Student Question
What does "the red fox stain covering blue hill" symbolize in "Skunk Hour"?
Quick answer:
In "Skunk Hour," "the red fox stain covering blue hill" symbolizes the changing colors of fall leaves against the landscape, highlighting a specific natural scene. The term "stain" carries a negative connotation, suggesting an unwelcome, lasting impact, and hints at violence, foreshadowing the speaker's troubled mental state. This imagery underscores themes of decay and emotional turmoil within the poem.
This particular line refers to how the changing colors of the fall leaves contrast with the ground covering, etc.
Even such a strange and visually uncertain image as “A red fox stain covers Blue Hill” refers, in actuality, to a particular fall color in a specific place. (Enotes)
In addition, Enotes points out that the word "stain" is of particular importance. This word has a negative connotation. When something or someone is "stained," a lasting reminder has been left that is not a good one.
There is also a hint of violence in the use of the word “stain,” a foreshadowing of his mental state. (Enotes)
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