Class 9 English - KERALA
Poetry: The Snake Trying
The chapter 'The Snake Trying' by W.W. E. Ross is a poignant poem prescribed for Class 9 students under the Kerala SCERT syllabus. It describes a graceful green snake trying to escape from someone pursuing it with a stick. The poet portrays the snake not as a harmful creature of terror, but as a victim of unwarranted fear, displaying beauty and elegance in its movements. Through this poem, students learn about empathy towards all living creatures, poetic devices like enjambment and transference, and the importance of looking past common superstitions and fears associated with animals.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Empathy Towards Animals
The poem highlights that not all snakes are poisonous and encourages students to feel compassion rather than fear towards harmless creatures.
Poetic Imagery
Visual and kinetic imagery are used effectively to describe the snake's graceful, curving movements through the green water and thin reeds.
Enjambment
The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, stanza, or couplet, which mimics the continuous, fluid motion of the snake.
Theme of Harmlessness
The poet emphasizes that the snake is 'harmless even to children', challenging the traditional human impulse to kill every snake on sight.
Free Verse
The poem is written without a strict rhyme scheme or meter, reflecting the natural and uninhibited escape of the snake.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Kerala (SCERT) Class 9 English examinations, this chapter typically carries around 4 to 8 marks. Common question types include annotation/reference to context, appreciation questions based on poetic devices, short answer questions about the central theme of empathy, and paragraph questions analyzing the snake's behavior.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the snake in the poem poisonous?
No, the poet explicitly mentions that it is a harmless green snake, even to children.
What is the main message of 'The Snake Trying'?
The main message is that humans should not harm animals out of blind fear and that we must respect all living creatures.
Why does the snake glide through the water?
The snake glides through the water and among the green reeds to hide and escape from the person chasing it with a stick.
Learn Poetry: The Snake Trying with Your AI Tutor
10 different ways to study this chapter. Free for 3 chapters per day.
Lecture
Key Points
Interactive
Quiz
Flashcards