Nissim Ezekiel

The central message in Nissim Ezekiel's "Background Casually" emphasizes the importance of belonging and individual identity. The poem explores themes of culture, identity, race, and history,...

"Night of the Scorpion" by Nissim Ezekiel recounts a rural Indian community's reaction to a scorpion sting. The poem contrasts superstition and rationalism, as villagers pray and chant to combat the...

The poem "Night of the Scorpion" by Nissim Ezekiel uses vivid metaphors and imagery to depict the tension and fear of a scorpion's sting. The scorpion is portrayed as a sinister force, and the poet...

The poem "Island" by Nissim Ezekiel explores the dual nature of urban life, particularly in Mumbai. It highlights the harsh realities and isolation of city living, juxtaposed with its opportunities...

Soap by Nissim Ezekiel is a critique of societal manners, demonstrated through a man's interaction with a shopkeeper selling "defective" soap. The man, despite his better English, addresses the...

The line "may the poison purify your flesh of desire and your spirit of ambition" from "Night of the Scorpion" is spoken by holy men praying over a woman bitten by a scorpion. It refers to the Hindu...

A post-colonial reading of Ezekiel's "The Patriot" might view the speaker as an example of the type of "patriot" post-colonial India should strive to emulate. This is a speaker of Indian English who...

"The Professor" by Nissim Ezekiel uses satire to critique Indian urbanity and academic pretensions through an aging professor's monologue. The professor boasts about his family's material success,...

The line "may the sum of evil...diminished by your pain" in Ezekiel's "Night of the Scorpion" reflects the villagers' belief that the mother's suffering from the scorpion sting will reduce the evil...

“The Night of the Scorpion” depicts the theme of parental love through the selfless words of the mother. She's been bitten by a scorpion, and after twenty hours the poison has finally lost its sting....

Nissim Ezekiel's poem "Philosophy" explores a meditative state where daily life gains deeper significance, advocating "What cannot be explained, do not explain." The speaker reaches transcendence,...

"Flash of a diabolic tail" in Nissim Ezekiel's poem "Night of the Scorpion" signifies the sudden, quick movement of the scorpion's sting, likened to a lightning flash. The term "diabolic" suggests an...

In "The Patriot," Nissim Ezekiel employs various figures of speech, including anaphora, repetition, alliteration, internal rhyme, assonance, allusion, malapropism, and ironic juxtaposition. These...

Nissim Ezekiel's poetry often reflects elements of "Indianness" through themes such as the tension between modernity and tradition, the influence of religion, and the diverse cultural forces at play...

"The Night of the Scorpion" opens with the speaker's mother being bitten by a scorpion, prompting villagers to gather in a show of solidarity. Their reactions oscillate between cursing the scorpion...

In "Night of the Scorpion," the "holy man" in line 42 refers to a village priest. This is indicated by the villagers' chanting mantras and the priest's role in guiding the woman's soul, contrasting...

In "Night of the Scorpion," interactions include the neighbors' physical and psychological support for the narrator's mother after a scorpion sting, as they gather, chant prayers, and offer comfort....

Nissim Ezekiel, born December 14, 1924, in Mumbai to a Jewish family, was an influential Indian poet. He earned an MA in Literature in 1947, studied Philosophy in London, and returned to Mumbai,...

Imagery in "Night of the Scorpion" vividly appeals to the senses through symbols and evocative descriptions. The scorpion is depicted as "the Evil One," hidden beneath a sack of rice, symbolizing...

"Night of the Scorpion" illustrates contrasting beliefs through a crisis caused by a scorpion's sting. The incident highlights the clash between rural and urban, superstition and science, and fate...

Nissim Ezekiel is considered a modern voice in Indian English poetry, blending the English-speaking world with Indian experiences. His work often explores the dualities of Indian identity, such as in...

It is not odd that the speaker only watches his mother's suffering in "Night of the Scorpion," as he is likely a young child at the time, unable to help and expected to stay out of the way. The...

The appeal of "Night of the Scorpion" lies in its depiction of complexity and ambiguity during a crisis. The poem effectively conveys the chaos and panic following the scorpion's sting, highlighting...