An Analysis Of Richard Wilbur's Death Of A Toad

Richard Wilbur’s “Death of a Toad" reflects on the appearance and thoughts that even a toad might have at the approach of death. Through structure, diction, and vivid imagery, Wilbur gradually reveals the feelings of the speaker. To the speaker, the toad’s death begins as a simple as an observation; but it turns into a mystical journey to an amphibious empire.
The sequence of events follows the thoughts and changes that the speaker’s attitude goes through. The poem opens casually with the speaker’s blunt observation, “A toad the power mower caught.” The lack of sympathy is shown in the description given in the next few lines about the toad’s injury. However, when the toad hides itself in the cineraria leaves, the speaker uses symbolism and begins to exhibit some interest. He concludes that the toad will die in this “final glade”. In the second stanza, the physical death of the toad is portrayed by the now curious speaker, who watches its “rare original hearts bleed”. Watching the stillness of the toad makes the speaker

think that the toad is going “towards some deep monotone”. The speaker reflects in the third stanza on the life that the toad is losing, “Amphibian’s empires” which is important, to the toad, as life is to the speaker. Finally, all light dies out of the toad’s eyes, leaving the speaker alone on the lawn in “haggard daylight.” The transformation from neutral observer to melancholy philosopher is complete.
Wilbur’s word choice grows from nothing to complex as the speaker’s feelings grow from nothing to majestic.

The opening two lines are as simple and clear like a casual conversation. However, the speaker’s use of “sanctuaries” shows his realization of the toad’s unfortunate situation, and words such as “cineraria,” and “ashen” convey a deathly atmosphere. Realizing that any creature can die a tragically, the speaker watches the “rare original bloodshed” flow out; he now sees the importance of this blood. All the descriptive words used in stanza two; “wizening’s”, “banked” and “staring”, shows that the speaker is paying close attention to the toad. This new curiosity leads him to upgrade his use of diction on the “misted and ebullient seas”. The importance of such word choices is that the speaker sees the toad as something precious and respected. These critical words demonstrate the formidable change that the speaker’s attitude has passed

through.
The images that the speaker makes up are important in having an impression upon the reader precisely what passes through the speakers mind. First, a toad’s leg is cut off by a lawnmower. The harshness and clearness of the image shows his lack of sympathy, but the next picture is more compassionate because of his pity. Here the toad is under a final dim glade of heart shaped leaves. The detailed and tragic image given in the second stanza uses pathos to provoke pity and sorrow, and also wonder. The speaker uses an image of “cooling shores,” an “Amphibious empire” for a toad. Suddenly, the image dies as the speaker’s attention is snapped back to reality, to the dimming eyes of the toad. His depiction of the bleak landscape left when the toad dies fully shows the reader what he experiences emotionally and adds to the sense of loss already felt.
From heartlessly realizing a death of the toad to entering a majestic amphibious empire, Wilbur’s use of structure, vivid imagery and diction, helps readers understand that death to anything is unfortunate and should be respected.