The Snake Trying — W.W.E. Ross

'O let him go. He is trying to ESCAPE.'

Full Poem

The snake is GLIDING
Through the WATER.
His body RIPPED by the RUSHING water.

He is BEAUTIFUL,
FLOWING, and SLENDER,
Dappled with SHADOWS.

A MAN with a STICK
Watts for him in the SHALLOWS.
He is trying to REACH the REEDS.

O let him GO.
Let him ESCAPE.
He is HARMLESS.
He is trying to SURVIVE.

About the Poet — W.W.E. Ross

Walter William Eustace Ross (1894–1966) was a CANADIAN poet and geophysicist. He is considered a PIONEER of MODERNIST poetry in Canada. His poetry is known for its ECONOMY of language — he uses FEW words to create VIVID, precise images. 'Ross's poetry captures MOMENTS — brief, intense, and deeply OBSERVATIONAL. "The Snake Trying" is a perfect example of his MINIMALIST style.'

Summary and Meaning

A snake GLIDES through FAST-flowing water. Its body is 'ripped' by the current. The poet DESCRIBES the snake as BEAUTIFUL — 'flowing and slender, dappled with shadows.'

But a MAN stands in the SHALLOWS, holding a STICK, waiting to KILL the snake. The snake is trying to REACH the REEDS — to escape, to SURVIVE.

The poet PLEADS: 'O let him GO. Let him ESCAPE. He is HARMLESS. He is trying to SURVIVE.'

'The poem CHALLENGES our INSTINCTIVE fear of snakes. The snake is not DANGEROUS — it is VULNERABLE. It is not THREATENING — it is TERRIFIED. It is not an ENEMY — it is a creature trying to LIVE.'

Poetic Devices

• Imagery: Vivid VISUAL images — 'gliding through the water,' 'body ripped by the rushing water,' 'dappled with shadows.'
• Personification: The snake is given HUMAN-like qualities — it is 'trying to ESCAPE,' 'trying to SURVIVE.' We EMPATHISE with it.
• Contrast: The BEAUTY of the snake vs the VIOLENCE of the man with a stick.
• Imperative Tone: 'O let him GO. Let him ESCAPE.' — the poet COMMANDS us to spare the snake.
• Symbolism: The SNAKE symbolises all CREATURES that are misunderstood and killed out of FEAR. The REEDS symbolise SAFETY and SURVIVAL.
• Minimalism: The poem uses VERY FEW words — every word CARRIES weight.
• Short Lines: The short, broken lines MIMIC the snake's MOVEMENT through water — fast, GLIDING, EFFORTLESS.

Vocabulary

1. Gliding — moving smoothly and continuously
2. Ripped — torn or pulled apart roughly
3. Slender — gracefully thin
4. Dappled — marked with patches of colour or shadow
5. Shallows — an area of shallow water
6. Reeds — tall, slender-leaved plants growing in water
7. Harmless — not able or likely to cause harm
8. Survive — to continue to live despite danger

Themes

1. Compassion for All Creatures: 'The snake is not our ENEMY. It is a LIVING being, trying to SURVIVE — just like us.'
2. Fear and Prejudice: Humans KILL snakes out of FEAR — not because snakes are dangerous, but because we BELIEVE they are. 'The poem challenges our UNEXAMINED fears.'
3. Beauty in the Natural World: The poet sees the snake as BEAUTIFUL — 'flowing and slender.' We are conditioned to see snakes as UGLY or THREATENING. The poem asks us to RECONSIDER.
4. The Right to Live: Every creature has the RIGHT to live — including snakes. 'The man with the stick represents CRUELTY. The snake represents INNOCENCE.'
5. Human Violence Against Nature: The poem is a MICROCOSM of how humans DESTROY nature — out of fear, ignorance, or CRUELTY.

Important Quotes

1. 'The snake is GLIDING through the WATER.'
2. 'He is BEAUTIFUL, FLOWING, and SLENDER, dappled with SHADOWS.'
3. 'A MAN with a STICK waits for him in the SHALLOWS.'
4. 'He is trying to REACH the REEDS.'
5. 'O let him GO. Let him ESCAPE. He is HARMLESS. He is trying to SURVIVE.'

Exam-Focused Questions

Short Answer Questions (2–3 marks)

1. How does the poet describe the snake's MOVEMENT? (Answer: The poet describes the snake as 'GLIDING' through the water — a smooth, continuous movement. Its body is 'RIPPED by the rushing water,' suggesting both BEAUTY and STRUGGLE. It is 'FLOWING and SLENDER' — graceful and elegant.)
2. What is the man with the stick doing? (Answer: The man is standing in the SHALLOWS, holding a stick, waiting to ATTACK the snake. He represents HUMAN cruelty and the instinctive desire to KILL what we FEAR.)
3. Why does the poet say 'O let him GO'? (Answer: The poet is PLEADING with the man — and with the READER — to show compassion. The snake is not a THREAT; it is 'HARMLESS' and simply 'trying to SURVIVE.' The poet asks us to SPARE it.)
4. What do the REEDS symbolise in the poem? (Answer: The reeds symbolise SAFETY and ESCAPE. If the snake can reach the reeds, it will be HIDDEN from the man with the stick. The reeds represent SURVIVAL — the snake's best chance to live.)

Long Answer Questions (5–6 marks)

1. How does the poem CHALLENGE our FEAR of snakes? (Answer: The poem deliberately FRAMES the snake as VULNERABLE, not dangerous. The snake is 'beautiful, flowing, and slender' — not SCALY, SLITHERY, or TERRIFYING. It is 'trying to escape' — not ATTACKING. The man with the stick is the AGGRESSOR, not the snake. 'The poem REVERSES our expectations: the HUMAN is the threat. The SNAKE is the victim.' By showing the snake from a perspective of EMPATHY, Ross asks us to QUESTION why we fear snakes — and whether that fear JUSTIFIES killing them.)
2. Analyse the CONTRAST between the snake and the man in the poem. (Answer: The snake is described in terms of BEAUTY and MOVEMENT — 'gliding,' 'flowing,' 'slender,' 'dappled with shadows.' The man is described in terms of VIOLENCE and STASIS — he 'WAITS' with a 'STICK.' The snake is in its ELEMENT (water), struggling but BEAUTIFUL. The man is INTRUDING — standing in the shallows with a WEAPON. 'The contrast is between the NATURAL (the snake) and the CIVILISED (the man). And the poet's SYMPATHY is clearly with the NATURAL. The man's violence is UNNATURAL — a corruption of the peace of the scene.')
3. What is the poem's MESSAGE about HUMANITY'S relationship with NATURE? (Answer: The poem is a MICROCOSM of how humans treat the natural world. We KILL what we FEAR — without understanding, without compassion. The snake is not DANGEROUS — it is trying to SURVIVE. But the man does not SEE the snake's struggle — he only sees his own FEAR. 'Ross's poem is a CALL to CHANGE this relationship. Instead of KILLING what we fear, we should OBSERVE, APPRECIATE, and RESPECT the natural world.' In an era of ENVIRONMENTAL crisis, this message is more URGENT than ever.)

AP Board / Indian Context

India has a COMPLEX relationship with snakes. On one hand, snakes are WORSHIPPED during Nag Panchami — they are symbols of SHIVA and VISHNU. On the other hand, thousands of snakes are KILLED every year out of FEAR. 'Ross's poem encourages the INDIAN tradition of snake reverence over the INSTINCTIVE fear that leads to killing.' In Andhra Pradesh's RURAL areas, where snakes are commonly encountered, this poem is ESPECIALLY relevant. 'It teaches students to RESPECT and PROTECT creatures — not to kill them out of fear.'

Grammar and Writing Practice

Paraphrase: 'O let him GO. Let him ESCAPE. He is HARMLESS. He is trying to SURVIVE.' (Rewrite: Please allow the snake to depart in peace and flee to safety; it poses no danger and is merely attempting to preserve its own life.)

Summary (75 words): A snake glides through water, beautiful and slender. A man with a stick waits to kill it. The snake tries to reach the safety of the reeds. The poet pleads for the snake's life — 'O let him go.' The poem challenges our fear of snakes, urging us to see them as VULNERABLE creatures trying to SURVIVE, not as ENEMIES to be destroyed.

Discussion Questions for Classroom

1. Why are humans AFRAID of snakes? Is fear a good reason to KILL?
2. Have you ever felt SYMPATHY for an animal you were taught to fear?
3. What does the poem suggest about HUMAN VIOLENCE toward nature?
4. How can we BALANCE SAFETY with COMPASSION for creatures like snakes?
5. What other animals are unfairly FEARED or PERSECUTED?

Additional Reading Comprehension Questions

1. How does the poet DESCRIBE the snake's appearance? (Answer: The poet describes the snake as BEAUTIFUL, FLOWING, and SLENDER, and 'dappled with shadows.' The description emphasises GRACE and ELEGANCE — not the UGLINESS or DANGER we usually associate with snakes.)
2. What is the CONTRAST between the snake's MOVEMENT and the water? (Answer: The snake GLIDES through the water, but the water is 'RUSHING' and 'RIPS' the snake's body. There is a tension between the snake's GRACEFUL movement and the FORCE of the current that RESISTS it.)
3. What does the MAN with the stick REPRESENT in the poem? (Answer: The man represents HUMAN CRUELTY and the IRRATIONAL fear that leads people to KILL what they do not understand. He is the AGGRESSOR — the snake is the VICTIM trying to escape.)
4. What is the SIGNIFICANCE of the REEDS in the poem? (Answer: The reeds represent SAFETY and ESCAPE. If the snake can REACH the reeds, it will be HIDDEN and SAFE from the man. The reeds symbolise SURVIVAL — the NATURAL sanctuary that the snake needs to LIVE.)

Writing Prompts for Students

1. Write a SHORT poem from the SNAKE'S perspective — what does it THINK and FEEL?
2. Imagine you are the MAN with the stick. Write a JUSTIFICATION for your actions.
3. Research the ROLE of snakes in Indian ECOLOGY. Why are they IMPORTANT?
4. Write an ESSAY on the theme: 'FEAR is not a JUSTIFICATION for VIOLENCE.'