Night of the Scorpion
Introduction
Poem Title: Night of the Scorpion
Poet: Nissim Ezekiel
Type: Narrative poem (tells a story)
Style: Free verse (no rhyme scheme, no fixed pattern)
Point of View: First-person (poet’s own experience)
Setting: Rural Indian village, rainy night
Themes:
- Superstition vs Rationality
- Selfless mother’s love
- Human behavior during crisis
- Faith, science, and tradition
Characters:
- Poet (child) – silent observer
- Mother – suffers silently, prays for her children’s safety
- Father – rationalist, tries scientific and traditional remedies
- Villagers – religious, chant prayers, believe in superstitions
- Scorpion – symbol of pain and fate
Poetic Devices:
- Simile: “like swarms of flies”
- Metaphor: “flash of diabolic tail”
- Onomatopoeia: “clicked their tongues”
- Alliteration: “parting with his poison”
Important Vocabulary:
- Diabolic: devil-like
- Sceptic: one who doubts
- Incantation: magical chant
- Paralyse: to freeze or stop
- Groaning: sound made in pain
Imagery Used:
- Visual: giant shadows, mud-baked walls
- Sound: buzzed God’s name, tongue clicking
- Tactile (Touch): burning toe with paraffin
- Internal (Emotion): mother’s love, fear, pain
Key Concepts:
- Poem starts with scorpion sting
- Villagers chant to “paralyse the Evil One”
- Father uses both science and traditional methods
- Poem ends with mother’s grateful words
- Reflects Indian culture and emotional depth
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