Hyena – Edwin Morgan
Purpose:
Hyena, written by Edwin Morgan, recounts the actions and thoughts of a hyena; an untamed, vicious and sinister animal. The poem is written as a dramatic monologue, giving the reader an extended insight into the character through the first person narrative and emphasising the murderous intent of the wild creature.
Themes:
On a simplistic level, the poem deals with themes that all humans can empathise with. The themes of life; death; survival; endurance; sense of self; desperation are all common throughout the poem. Moreover, Morgan goes to great lengths to illustrate the animal’s own sense of self-worth. The reader is continually informed of the Hyena’s prowess and how fierce an animal the latter is, yet towards the end of the poem one learns that the Hyena is only a match for a lion(a fierce animal in itself) once it is dead. Although essentially a scavenger which opts to pick the flesh of an animal once it is dead, the Hyena here is rather self-assured in its own capabilities as a fierce beast who, evidently, its enemies should fear.
Structure:
Hyena has very short and concise sentences, written in a minimalistic style. The effect often creates a threatening tone, with the short sentences often drawing emphasis and creating tension i.e. ‘I eat the dead’. Also, the use of rhetorical questions in stanza 1 and 3 are used to lure the reader into a false sense of security about the protagonist. The short sentences contrast with the use of commas to create lists and build momentum. For example, I trot, I lope, I slaver, I am a ranger.
Poetic Techniques
Word choice - Morgan is extremely clever in the way he uses certain words to place emphasis on important situations or ultimately raise the tension within the poem. For example, the line ‘You must believe I am prepared to spring’ illustrates how the Hyena is informing the reader (or prey) that he will not hesitate to attack and seriously harm or kill them. The use of the word “must” also emphasises the point the protagonist is making, he is attempting to communicate to the reader the extent of his ability to deceive; informing them to take caution. In addition, the word ‘spring’ implies how sudden and swift the forthcoming attack will be. Usually, the word ‘spring’ implies that one leaps forward without prior warning and lunges or grabs at their intended target. Moreover, using words such as ‘panting’ also illustrates how desperate the Hyena is to be quenched of his thirst for blood. When one imagines an animal panting, one pictures a salivating dog in the heat hoping to be offered a bowl of water. In this case, the Hyena is stalking the bush for prey that will evidently reward his presumed long and arduous hunt for food.
Imagery -There are a number of images in the poem. For example:
‘When the moon pours hard and cold on the veldt
I sing, and I am the slave of darkness.’
It is arguable that the poet is somewhat romantic in his depiction of both the Hyena and the African terrain. With the aforementioned image, the reader can envisage a wolf like figure howling amidst a backdrop of moonlight. Here, this image is somewhat rather calming. Usually whenever one hears an animal howling one can presume that the environment is not only still and clear, but somewhat bereft of human inhabitants. This image is arguably used by Morgan to trick the reader (or prey) into a false sense of security. Moreover, the words ‘I am the slave of darkness’ illustrates how insignificant the Hyena is to the African terrain and implies how the latter is ultimately swallowed up by the darkness, of which there is much. The poet carries on the image of the hyena’s meditated movement as we read “I am crouching” and ‘I hunch’. These words here convey the animals calculated actions, each movement is perfectly planned and he is almost charismatic as they are executed, to succeed him in his goal of finding meat.
Simile - Morgan uses a range of similes throughout the poem. Morgan uses the comparison of Africa first suggesting that the animal is great and imposing like the large country. The African terrain is also rather unforgiving; like the Hyena, in the sense that it has no prejudices over those who it kills or maims.
‘I have a rough coat like Africa.’
However, in the context of the poem as a whole this can almost be seen to be mocking the Hyena, as he is not as grand and great as he believes; waiting for others to die so that he can survive.
For further support:
See fully annotated version poem (appendix 1)
APPENDIX 1
Hyena[K1]
I am [K2]waiting for you.[K3]
I have been travelling all morning through the bush
And not eaten.[K4]
I am lying at the edge of the bush
On a dusty path that leads from the burnt-out kraal.[K5]
I am panting, it is midday, I found no water-hole.
I am very fierce[K6] without food and although my eyes
Are screwed to slits against the sun
You must believe I am prepared to spring.[K7]
What do you think of me?[K8]
I have a rough coat like Africa.
I am crafty [K9]with dark spots
Like the bush-tufted plains of Africa.
I sprawl as a shaggy bundle of gathered energy[K10]
Like Africa sprawling in its waters.
I trot, I lope, I slaver, I am a ranger.[K11]
I hunch my shoulders. I eat the dead.[K12]
Do you like my song?[K13]
When the moon pours hard and cold on the veldt
I sing, and I am the slave of darkness.
Over the stone walls and the mud walls and the ruined places[K14]
And the owls, the moonlight falls.
I sniff a broken drum. I bristle. My pelt is silver.
I howl my song to the moon[K15]- up it goes.[K16]
Would you meet me there in the waste places?[K17]
It is said I am a good match
For a dead lion.[K18]I put my muzzle
At his golden flanks[K19], and tear. He
Is my golden supper, but my tastes are easy.
I have a crowd of fangs[K20], and I use them.
Oh and my tongue- do you like me
When it comes lolling out over my jaw
Very long, and I am laughing?[K21]
I am not laughing.[K22]
But I am not snarling either, only
Panting in the sun, showing you
What I grip
Carrion with.[K23]
I am waiting[K24]
For the foot to slide,
For the heart to seize,
For the leaping sinews to go slack,
For the fight to the death to be fought to the death,[K25][K26]
For a glazing eye and a rumour of blood.
I am crouching in my dry shadows
Till you are ready for me.[K27]
My place is to pick you clean[K28]
And leave your bones to the wind.[K29]
Kirsty Stark
[K1]Sinister animal – savage, connotations of evil, loud laughter, hunter.
[K2]First person narrative used throughout the poem – allows the innermost thoughts of the character to be voiced.
[K3]Short first sentence creates impact and grips the reader – creates a threatening tone.
[K4]Image of a savage, hungry animal is created.
[K5]Image of a desolate, isolated and abandoned place. The traces of civilised life are long gone.
[K6]Word choice suggests the animal is dangerous - further adding to the tone of threat and intimidation
[K7]This line tells the reader that this animal is always watching, waiting and prepared to attack its pray.
[K8]Use of rhetorical question further engages the reader and draws them into to the world and mind of the Hyena. This causes the reader to pause and think.
[K9]Word choice continues to build the image of a sly, methodical hunter.
[K10]Simile links back to the earlier image that the Hyena is always prepared to ‘spring’ – suggesting that the Hyena has energy coiled up inside himself, ready to be released.
[K11]Commas create a longer list of actions which in turn quickens the pace of the poem. In this way, the structure leaps forward in the same way that the Hyena would be leaping over large areas of land.
[K12]Short, sharp sentence has impact when placed at the end of the stanza, reminding the reader that the Hyena is a vicious animal.
[K13]This question changes the topic of the monologue and thus lightens the mood of the poem.
[K14]The repetition of ‘and’ aids in slowing down the pace of the poem and adds to the more romantic tone of this stanza.
[K15]This image of the hyena howling to the mood likens the creature to a wolf – perhaps showing what he would like to become and showing a self-loathing for his own species.
[K16]This imagery within this stanza (of the moonlight, the silver pelt, the hyena ‘singing’) creates a much more romantic image and this contrasts with the earlier image of the rough, dusty, deserted plains.
[K17]Tone of threat and menace returns with this question, the false sense of security created in stanza three is shattered with this line.
[K18]Despite being a vicious creature, the Hyena is only a match for a ‘dead’ lion, showing the creatures flaws and inadequacies as a hunter.
[K19]The image of the golden lion (the king of the hunters) is in contrast to the ‘rough’ coat of the Hyena – the Hyena is inferior to the lion in all ways.
[K20]Sense of menace and threat returns
[K21]Use of ‘lolling’ and ‘long’ helps to simulate the action of the Hyenas tongue rolling, hungrily, out of its mouth.
[K22]Hyena reminds the reader that he is a killer, who’s instinct is only to survive – even at the death of others.
[K23]Displaying his kill, pray, meat proudly – the theme of death continues to be prominent
[K24]Hyena waits for death in order to sustain his own life.
[K25]Repetition of ‘for’ builds the momentum and pace of the poem – the tone become increasingly tense as the poem reaches its climax.
[K26]The repletion and balance of the words in this sentence is used to show the fine balance between life and death – the themes of life vs. death, which are present throughout this poem, are paired together here.
[K27]Sinister and disconcerting image that the Hyena is always watching and waiting – in order to claim its pray.
[K28]Desecrating the remains of the dead – particularly eerie and threatening image.
[K29]The poem ends on the image and theme of death – strong suggestion that the death will return to dust and become part of the land, sea and wind.