“The Snake”

The Snake: The Impact of the Title

The poem's title, "The Snake," as applied by an editor, does not detract from it. Rather, it adds to the poem by dispelling all ambiguity about the subject of the poem. There isn't a single instance of a snake being mentioned explicitly in the poem. Instead, there are clues and phrases that refer to the poem's subject being a serpent. As a result, the title is an addition to the poem because it makes the subject clear. Others, however, may argue that the title detracts from the poem's mystery, as the original author intended. In that regard, indeed the title takes away the mystery of the poem as initially intended by the original author. In that regard, indeed the title takes away from the poem since a reader will read the poem with a predisposed idea of the subject of the poem as indicated in the title. In many instances, the title of the poem has been the first line of the poem, "A narrow fellow in the grass," which is equally as effective (Gale 1).

The Subject of the Poem: A Serpent

From the poem, however, one can easily deduce that the subject being talked about is a snake. This can be seen in the first line of the poem which in most cases acts as the title of the poem, "A narrow Fellow in the Grass." Also, the lines, "The grass divides as with a comb," "A spotted shaft is seen," and "And then it closes at your feet. And opens further on" add to the context of a snake (Gale 1). These are typical descriptions of the movement of a snake in the grass. How it opens up the grass before it and how the grass closes back together once the snake has passed.

A Narration of an Encounter

Essentially, the poem is a narration by the speaker about his encounter with a snake in the grass. The speaker begins by describing how the snake moves in the grass. He does not directly mention that it is a snake but uses vivid description which provides strong hints as to the subject of the narration. The speaker goes further to involve the reader by mentioning that perhaps the reader has at one point met a snake. He adds that one cannot avoid noticing a snake. The speaker also vividly describes the movement of the grass as the snake maneuvers through it. He also talks about the quick manner in which a snake disappears once it has been spotted. One second you see it, and in a blink of an eye, it is gone. Towards the end of the poem, the speaker takes a turn and likens the snake to some people he knows as well as those who know him. He talks about the fear or shock that he experiences when he meets such people and likens that feeling to the feeling he experienced with the snake in the grass.

The Speaker as a Boy

The author, Emily Dickinson, makes the speaker a boy for various reasons. Traditionally, boys have been associated with careless behavior related to young age. In most cases, boys leave the house without their shoes on or sometimes take off their shoes while they play. Also, boys engage in more adventure so as to satisfy their curiosity as opposed to girls who like the comfort of the house and learn household duties as well as play with their Barbie dolls. Therefore, according to the stereotype placed on boys, it is more likely that a boy, during his adventures in the bushes, forests, and grasslands, would encounter a snake and later tell others about the entire experience. Essentially, according to the poem, the boy has met a snake more than once. However, every time, he has had the same feeling where the encounter of the snake scared and frightened him.

The Meaning of "Zero at the Bone"

In the poem, the phrase "Zero at the Bone" has been used. The context in which it has been used is as follows: "But never met this Fellow, Attended or alone, Without a tighter Breathing, And Zero at the Bone." (Gale 2). Looking at the context in which it has been used, the phrase can best mean a feeling of extreme fear. Looking at the lines that come before the phrase, the speaker implies that he has met other animals and creatures which make him feel scared, insecure, and frightened. However, he states that he can somehow manage to feel cordial about the other creatures as well as people despite the fact that he is afraid. With the snake, however, regardless of where he encounters them, he states that he usually experience tighter breathing "and zero at the bone." (Gale 2). Therefore, the phrase could best mean that he is extremely scared.

Expressing Fear

A fear of certain animals as well as situations can be expressed by this phrase. For instance, the speaker uses this phrase to express his fear of snakes. Others could use the phrase to express their fear of heights, speed, as well as other creatures which make them scared to the maximum.

Work Cited

Gale, Cengage L. A Study Guide for Emily Dickinson's "a Narrow Fellow in the Grass,” Excerpted from Gale's Acclaimed Poetry for Students. This Concise Study Guide Includes Plot Summary; Character Analysis; Author Biography; Study Questions; Historical Context; Suggestions. Farmington Hills: Gale, Cengage Learning, 2016. Internet resource.