The speaker starts the octave with a strong diction of “son-of-a-bitch” (Line 1) to immediately set the intense hatred he feels against the Cottonmouth snake. As he attempts to kill the snake with his car, the speaker witnesses it slithering into a ditch. The carrier’s hatred is reciprocated as the snake hisses upon locating the carrier. The violent nature of the carrier is exemplified as he shoots the snake twice despite the fact that the snake most likely died within the first shot. Within the sestet, the speaker carefully observes the snake. Described to be “long and evil”
(Line 10), the snake is portrayed in a negative light and, to the speaker, deserves to be killed. The hostility against the snake is developed with the speaker’s exaggerations
(Line 10), the snake is portrayed in a negative light and, to the speaker, deserves to be killed. The hostility against the snake is developed with the speaker’s exaggerations