In Richard Eberhart's poem "The Groundhog," the speaker analyzes the death of a groundhog. The groundhog, described as "lying dead" and maggots eating away at its flesh, is used by the speaker to show an understanding of life. Through the metamorphosis of the dead groundhog, the speaker portrays death and its cruelty. The speaker, once filled with happiness, transforms into a state of sadness as he observes the decay of the groundhog. By using metaphors, similes and personification, the speaker perceives the slow and frightening death of the groundhog and comes to the realization that he will also die one day. The groundhog represents the fact that individuals cannot escape death and that we share the same fate as the groundhog. The speaker distinguishes the fact that one day everyone, too, will die and learns that we are all in the same position as the groundhog.
             The speaker presents the poem by describing the "golden fields" of June to set a light, happy contrast of what can be seen in the groundhog. However, as the speaker shifts to his discovery of the dead groundhog, he discovers the meaning of the death. The speaker describes the death as a "naked frailty" because when we are naked, we are vulnerable, exposed, like the groundhog to the effects of death. The speaker then describes the "vigorous summer" to contrast the life and energy with the decay of the groundhog. As maggots consume the body of the groundhog, it changes the speaker and causes his senses to "waver dim." The metaphor of the "seething cauldron" is used to show an image of the writhing movement of the maggots as they eat their way through the groundhog's dead body. Slowly the speaker becomes aware of the meaning of the groundhog.
             The speaker, who shares a "strange love" with the dead animal, possesses an admiration for the groundhog because he
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