Thought Fox by Ted Hughes summary and analysis

 

About the author :

Ted Hughes was the most influential modern poet in England. He had a deep insight on animals. Hence, plenty of animal imageries come in his poetic circle. He is popularly known as an animal poet. 

 

About the poem:

‘Thought Fox’ is a significant piece of metapoem, as it exceptionally explains the process of poetic composition or creativity. The speaker interestingly illustrates that, how does a poem originate in the mind of the poet.

When the poem begins, the speaker was sitting in front of a blank paper and imagining the dark forest. His mind was sharp and active like a lonely clock in the midnight. His fingers move through the blank page.

There was not even a single star in the distance, nothing to inspire and no scope for any spark of ideas. But, something gradually appears through the deep and within the darkness. That stops by the woods in a snowy darkness. A fox’s nose touches the twig and leaf. Only its eyes are visible in the darkness. Fox places its footprints slowly, patiently and boldly into the snow. With intense care, it moves slowly among the trees. Through the deep and wide greenness fox engages in its own business ‘brilliantly and concentratedly’.

Which enters into the empty dark space of the poet’s mind. The window is still starless and clock ticks. The page is finally printed.

 

Analysis:

The poem ‘Thought Fox’ is obviously about the art of creative writing. The dark night and the starless sky indicate the uninspired mind of the poet. Because, there was nothing to evoke the poetic mind of the speaker. Afterwards he slowly formulates a thought regarding the fox. The brilliant movement of the fox with utmost concentration symbolises the formulation of poetic thought. Hence, fox is the powerful metaphor for poetic creation. Fox is indeed an intelligent creature, who prefers silence and solitude just like an intelligent poet is deeply in love with solitude.