Quotes
Last Updated on June 19, 2019, by eNotes Editorial. Word Count: 461
The poet's choice of language in this poem is very deliberate and contributes strongly to the overall themes and messages of the piece. While the meter and form is fairly typical of narrative verse, the poet's use of perspective and emotive words like "murther'd" (murdered) serve to persuade the reader...
(The entire section contains 461 words.)
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The poet's choice of language in this poem is very deliberate and contributes strongly to the overall themes and messages of the piece. While the meter and form is fairly typical of narrative verse, the poet's use of perspective and emotive words like "murther'd" (murdered) serve to persuade the reader to the poet's point of view: that hunting animals for "sport" is a cruel pastime which shows man's undeserved pride.
The key message of the poem is summarized towards the end, in the poet's criticism of those who
for Sport, or Recreations sake,Destroy those Lifes that God saw good to make:Making their Stomacks, Graves, which full they fillWith Murther'd Bodios, that in sport they kill.Yet Man doth think himselfe so gentle, mild,When he of Creatures is most cruell wild.
To Wat it was so terrible a Sight,Feare gave him Wings, and made his Body light.Though weary was before, by running long,Yet now his Breath he never felt more strong.Like those that dying are, think Health returnes,When tis but a faint Blast, which Life out burnes.For Spirits seek to guard the Heart about,Striving with Death, but Death doth quench them out.