The Snail
William Cowper
Text
To grass, or leaf, or fruit, or wall
The snail sticks close, nor fears to fall
As if he grew there, house and all,
Together.
Within that house secure he hides
When danger imminent betides
Of storm, or other harm besides
Of weather.
Give but his horns the slightest touch,
His self-collecting pow’r is such,
He shrinks into his house with much
Displeasure.
Except himself has chatells none,
Well satisfied to be his own
Whole treasure.
Thus, hermit-like, his life he leads,
Nor partner of his banquet needs,
And if he meets one, only feeds
The faster.
Who seeks him must be worse than blind,
(He and his house are so combined)
If, finding it, he fails to find
Its master.
About the Poet:
William Cowper (1731-1800) was one of the renowned English poet of his times. Cowper changed the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing about everyday lives of the people and the scenes Of the English countryside. In many ways, Cowper was the forerunners of Romantic poets of his times. His notable works include Olney Hymns and The Task.
Main Points of the Poem:
• The snail remains attached to a grass, a leaf, a fruit or a wall.
• He is not afraid of falling from them.
• He remains safe inside his shell from any incoming danger.
• He with much displeasure enters his shell at the slightest touch.
• He lives all alone, like a hermit.
• He is contented to be his own treasure.
A Short Discussion of the Poem:
‘The Snail’ written by William Cowper describes the private world of a snail where the snail is seen to lead a secure life. It depicts the snail’s habit, habitat and nature. Normally a snail is considered a tiny and insignificant creature of almost no importance as if he is not sensible. But in this poem snail is presented as a creature of extra sensibility. In poetic eye, these extra sensibility of a snail make him a subject of literature.
In the beginning of the poem, we are allowed to observe, wherever a snail may be, on a grass, on a leaf, on a fruit or advancing over a wall, he sticks so close to it that there is no chance of falling. This shows that he is quite confident about his ability.
The second and third stanzas reflect us that the snail creeps through its passage in an almost unnoticeable way carrying the shell together. The shell of the snail is inseparable and it is also his house, providing him safety and security.
He is aware of his limitations as well. He knows that he is tiny and clam so he can’t resist any harm that falls upon him at any time. So, he is carrying his own home with himself. The prospect of any danger or an unfriendly situation sends an alarm to his sensitive horns and he shrinks into the safe zone of his house with much displeasure.
In the last stanza, the poet depicts, the snail dwells alone, he has no friend. He lives a secluded life, self reliant and self — his life is detached and isolated from all earthly affairs like a hermit.
Though, the self-reliant private world of a snail occupies a very insignificant place in nature, but it allegorically describes the poet’s love for isolated and detached life of a snail.
👉Some important short questions and answers:
Q. 1: What does the snail usually stick itself to ?
Ans: The snail usually sticks itself to grass, leaf, fruit or wall.
Q. 2: How does the snail stick to its place ?
Ans: The snail sticks to its place very closely without the fear of falling down.
Q. 3: Where does the snail hide to see the imminent danger ?
Ans: To see the imminent danger, the snail hides himself within his shell which is the most secure place for him.
Q. 4: What does the snail do at the time of danger ?
Ans: If the snail apprehends any danger he immediately shrinks into his house with much displeasure.
Q. 5: How does the snail sense danger ?
Ans: His self-collecting power at the slightest touch at his very sensitive horns, the snail may sense danger.
Q. 6: What type of life does the snail live ?
Ans: The snail lives a very lonely secluded life like a hermit.
Q. 7: How does the snail live in his house ?
Ans: The snail lives a lonely life. He has no other belonging except himself. The shell-house is his only treasure and he is well-satisfied with his own whole treasure.
Q. 8: What makes the snail well-satisfied ?
Ans: The snail likes to live alone. He is a self-contained creature. He needs no personal belongings. So to have himself as his whole treasure satisfies him well.
Q. 9: When does the snail hide in the house ?
Ans: The snail hides in the house at the time of impending danger. So the smell of danger or the slightest touch from anything makes the snail enter it’s house.
Q. 10: What do you mean by ‘self-collecting pow’r’ ?
Ans: The snail has a very powerful sensitivity. The horns of the snail, at the very slightest touch, sends warning of danger and the snail hides into the shell. His nature of not taking any risk can be said to be his ‘self-collecting power’.
Q. 11: Who or what is the treasure for the snail ?
Ans: The snail considers its self sufficient life without any want to be his treasure.
Q. 12: Where does the snail find safety ?
Ans: The snail finds safety within his shell.
Q. 13: When does the snail feed faster ?
Ans: When another snail happens to come nearby, the snail feeds faster so as to grab as much resource as possible for itself.
Q. 14: What kind of danger may the snail face ?
Ans: The snail may face the danger of the weather and the Strom. Besides, he may also face other attacks from outside.
✸✸ Thank you for visiting my page 🙏
✸✸ Please like, comment, share and follow the page.
Comments