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Animal Imagery
Animal Imagery
Ted Hughes revived animal imagery. Numerous animal lovers exist even today. D. H.
Lawrence is also considered a good animal lover but Hughes illustration is different
from him in every sense. He is prominent among them all. In fact, he is one of the most
famous poet who love animals. Ted Hughes work is remarkable due to excessive use of
animal imagery. He does not only use them for portraying images but also for symbolic
purposes.Ted Hughes uses animal imagery in his poetry for following purposes:
Symbolism
Show violence
Portraying themes and
Metaphors
Every image conveys a unique message to the readers. Ted closely observes animals
and depicts a truthful and vivid picture. Every poem reveals his close connection with
them. Ted’s biography reveals that he very closely experienced animal’s nature. It is,
therefore, he has the largest collection of animal images. He starts a poem by
illustrating simple image of an animal and then thematically explains his subject
through technique of symbolism. He also uses animals as metaphors in order to make
his subject clear. Every poem of Ted Hughes is a skillful interpretation of animal imagery
with the combination of symbolism.Variety of realistic animal imagery glorifies poetry of
Ted Hughes. Every image is true to nature. Moreover, every animal serves a purpose and
symbolically refers something to the readers. To explain; another poem, which is worth
mentioning is “That Morning”. In this poem the poet goes for fishing with his friend. He
see salmons in the river. Salmon’s realistic imagery has very beautifully been depicted
by the poet. At the end of poem, suddenly bears attack on salmons. The poet elucidates
theme of violence.Subject of violence, savagery, barbarism and death along with
destruction is put in plain words by the poet in his poems through animal imagery. Even
the vital matters like death, destruction and violence are discussed through animals. It
is not wrong to say that two prominent ingredients of Ted Hughes’s poetry are violence
and his treatment with the animals.Ted Hughes also ridicule the humans through animal
imagery. He very closely observes animals and eventually understands their psyche. It
helps him to perfectly explain a topic to his readers. If Ted Hughes aims to give a moral
lesson then it is through animal imagery. Hawk, thrush, fox, jaguar, crow, cat, mouse,
bull, pig etc. are frequently discussed in his poems. His childhood experience with
animals supports him to write superb poems on them. They sometimes become
characters in his poems wheres sometimes serve the purpose of symbolism.