Commentary on the poem Night of the Scorpion

Commentary on the poem Night of the Scorpion

Commentary

The poem “Night of the Scorpion”, written by Nissin Ezekiel has an

interesting contrast of good and bad hidden within it (an essence of

equality).

The poet has made the mother’s experience of getting bitten by a

scorpion sound very painful and endless. The poet has conveyed this by

using some descriptive language. E.g. “May the poison purify your

flesh of desire, and your spirit of ambition”. This poem which was

written by the first person, has other techniques such as;

alliteration – “I watched the flame feeding on my mother”; tone of

voice (short sentences giving a tense atmosphere) – “My father,

sceptic, rationalist, trying every excuse and blessing”.

In addition, the narrator gives the impression that everyone was

concerned about his mother getting bitten. “More candles, more

lanterns, more neighbours… They sat around the floor with my mother in

the centre”. From this passage, it seems that everyone trying to

support her and getting rid of the pain that the horrible sting had

caused.

Although, ...