Analysis The Bear , Momaday
N. Scott Momaday's poem, "The Bear," takes place in the wilderness at midday. The day is calm and sunny. The bear is quietly walking through the forest, not hurriedly or destructively. He blends in with his environment. The bear is very old. He has many scars, and a misshapen limb as a result of an old trap injury. It still causes him pain. Then he moves out of sight as buzzards fly overhead. This poem's pattern is logical. It is as if Momaday is standing in the wilderness when he sees a bear some distance away. The bear is obscure at first. He blends in with his surroundings. As he walks on without notice of Momaday, he moves in and out of sight, yet always seems to be there. As the bear moves closer, Momaday gets a better view, noticing more of the bear's details. The bear moves on and is out of sight. Then, Momaday notices buzzards flying overhead. The message that Momaday is trying to convey is that although this bear has fought many battles and seems to be defeated, he is still surviving. He is old, scarred, and in pain, but is still courageous, noble, and one with nature.
After reading this poem, an allegory is revealed. Momaday's underlying story is that of the Kiowa people. The bear represents the Kiowa people. Many years ago they were as the bear, free and at one with nature. They were a proud and courageous people that fought many battles as did the bear. They were seen but went about their daily life. They moved yet were still a part of their environment. They had been through much more difficult times than other cultures. They, too,were caught in a trap that maimed them as a people. They were surrounded by the white culture which suppressed their language, religion, and beliefs. Today, since the white culture diminished their numbers To further the reader's experience, Momaday utilizes alliteration. The soft s sound is most prevalent. It is the sound of footsteps in the forest. It sounds like it is the dead leaves and other debris on the forest floor being crushed under foot. This poem definitely appeals to the senses. As for the description of the wilderness, Momaday's use of imagery paints a picture of the setting in the reader's mind. The reader can
Some common words found in the essay are:
Scott Momaday's, Furthermore Momaday, white culture, moves sight, message momaday, fought battles, kiowa people, , bear moves, phrase,
Approximate Word count = 770
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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