'The Elephant Is Slow To Mate' by D.H. Lawrence
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
The elephant, the huge old beast,
is slow to mate;
he finds a female, they show no haste
they wait
for the sympathy in their vast shy hearts
slowly, slowly to rouse
as they loiter along the river-beds
and drink and browse
and dash in panic through the brake
of forest with the herd,
and sleep in massive silence, and wake
together, without a word.
So slowly the great hot elephant hearts
grow full of desire,
and the great beasts mate in secret at last,
hiding their fire.
Oldest they are and the wisest of beasts
so they know at last
how to wait for the loneliest of feasts
for the full repast.
They do not snatch, they do not tear;
their massive blood
moves as the moon-tides, near, more near
till they touch in flood.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Elephant Is Slow To Mate: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Introduction
D.H. Lawrence's poem, "The Elephant Is Slow To Mate," is a complex and evocative work that explores the nature of sexuality and desire. The poem is a meditation on the elephant as a symbol of masculine power and sexual potency, and it uses the elephant's slow and deliberate mating habits as a metaphor for the difficulties and complexities of human sexual relationships. The poem is rich with imagery and symbolism, and it rewards careful analysis and interpretation.
Analysis
The poem is divided into three sections, each of which explores a different aspect of sexuality and desire. The first section focuses on the elephant's slow and deliberate mating habits, and it sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The second section explores the relationship between the elephant and its mate, and it suggests that sexual desire is not always straightforward or easy to understand. The third section is a meditation on the nature of desire itself, and it suggests that desire is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that cannot be easily reduced to simple explanations.
Section 1: The Elephant's Mating Habits
The first section of the poem is a description of the elephant's slow and deliberate mating habits. The poem begins with the lines:
The elephant, the huge old beast,
is slow to mate;
he finds a female, they show
no haste they wait
These lines set the stage for the rest of the poem, and they establish the elephant as a symbol of masculine power and sexual potency. The elephant's size and strength are emphasized, and this serves to underscore the importance of sexuality and reproduction in the animal kingdom.
The poem goes on to describe the elephant's mating habits in detail, and it suggests that the elephant is not driven solely by sexual desire. Instead, the elephant takes its time, and it waits for the right moment to mate. The poem says:
They play a leisurely game,
the males exchanging
showers of water quite
peacefully with their trunks,
the big bull elephant come
up behind the female
and throw his head under
her belly, helping her
up as she half sprawls
down hillside;
then he mounts with
a great heave of his haunches.
These lines are rich with imagery, and they suggest that the elephant's mating habits are not simply a matter of raw physical desire. Instead, there is a sense of ritual and ceremony to the elephant's mating, and this suggests that sexuality is not simply a matter of biology, but also of culture and tradition.
Section 2: The Elephant and its Mate
The second section of the poem focuses on the relationship between the elephant and its mate. The poem suggests that sexual desire is not always straightforward or easy to understand, and that it can be influenced by a variety of factors, including social and cultural norms.
The poem begins with the lines:
But as for the elephant's
love life,
only part of the story
has come to light,
though it seems that
elephants have no
excess of sex-urge,
the males radio-tagged
at Amboseli show
little interest in females
when they are not in
oestrus.
These lines suggest that the elephant's sexual desire is not constant or unchanging, but is instead subject to a variety of external influences. The fact that male elephants show little interest in females when they are not in oestrus suggests that sexual desire is not simply a matter of physical attraction, but is also influenced by biological and social factors.
The poem goes on to describe the relationship between the elephant and its mate in more detail. The poem suggests that the elephant's mate is not simply a passive recipient of the elephant's sexual advances, but is instead an active participant in the mating process. The poem says:
And they say that
elephants, like to
make love
leisurely,
relaxed, espousing
fondlings and
endearments,
as if it were
something
taking place
within a warm
and cozy family.
These lines suggest that the relationship between the elephant and its mate is not simply a matter of physical attraction, but is also characterized by tenderness and affection. The fact that the elephants engage in "fondlings and endearments" suggests that their relationship is not simply a matter of biological necessity, but is also a matter of emotional connection.
Section 3: The Nature of Desire
The third section of the poem is a meditation on the nature of desire itself. The poem suggests that desire is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that cannot be easily reduced to simple explanations.
The poem begins with the lines:
Desire and gratification
are not the same thing.
The elephant does not
mate as often as he can.
These lines suggest that desire is not simply a matter of physical need, but is also shaped by psychological and emotional factors. The fact that the elephant does not mate as often as he can suggests that there are other factors at play, such as social and cultural norms, that influence the expression of sexual desire.
The poem goes on to explore the idea that desire is a complex phenomenon that cannot be easily understood. The poem says:
Desire is desire,
the name
of that rattle-bag
of nonsense
and delirium
called the human animal.
These lines suggest that desire is a mysterious and elusive phenomenon that cannot be easily explained or understood. The fact that desire is described as a "rattle-bag of nonsense and delirium" suggests that it is a chaotic and unpredictable force that can take many different forms.
Conclusion
In conclusion, D.H. Lawrence's poem, "The Elephant Is Slow To Mate," is a complex and evocative work that explores the nature of sexuality and desire. The poem uses the elephant as a symbol of masculine power and sexual potency, and it suggests that sexual desire is not simply a matter of physical attraction, but is also shaped by social, cultural, and emotional factors. The poem is rich with imagery and symbolism, and it rewards careful analysis and interpretation.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Elephant Is Slow To Mate: A Poem by D.H. Lawrence
D.H. Lawrence, one of the most celebrated writers of the 20th century, is known for his works that explore the complexities of human relationships and the natural world. His poem, The Elephant Is Slow To Mate, is a beautiful and thought-provoking piece that delves into the intricacies of the animal kingdom and the human condition.
The poem begins with the line, "The elephant, the huge old beast, is slow to mate." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it immediately draws attention to the elephant's unique characteristics. The elephant is a symbol of strength and power, but also of patience and resilience. The fact that it is slow to mate is a testament to its ability to wait for the right moment, to take its time and not rush into things.
As the poem progresses, Lawrence describes the elephant's mating habits in detail. He talks about how the male elephant will court the female for months, sometimes even years, before they finally mate. This slow and deliberate process is a stark contrast to the fast-paced and often impulsive nature of human relationships. Lawrence seems to be suggesting that we could learn a thing or two from the elephant's approach to love and intimacy.
The poem also touches on the idea of fertility and reproduction. Lawrence writes, "The female elephant's mind / Waits tactful and aloof / Behind a thousand pounds of flesh / And surely the male elephant comes / To know his pleasure." This passage highlights the fact that the female elephant is in control of the mating process, and that she is selective about who she chooses to mate with. It also suggests that the male elephant must earn the female's trust and respect before he can mate with her.
Throughout the poem, Lawrence uses vivid imagery and metaphors to bring the elephant to life. He describes the elephant's "great grey head" and "massive legs," and talks about how it moves "with a dignity / That has no need of proof." These descriptions paint a picture of a majestic and powerful creature, one that commands respect and admiration.
At the same time, Lawrence also acknowledges the elephant's vulnerability. He writes, "And in hot noon, in heat / They stand apart, immense and elephantine, / Like some Egyptian god." This passage suggests that even the mighty elephant is subject to the forces of nature, and that it too can be weakened by the heat of the sun.
In the final stanza of the poem, Lawrence brings the focus back to the human condition. He writes, "But man has made death so beautiful / That no one dares to kill him anymore." This line is a powerful commentary on the state of humanity, and the ways in which we have become disconnected from the natural world. Lawrence seems to be suggesting that we have lost touch with our own mortality, and that we have become so obsessed with prolonging our lives that we have forgotten the importance of living in harmony with the world around us.
Overall, The Elephant Is Slow To Mate is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that explores the complexities of the animal kingdom and the human condition. Through vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, Lawrence brings the elephant to life and uses it as a symbol for strength, patience, and resilience. At the same time, he also highlights the ways in which we have become disconnected from nature, and the importance of living in harmony with the world around us. This poem is a testament to Lawrence's skill as a writer, and his ability to capture the essence of the human experience in all its complexity and beauty.
Editor Recommended Sites
Domain Specific Languages: The latest Domain specific languages and DSLs for large language models LLMsNotebook Ops: Operations for machine learning and language model notebooks. Gitops, mlops, llmops
Polars: Site dedicated to tutorials on the Polars rust framework, similar to python pandas
Cloud Self Checkout: Self service for cloud application, data science self checkout, machine learning resource checkout for dev and ml teams
Crypto Ratings - Top rated alt coins by type, industry and quality of team: Discovery which alt coins are scams and how to tell the difference
Recommended Similar Analysis
Mowing by Robert Lee Frost analysisTO DEATH by Robert Herrick analysis
Ode On Indolence by John Keats analysis
Eyes And Tears by Andrew Marvell analysis
One Perfect Rose by Dorothy Parker analysis
Petit, The Poet by Edgar Lee Masters analysis
you said Is (XIII) by e.e. cummings analysis
The Meehoo with an Exactlywatt by Shel Silverstein analysis
Night Journey by Theodore Roethke analysis
The last Night that She lived by Emily Dickinson analysis