Night of the Scorpion by Nissim Ezekiel | Night of the Scorpion | Explanation | Summary | Key Points | Word Meaning | Questions Answers | Free PDF Download – Easy Literary Lessons
Night of the Scorpion
I remember the night my mother
was stung by a scorpion.
Ten hours of steady rain had driven him
to crawl beneath a sack of rice.
Parting with his poison – flash
of diabolic tail in the dark room –
he risked the rain again.
The peasants came like swarms of flies
and buzzed the name of God a hundred times
to paralyse the Evil One.
With candles and with lanterns
throwing giant scorpion shadows
on the mud-baked walls
they searched for him: he was not found.
They clicked their tongues.
With every movement that the scorpion made his poison moved in Mother’s blood, they said.
May he sit still, they said
May the sins of your previous birth
be burned away tonight, they said.
May your suffering decrease
the misfortunes of your next birth, they said.
May the sum of all evil
balanced in this unreal world
against the sum of good
become diminished by your pain.
May the poison purify your flesh
of desire, and your spirit of ambition,
they said, and they sat around
on the floor with my mother in the centre,
the peace of understanding on each face.
More candles, more lanterns, more neighbours,
more insects, and the endless rain.
My mother twisted through and through,
groaning on a mat.
My father, sceptic, rationalist,
trying every curse and blessing,
powder, mixture, herb and hybrid.
He even poured a little paraffin
upon the bitten toe and put a match to it.
I watched the flame feeding on my mother.
I watched the holy man perform his rites to tame the poison with an incantation.
After twenty hours
it lost its sting.
My mother only said
Thank God the scorpion picked on me
And spared my children.
line-by-line explanation of the poem
I remember the night my mother
was stung by a scorpion.
Explanation
This paragraph sets the scene for the poem, introducing the central event: the mother being stung by a scorpion. The diction is simple yet evocative, using words like “night,” “scorpion,” and “stung” to create a sense of tension and fear.
Metaphor: “Night” can be seen as a metaphor for danger or hardship.
Ten hours of steady rain had driven him
to crawl beneath a sack of rice.
Explanation
This paragraph explains the scorpion’s motive for seeking shelter. The heavy rain for ten hours has driven it to crawl beneath a sack of rice, illustrating the interconnectedness of nature and the vulnerability of creatures in its face.
Poetic Device
Imagery: The phrase “steady rain” and “sack of rice” create a vivid picture of the setting.
Personification: Attributing human motivations like seeking shelter to the scorpion adds depth and intrigue.
Parting with his poison – flash
of diabolic tail in the dark room –
he risked the rain again.
Explanation
This paragraph describes the scorpion’s attack, highlighting its swiftness and lethality. The “flash of diabolic tail” and “risked the rain again” paint a dramatic image of the scorpion’s defiance even after stinging the mother.
Poetic Device
Imagery: Vivid descriptions like “flash of diabolic tail” and “dark room” create a sense of danger and tension.
Personification: Attributing human qualities like risk-taking to the scorpion adds to the tension.
The peasants came like swarms of flies
and buzzed the name of God a hundred times
to paralyse the Evil One.
Explanation
The arrival of the villagers is compared to a swarm of flies, suggesting their eagerness and perhaps their superstition. The repetition of “a hundred times” emphasizes their fervent prayer to ward off evil.
Poetic Device
Simile: Comparing the villagers to flies highlights their numbers and buzzing activity.
With candles and with lanterns
throwing giant scorpion shadows
on the mud-baked walls
they searched for him: he was not found.
They clicked their tongues.
With every movement that the scorpion made his poison moved in Mother’s blood, they said.
Explanation
The search for the scorpion is futile, yet it serves to further amplify the fear and helplessness surrounding the situation. The “giant scorpion shadows” cast by the flickering light add a layer of psychological terror.
Poetic devices
Symbolism: The giant scorpion shadows symbolize the unseen danger and the villagers’ fear.
May he sit still, they said
May the sins of your previous birth
be burned away tonight, they said.
May your suffering decrease
the misfortunes of your next birth, they said.
May the sum of all evil
balanced in this unreal world
against the sum of good
become diminished by your pain.
Explanation
This paragraph delves into the villagers’ beliefs about karma and suffering. They see the mother’s pain as a way to balance out past sins and misfortunes, hoping it will lead to a better future for her.
Poetic devices
Juxtaposition: The ideas of suffering and purification are placed side by side, highlighting the villagers’ complex understanding of pain.
Anaphora: Repeating “May” emphasizes their wishes and prayers.
May the poison purify your flesh
of desire, and your spirit of ambition,
they said, and they sat around
on the floor with my mother in the centre,
the peace of understanding on each face.
Explanation
The villagers believe that the scorpion’s venom can purify the mother’s spirit. This shows their faith in the transformative power of even negative experiences. The image of them sitting around the mother with “peace of understanding” suggests their acceptance and support.
Poetic devices
Symbolism: The scorpion’s venom can be seen as a symbol of both pain and purification.
Metaphor: “Peace of understanding” is a metaphor for the villagers’ acceptance of the situation.
More candles, more lanterns, more neighbours,
more insects, and the endless rain.
My mother twisted through and through,
groaning on a mat.
Explanation
This paragraph emphasizes the increasing chaos and desperation surrounding the situation. The arrival of more people and insects adds to the sense of claustrophobia and tension. The mother’s continued suffering reinforces the gravity of the situation.
Poetic devices
Repetition: The repetition of “more” emphasizes the escalation and overwhelming nature of the situation.
My father, sceptic, rationalist,
trying every curse and blessing,
powder, mixture, herb and hybrid.
He even poured a little paraffin
upon the bitten toe and put a match to it.
I watched the flame feeding on my mother.
I watched the holy man perform his rites to tame the poison with an incantation.
After twenty hours
it lost its sting.
Explanation
This paragraph introduces the father’s contrasting approach. He is a “sceptic, rationalist” who tries various remedies, even resorting to unorthodox methods like burning the wound. This highlights the tension between faith and reason in the face of suffering.
Poetic devices
Alliteration: herb, hybrid.
Imagery: The burning paraffin and the mother’s “groaning” create a vivid and disturbing scene.
Personification: personification of the flame enhance the mystical atmosphere.
Juxtaposition: The father’s “curse and blessing” attempts contrast with the holy man’s “incantation,” highlighting different approaches to coping with suffering.
My mother only said
Thank God the scorpion picked on me
And spared my children.
Explanation
The poem ends with the mother’s words, expressing her gratitude that the scorpion chose her over her children. This final line is both touching and heartbreaking, highlighting the selfless love of a mother and the lingering fear for the children’s safety.
Poetic devices
Irony: The mother’s gratitude (“Thank God”) is ironic in the face of her suffering.
Summary
“Night of the Scorpion” is a poem written by the Indian poet Nissim Ezekiel. The poem vividly describes an incident in the speaker’s life when his mother was stung by a scorpion during a rainy night. The poem explores themes of superstition, religious beliefs, and the communal response to a crisis.
The poem opens with a recollection of the night when the scorpion, seeking refuge from the rain, stung the speaker’s mother. The scorpion’s presence in the house prompts the villagers to gather and invoke the name of God repeatedly to ward off evil. The use of imagery, such as the “flash of diabolic tail” and the giant scorpion shadows on the mud-baked walls, creates a sense of tension and fear.
The villagers engage in various rituals, clicking their tongues and praying for the mother’s well-being. The poem portrays the contrast between the mystical beliefs of the peasants and the skepticism of the speaker’s father, who tries various methods, including curses, blessings, powders, and even burning the bitten toe with paraffin, to counteract the effects of the scorpion’s venom.
The holy man performs rituals to neutralize the poison, and the poem conveys the communal spirit as neighbors join in with candles and lanterns during the seemingly endless rain. The mother experiences intense pain and suffering, twisting and groaning on a mat, while the community attempts to alleviate her agony through their collective efforts.
In the end, after twenty hours, the poison loses its potency, and the mother survives. Her response, “Thank God the scorpion picked on me and spared my children,” reflects a sense of selflessness and relief. The poem thus explores the complexities of human beliefs, the clash between superstition and rationalism, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Key Points
Author
Nissim Ezekiel was an Indian Jewish poet, actor, and art critic. He is one of the most important figures in India’s postcolonial literary history.
Form
The poem is free verse, meaning it does not contain a rhyme scheme.
Speaker
The speaker of the poem is the poet himself, recounting a night when a scorpion stung his mother.
Setting
The poem presents a rural Indian village and its people.
Theme
The poem explores themes of superstition, rural beliefs and customs, and common humanity.
Plot
The poem tells the story of one night when the speaker’s mother is stung by a poisonous scorpion. She suffers for twenty hours while peasants, holy men, and her husband attempt to heal her using traditional rural beliefs and customs.
Tone
The tone of the poem is serious, reflecting the deadly nature of the scorpion’s sting and the gravity of the situation.
Style
Ezekiel’s style in this poem is straightforward and direct. He does not use unnecessary phrasing or extra words.
Message
The poem conveys a message of motherly love, the power of ancient beliefs and practices, and the common humanity that unites all of us. The mother’s suffering is seen as a purification process, and in the end, she is grateful that the scorpion picked her and spared her children.
Word Meaning
| Line | Tough Word | Meaning in English | Meaning in Hindi |
| 1 | Stung | Bitten by a venomous animal | डंक मारना |
| 1 | Scorpion | venomous animal | बिच्छू |
| 2 | Steady | Constant, unrelenting | लगातार, बिना रुके |
| 2 | Driven | Forced or compelled to move | मजबूर किया |
| 2 | Crawl | Move slowly on hands and knees | रेंगना |
| 2 | Sack | bag | बोरा/ थैला |
| 3 | Parting with | Releasing, giving up | छोड़ना, देना |
| 3 | Diabolic | Devilish, wicked | शैतानी, दुष्ट |
| 4 | Peasants | Farmers | किसान |
| 4 | Swarms | Large, dense groups of flying insects | झुंड, बड़ी संख्या |
| 4 | Buzzed | Repeatedly said or chanted | गुनगुनाना, बार-बार कहना |
| 4 | Paralyse | Weaken or disable completely | लकवा लगाना, निष्क्रिय करना |
| 5 | Lanterns | Portable lamps | लालटेन |
| 5 | Mud-baked walls | Walls made of sun-dried mud bricks | कच्ची मिट्टी की दीवारें |
| 5 | Clicked their tongues | Expressed disapproval or annoyance with a clicking sound | जीभ चटकाना |
| 6 | Sins | Immoral acts or thoughts | पाप |
| 6 | Misfortunes | Unfortunate events or circumstances | दुर्भाग्य |
| 6 | Unreal world | The world of illusion or Maya | मायावी दुनिया |
| 6 | Diminished | Reduced | कम |
| 7 | Ambition | A strong desire for success or achievement | महत्वाकांक्षा |
| 8 | Twisted | Writhed or contorted in pain | तड़पना |
| 8 | Groaning | to make a deep sad sound because you are in pain | कराहना |
| 9 | Sceptic | A person who doubts or questions the truth of something | संदेहवादी |
| 9 | Rationalist | A person who believes in reason and logic | तर्कवादी |
| 9 | Curse and blessing | Both a harmful and a beneficial action | अभिशाप और आशीर्वाद |
| 9 | Powder, mixture, herb and hybrid | Various remedies and treatments | पाउडर, मिश्रण, जड़ी बूटी और संकर |
| 9 | Paraffin | A flammable liquid used in candles and lamps | पैराफिन |
| 9 | Incantation | A magical chant or formula | जादू-टोना, मंत्र |
| 9 | Sting | The sharp pain caused by a venomous animal | डंक, तेज दर्द |
| 10 | Picked on | Chose to attack | चुना, हमला किया |
Very Short Answer Questions
Who is the author of the poem “Night of the Scorpion”?
The author of the poem is Nissim Ezekiel.
What did the scorpion do in the poem?
The scorpion concealed itself under a rice-bag as it was raining heavily outside for 10 hours. It then injected its venomous poison into the blood of the poet’s mother.
What attitude of the peasants is portrayed in Ezekiel’s poem?
The peasants are portrayed as superstitious and religious-minded. They believe that faith in God can overcome such troubles.
How does the poet’s father differ from the peasants?
The poet’s father is a believer in science and does not adhere to the sacred rites of the peasants.
What was the mother’s reaction after her recovery?
After her recovery, the mother expressed her holy wishes to God because it was her fortune that not her children but the scorpion stung her.
How are the peasants described in the poem?
The peasants are described as superstitious, unselfish, and cordial to their neighbors.
Where did the scorpion hide?
The scorpion hid beneath a sack of rice.
Why does the poet refer to the scorpion’s tail as diabolic?
The scorpion is seen as an evil force, bringer of pain and hardship.
How did the poison enter the mother’s body?
The mother was stung by a scorpion.
What is the setting of the poem?
The setting of the poem is a remote Indian village.
What themes does the poem explore?
The poem explores themes such as human faith, birth and afterlife, sin and redemption, motherly instinct, compassion, solidarity, and superstition.
What is the conflict in the poem?
The conflict in the poem is between traditional beliefs and rationality.
What is the form of the poem?
The poem is written in free verse.
Who is the speaker of the poem?
The speaker of the poem is the poet himself.
What is the tone of the poem?
The tone of the poem is serious.
What style does Ezekiel use in this poem?
Ezekiel’s style in this poem is straightforward and direct.
What message does the poem convey?
The poem conveys a message of motherly love, the power of ancient beliefs and practices, and the common humanity that unites all of us.
What is the plot of the poem?
The poem tells the story of one night when the speaker’s mother is stung by a poisonous scorpion.
How long does the mother suffer in the poem?
The mother suffers for twenty hours in the poem.
What is the reaction of the villagers to the scorpion’s sting?
The villagers gather and extend their help in every way possible, including performing traditional rituals and chanting prayers.
Short Answer Questions
What is the significance of the title “Night of the Scorpion”?
The title signifies the eventful night when the poet’s mother was stung by a scorpion. It was a night of pain, suffering, and superstitious beliefs.
How does the poem depict the rural life in India?
The poem vividly portrays the rural life in India, where people are deeply rooted in their traditional beliefs and customs. The villagers’ reaction to the scorpion’s sting, their prayers, and rituals reflect their faith and superstition.
What role does the poet’s father play in the poem?
The poet’s father represents rationality and science. Unlike the villagers, he does not resort to superstitious beliefs but tries to alleviate his wife’s pain through scientific methods.
How does the poem explore the theme of motherly love?
The theme of motherly love is explored through the mother’s reaction after her recovery. She expresses gratitude that the scorpion stung her and not her children, highlighting her selfless love for her children.
What is the conflict presented in the poem?
The poem presents a conflict between traditional beliefs and rationality. While the villagers resort to prayers and rituals, the poet’s father relies on scientific methods.
How does the poem reflect the poet’s attitude towards superstition?
The poet, through his narrative, subtly criticizes the superstitious beliefs of the villagers. He presents these beliefs as irrational and contrasts them with his father’s scientific approach.
What is the significance of the scorpion in the poem?
The scorpion is a symbol of evil and pain. Its sting sets the events of the poem in motion, leading to the mother’s suffering and the display of superstitious beliefs.
How does the poem depict the unity of the villagers?
The poem depicts the unity of the villagers through their collective response to the mother’s suffering. They gather at the poet’s house, pray for the mother, and try to help in whatever way they can.
What is the tone of the poem?
The tone of the poem is serious and reflective. It reflects the gravity of the situation and the poet’s contemplation of the events.
What message does the poet convey through the poem?
The poet conveys the message of universal human values such as compassion, solidarity, and motherly love. He also highlights the conflict between traditional beliefs and rationality.
Essay Type Questions
1. Write the critical appreciation of the poem.
Overview “Night of the Scorpion” is a highly commended poem for its simple poetic theme and well-conceived technique. It is a verse narrative that tells a plain narrative about the poet’s own experience of a night when his mother was stung by a scorpion.
Authentic Representation of Indian Rural Life The poem provides an authentic representation of Indian rural life. It distinctly marks certain characteristic features of this life – good neighborliness, intimate family relationship, faith with spiritual power, and dedicated idealism of motherhood. The poem is full to the brim with Indianness, capturing a well-detached black and white snapshot of Indian village life with all its superstitious simplicity.
Narrative Skill and Portrait-Making Power Ezekiel has demonstrated his narrative skill with ease and perfection, imitating the great English masters in verse narratives. He also demonstrates his portrait-making power, presenting the peasants who rushed like a ‘swarm of flies’ to see the stung mother with perfect realism. His presentation of his own father, though very precise, deserves close attention.
Juxtaposition of Superstition and Rationality The poem juxtaposes the world of myth, magic, and superstition with the world of science, rationalism, and skepticism. The peasants and neighbors are portrayed as superstitious and religious-minded, while the poet’s father is depicted as a believer in science.
Poetic Style Ezekiel’s poetic style is patent in the poem. The uses of similes in ‘swarms of flies’, onomatopoeia in ‘buzzed’ and asyndeton in ‘More candles, more lanterns, more neighbors,’ are well executed. The poem has no characteristic rhyme scheme and as such, this may be taken as written in blank verse.
Powerful Conclusion The conclusion of the poem has an epigrammatic vigor in the mother’s feeling because when she recovered, she ignored her own acute pain and was thankful and grateful to God for sparing her children.
In conclusion, “Night of the Scorpion” is a powerful and moving poem that explores the human experience of suffering, faith, and community. Its vivid imagery, use of repetition, and exploration of these themes make it a memorable and thought-provoking work of poetry.
