with the fear of man.  There is then a moment of hesitation, a sense of drama, tension and uncertainty.  Short sentences are used again with repetition for impact, heightening the sense of drama.

“They hesitate.

 We hesitate.

 They have a gun.

 We have no gun.”

The fear towards man is reinforced by the fact that they have guns.  The situation could be dangerous, but there’s an uncertainty about what to do.  The use of bold statements is used to make the reality of the situation more apparent.  They are unarmed, unlike the people approaching.  There is then a moment of confrontation as they all advance to meet.  The tension appears to subside as the strangers approach.  A vague description of the approaching party is given, creating the impression that they are strangers trespassing on the “inwardness” of the Lobo Valley.  The only true information given is that they are Mexicans, adding to the whole foreign feeling.  Descriptive words such as “emerge” are used to make their approach out of the “dark” signify a sense of evil and wrong.  There is then repeated questioning of why they are there, what they are doing and what they have.  These questions show an uncertainty and suspicious nature towards the Mexicans.  Lawrence then proceeds to ask the Mexicans in Spanish what they are holding.  By speaking in Spanish he emphasizes the strangeness of the whole affair – the use of the foreign language shows differences.  The Mexican is carrying a lion and upon telling this to Lawrence “smiles, foolishly” indicating guilt.  They are embarrassed that they have been caught doing wrong.  Lawrence smiles back.  There is tension.  Neither party is sure what to do.  Lawrence then studies the Mexicans’ faces.

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        “He is quite gentle and dark-faced.”

 Although being a killer, the Mexican is just like everyone else.  

        Lawrence then studies the lion, once again using a brief but vivid account shown in the following quotation:

        “It is a mountain lion,

         A long, long, slim cat, yellow like a lioness.

         Dead.”

There is a feeling of shock and surprise that it is a mountain lion.  The length of the sentence describing the mountain lion adds to the affect of how long the lion is, using repetition on the word long.  Emphasis is then put on the single word – dead. ...

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