Biology 3 - Pugh

Biology 3 - Pugh

1. 1st Stanza

   • "wished to be in fashion". Tech: Metaphor.
     • They use the issue of conservation for personal gain. they don't really wish for a better world. "fashion" makes it seem like conservation is the latest craze.
   • "spoke of conserving". Tech: Verb.
     • Talking not acting, they only considered conserving but didn't follow through.
   • "(translation: let's not use things up so fast)". Tech: Noun.
     • 'lets not' = language choice saying that it's our choice to make as humans to use resources - which Pugh appears to disagree with. The quotes exposes the hypocrisy and lies of politicians.
   • "term: natural resource". Tech: Noun and scientific language.
     • This quotes conveys that the idea of the natural world being a resource is man-made. We assume it's there to provide for humans and for us to consume. In actuality, humans interpret nature in a way that benefits us.
   • "sheep, forests, phosphates, the ocean". Tech: Listing.
     • The quotes starts on something small and minor (sheep), then progresses to something expansive (the ocean). Perhaps this shows there are no bounds to human exploitation of the natural world.
   • "might be put to use". Tech: Verb phrase and noun.
     • 'put to use' suggests humans give things their purpose and that we've chosen what they're good for.
   • ":" "()". Tech: Punctuation.
     • The punctuation used influences the structure by making it seem like a debate/argument.

2. 2nd Stanza

   • "aesthetic argument". Tech: Adjective.
     • Humans dress stuff up and focus on appearances. This links to "fashion" in the 1st stanza.
   • "so kill seals". Tech: 'kill' verb and 'so' conjunction/connective.
     • This offhand discussion of murder conveys human brutality and heartlessness. We think that killing is a solution.
   • "say seals take fish: fish are food for men". Tech: Punctuation for structure.
     • Placing the colon in the middle of the line makes it seem like a weighed-up and logical argument - links to "so". Humans are being logical, not selfish.
   • "you see" "of course". Tech: Direct address, link to title.
     • These phrases directly address the reader. It's the persona of a teacher and the readers are the students. This links to the title 'Biology 3'.

3. 3rd Stanza

   • "theft of time". Tech: Metaphor and ending.
     • This ends the poem. Finality of death. We're taking the time of animals away from them.
     • "theft" tells the reader we're stealing, we're taking things that don't belong to use - the natural resources and the lives of animals.
   • "crime" and "time". Tech: Full-rhyming couplet.
     • This completes the poem. This being at the end links to destruction.
     • Both these words are from the semantic field of law/misdeeds/justice.
   • "committing such a crime". Tech: Alliteration.
     • Harsh alliteration of 'c' sound. This conveys Pugh's attitude that the exploitation of animals and the natural world is wrong.