Cheetah by Charles Eglington

About the Poet

• Charles Eglington (1918–1971) was a South African poet and journalist.
• His poetry often explores nature and wildlife.
• "Cheetah" is one of his most well-known poems, showcasing his deep appreciation for the natural world.

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Summary of the Poem

• The poem describes a cheetah in its natural habitat.
• It first appears lazy and harmless, but later reveals its true nature as a predator.
• The poem follows the cheetah's hunt, describing the tension, chase, and eventual kill.
• The poet contrasts appearance vs. reality, showing how animals can be deceptive.

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Themes

1. Appearances Can Be Misleading – The cheetah seems lazy at first but is actually a fierce hunter.
2. Survival of the Fittest – Only the strongest and fastest survive in nature.
3. The Beauty and Violence of Nature – The cheetah is both graceful and deadly.
4. Instinct and Predation – The poem highlights the natural instincts that drive animals.

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Structure & Form

• Narrative poem – Tells a story in seven quatrains (four-line stanzas).
• Regular rhyme scheme (ABAB) – Gives the poem a flowing, rhythmic feel.
• Contrasting tones – Starts relaxed, becomes tense and urgent as the hunt begins.

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Analysis by Stanza

Stanza 1: A Lazy and Innocent Appearance

"Indolent and kitten-eyed, This is the bushveld's innocent The stealthy leopard parodied With grinning, gangling pup-content."

• "Indolent and kitten-eyed" – The cheetah appears lazy and harmless.
• "Bushveld's innocent" – Suggests the cheetah is underestimated.
• "Parodied" – Suggests the cheetah is a less threatening version of a leopard.
• "Grinning, gangling pup-content" – The cheetah looks playful, reinforcing the deceptive image.

Stanza 2: Relaxed and Carefree

"Slouching through the tawny grass Or loose-limbed lolling in the shade, Purring for the sun to pass And build a twilight barricade."

• "Slouching… lolling" – The cheetah is still relaxed and at ease.
• "Purring" – Suggests contentment, like a domestic cat.
• "Twilight barricade" – Implies that nightfall will act as cover for its hunt.

Stanza 3: The Herd's False Sense of Security

"Around the vast arena where, In scattered herds, his grazing prey Do not suspect in what wild fear They'll join with him in fatal play."

• "Vast arena" – The bushveld is compared to a coliseum where a deadly game is played.
• "Do not suspect" – The prey are unaware of the approaching danger.
• "Fatal play" – Oxymoron highlighting how the hunt is a deadly game.

Stanza 4: The Cheetah Springs into Action

"Till hunger draws slack sinews tight As vibrant as a hunter's bow; Then, like a fleck of mottled light, He slides across the still plateau."

• "Slack sinews tight" – The cheetah's muscles tense in preparation.
• "Hunter's bow" – Simile compares its readiness to a drawn bowstring.
• "Fleck of mottled light" – Highlights its speed and camouflage.
• "Slides across the still plateau" – Emphasises its fluid, graceful movement.

Stanza 5: The Prey's Fear

"A tremor rakes the herds: they scent The pungent breeze of his advance; Heads rear and jerk in vigilant Compliance with the game of chance."

• "Tremor rakes the herds" – Fear spreads through the animals.
• "Pungent breeze" – The prey smell the approaching predator.
• "Game of chance" – Reinforces the idea that any of them could be caught.

Stanza 6: The Chaos of the Chase

"In which, of thousands, only one Is centred in the cheetah's eye; They wheel and then stampede, for none Knows which it is that has to die."

• "Only one is centred" – The cheetah has chosen its target.
• "Stampede" – The panic of the herd.
• "Knows which it is that has to die" – Reinforces the unpredictability of survival.

Stanza 7: The Kill

"His stealth and swiftness fling a noose And as his loping strides begin To blur with speed, he ropes the loose Buck on the red horizon in."

• "Fling a noose" – Extended metaphor comparing the hunt to a cowboy roping cattle.
• "Blur with speed" – The cheetah moves too fast to be clearly seen.
• "Red horizon" – Could symbolise blood and death.

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Tone & Mood

• Tone: Shifts from relaxed to urgent and intense.
• Mood: Begins peaceful, then builds suspense and excitement.

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Important Literary Devices

1. Imagery – Vivid descriptions bring the hunt to life.
2. Metaphors – "Fling a noose" (hunting compared to roping cattle).
3. Similes – "As vibrant as a hunter's bow" (strength and tension).
4. Oxymoron – "Fatal play" (juxtaposes death and playfulness).
5. Alliteration – "Slack sinews", "blur with speed" (emphasises movement).

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Key Message of the Poem

• Nature is both beautiful and cruel.
• Strength and speed determine survival.
• Animals, like people, can be deceptive in their appearances.

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Exam Tips

• Be familiar with key themes and how they are developed.
• Understand how literary devices contribute to meaning.
• Be able to identify quotes and explain their significance.
• Prepare to compare and contrast the poem with others on similar themes.
• Structure essay responses clearly with introduction, body, and conclusion.

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