Penguin on the Beach
Ruth Miller
1. Stranger in his own element (paradox),
2. sea-casualty, the castaway manikin (small person)
- He is victimised in his own element
3. waddles in his tailored coat-tails (metaphor). Oil (enjambment)
- “C” alliteration = hard sound sweet sound of sea slipperiness with oil
- Casualty because of oil
- Emphasises he has been displaced in his home
- Enjambment = considering to go into the ocean or to stay safe
4. his spread a deep commercial stain
- Oil spread all over his environment
5. over his downy shirt front. Sleazy, grey, (negative)
- Instead being white, sleek feathers now grey
6. it clogs the sleekness. Far too well (enjambment)
- Oil has sullied penguin & environment
- Unnatural interference, upset natural order
7. he must recall (urgency) the past, to be so cautious:
- Penguin in apprehension about going back to sea environment altered by pollution
8. watch (pay attention) him step into the waves. He shudders (trembles)
- Once before would slide into the water but now scared trying to resist urge to return
9. under the froth; slides, slips, on the wet sand,
- “S” sibilance = reinforce sliding motion
10. escaping to dryness, (lack) dearth, in a white cascade (form of wave),
- As resists of discomfort by memory of oil spill goes further on shore
11. an involuntary (forced) shouldering off of gleam. (lights)
- Provides image of running away from water
- Robbed of own environment
12. Hands (humans trying to push him) push (forced) him back into the sea. He stands (defiance /
sadness)
- “D” alliteration = hard sound. Contrast sweet sound of sea
13. in pained and silent expostulation. (express disapproval)
14. Once he knew a sunlit, leaping (movement of water) smoothness,
- Describes memories before oil
- He was comfortable in his environment
Ruth Miller
1. Stranger in his own element (paradox),
2. sea-casualty, the castaway manikin (small person)
- He is victimised in his own element
3. waddles in his tailored coat-tails (metaphor). Oil (enjambment)
- “C” alliteration = hard sound sweet sound of sea slipperiness with oil
- Casualty because of oil
- Emphasises he has been displaced in his home
- Enjambment = considering to go into the ocean or to stay safe
4. his spread a deep commercial stain
- Oil spread all over his environment
5. over his downy shirt front. Sleazy, grey, (negative)
- Instead being white, sleek feathers now grey
6. it clogs the sleekness. Far too well (enjambment)
- Oil has sullied penguin & environment
- Unnatural interference, upset natural order
7. he must recall (urgency) the past, to be so cautious:
- Penguin in apprehension about going back to sea environment altered by pollution
8. watch (pay attention) him step into the waves. He shudders (trembles)
- Once before would slide into the water but now scared trying to resist urge to return
9. under the froth; slides, slips, on the wet sand,
- “S” sibilance = reinforce sliding motion
10. escaping to dryness, (lack) dearth, in a white cascade (form of wave),
- As resists of discomfort by memory of oil spill goes further on shore
11. an involuntary (forced) shouldering off of gleam. (lights)
- Provides image of running away from water
- Robbed of own environment
12. Hands (humans trying to push him) push (forced) him back into the sea. He stands (defiance /
sadness)
- “D” alliteration = hard sound. Contrast sweet sound of sea
13. in pained and silent expostulation. (express disapproval)
14. Once he knew a sunlit, leaping (movement of water) smoothness,
- Describes memories before oil
- He was comfortable in his environment
