Perch and Pike

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With close reference to the poems, explore how the poets bring nature to life and say something important about existence.

There are a number of ways one could bring nature to life. One could choose to express this in song, art or in the written language. Seamus Heaney’s “Perch” and Ted Hughes “Pike” are examples of this exploration of the comparison of humanity and the environment surrounding us. Hughes explores the darker, indifferent and even predatory side of nature; the mechanical language displaying nature’s cool indifference while the vivid symbolism presents to the reader the predatory instincts underlying the providence of nature. Hughes’ poem leads the readers to believe that nature is dismal and sinister, yet when the reader turns to Heaney’s poem of “Perch”, the reader finds a side of nature that is benevolent and comforting; Heaney establishes this belief through personification and rhythmic colloquial language.

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Hughes uses a variety of techniques to exhibit this view of a cold, predatory, indifferent nature. In “Pike” he describes the fish with ‘green’ stripes ‘tigering the gold’ body. This in itself is symbolic: a tiger is a beautiful, deadly predator, that seemingly doesn’t care what or whom its prey is. This suggests to the reader that while nature can be beautiful, it is also deadly and vicious. The tiger is also one of the strongest big cats on the planet, signifying the strength and power of nature. Heaney reinforces this by comparing the pike to a monster ‘hung in ...

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