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About this quote

What does it mean?
Hughes describes a pike fish as a perfect, ancient killing machine with a sinister appearance.
In plain terms
A pike is a deadly, beautiful fish.
What can you take from it?
Nature contains beauty and danger.

Where it applies

  • observing wildlife
  • writing about animals
  • fear of nature

Putting it to work

  • study local species
  • observe ecosystems

Questions to consider

  • What natural creature feels dangerous?
  • How do you see beauty in nature?

Another view

It focuses only on the violent aspect of the fish.

More from Ted Hughes

  1. With a sudden sharp hot stink of fox, It enters the dark hole of the head. The window is starless still; the clock ticks, The page is printed.

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  2. The jaws' hooked clamp and fangs Not to be changed at this date; A life subdued to its instrument.

    Permalink to quote #4
  3. Cold, delicately as the dark snow, A fox's nose touches twig, leaf; Two eyes serve a movement, that now And again now, and now, and now Sets neat prints into t…

    Permalink to quote #1

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