The groundhog
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 gr
The speaker uses similes such as "beautiful as architecture" and "like a geometer" to demonstrate the perceptions of the speaker. He learns that death will also consume his own body and he tries to accept this fact. The speaker describes his feelings as a "sunless trembling," contrasting his previous sentence of "immense energy," to portray the dark sadness which he feels. As he is "praying for joy in the sight of death," he comes to the understanding that he shares the same future as the dead groundhog and can do nothing to stop this from happening. 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. In the speaker's work, we come to the realization that life is filled with death and that we must accept this ongoing occurrence to advance ourselves. By being "mured up in the wall of wisdom," he has concluded that death will consume him, leaving him lifeless also one day. The speaker personifies the "intellectual chains" to show how he is imprisoned by his thoughts at understanding death. Like the groundhog, we too will decay and share the same consequences as the groundhog. By poking him with an "angry stick," the speaker personifies the senselessness of death and takes his disappointing discovery of life out on the dead animal. Shifting to a later time in Autumn, the speaker "strict of eye" describes the groundhog's body as "the sap gone out. In Richard Eberhart's poem "The Groundhog," we as readers notice that death shares a common bond with all individuals. Slowly the speaker becomes aware of the meaning of the groundhog.
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Acceptance Essays
