The Huntsman

Edward Lowbury

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Content - 10 Questions
1.Who is talking?
2.To whom is the speaker talking?
3.What is the dramatic context of poem?
4.What happens during the poem?
5.What motivates the speak now, in the tone he/she uses?
6.How does the language of the poem contribute to its meaning?
7.How is the poem organized?
8.Do patterns of rhyme and rhythm contribute to the meaning and effect of the poem?
9.What themes does the poem contain?
10.What was your initial response to the poem?

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Kagwa hunted the lion,
Through bush and forest went his spear.
One day he found the skull of a man
And said to it, ‘How did you come here?’
The skull opened its mouth and said,
‘Talking brought me here.’
Kagwa hurried home;
Went to the king’s chair and spoke:
‘In the forest, I found a talking skull.’
The king was silent. Then he said slowly,
‘Never since I was born of my mother
Have I seen or heard of a skull which
spoke.’
The king called out his guards:
‘Two of you now go with him
And find this talking skull;
But if his tale is a lie
And the skull speaks no word,
This Kagwa himself must die.’
They rode into the forest;
For days and nights, they found nothing.
At last, they saw the skull; Kagwa
Said to it, ‘How did you come here?’
The skull said nothing. Kagwa implored,
But the skull said nothing.
The guards said, ‘Kneel down.’
They killed him with sword and spear.
Then the skull opened its mouth;
‘Huntsman, how did you come here?’
And the dead man answered,
‘Talking brought me here.’
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Poet
Edward Lowbury

Edward Lowbury was born in Hampstead to the recently naturalized Benjamin

William Loewenberg (of Latvian-Jewish background) and the Brazilian-born
Alice Sarah Halle (of German-Jewish origin) in 1913. The family name was
anglicized to Lowbury at the start of World War 1. His father was a medical
doctor and Edward’s middle names were chosen in honor of the surgeon
Joseph Lister who had done so much to reduce post-operative infection. His
son was to follow closely in Lister’s footsteps in the medical career that he
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eventually chose.
1.Who is talking?
Edward Lowbury’s “The Huntsman” is a ballad based on an African
folktale. It follows the story of a huntsman named Kagwa who
finds a talking skull and eventually ends up turning into one.
Lowbury’s poems are known for their characteristic mystique and
storytelling. The theme of this poem is “talking”- to be done when
necessary and within a limit, as suggested by the poet. This piece
deals with the uncertainty of human life and how short life is.

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2.To whom is the speaker talking?
This poet wanted to spread his ideas to the readers who hasn't any
idea and responsibility about their talks. Lowbury mainly aimed his
thoughts to all people in the world. The poet observes the concept of
" Meaningful silence is better than needless talking" to all readers. He
tried to spread this idea to increase their intelligent and habits.

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3.What is the dramatic context of poem?

The poem" The Huntsman" by Edward Lowbury is a poem based on Kenyan

Folklore culture.The poem is woven around a man who created his self-
destruction due to his unnecessary talking. Although the poem seems to be
carry a sence of homour, the poet brings out a deeper meaning encouraging
the " mindful talking ".The poem starts with a description of "Kagwa" who is
presented as a brave hunter.

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4.What happens during the poem?

“The Huntsman” follows the story of a lion hunter, Kagwa. One day he found a talking skull.
And he asked what it was doing there, the skull replies, “talking brought me here.” The
hunter was surprised and went to the king to report the incident. Sometimes he may have
expected something like reward from a king. Naturally, the king does not believe anything at
first. Out of his curiosity, he orders two guards to go along with Kagwa in search of the
talking skull. If the skull fails to speak, Kagwa will be sentenced to death. This turns out to be
true. When the hunter begs the skull to speak, but there is no response, and eventually,
Kagwa is killed. He becomes another talking skull who replies to the former skull’s query,
“talking brought me here.”
The moral of this poem is that one should think and consider their audience before
speaking.
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5.What motivates the speak now, in the tone he/she
uses?
In "The Huntsman" by Edward Lowbury, the speaker's motivation to articulate
their thoughts arises from a profound connection with nature and the
intricate balance between life and death. The tone oscillates between
reverence and introspection, driven by the speaker's contemplation of the
huntsman's role in the primal cycle. The urgency to speak emanates from a
desire to convey the complex emotions entwined with the act of hunting,
celebrating the beauty of nature while acknowledging the somber reality of
taking life. The speaker's words reflect a deep introspection on humanity's
place within the natural order, shaping a nuanced and poignant narrative.
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6.How does the language of the poem contribute to its
meaning?
Personification - Describes the skull as " talking", giving it human characteristics
to emphasize the theme of the poem. In the line "though the bush and forest
went his appear," the narrator personifies the inanimate object " spear ".

Alliteration - The repetition of similar sounds in neighboring words can be found

in "Kagwa hurried home”, “forest, I found," "said slowly", " my mother", etc.

Consonance - It occurs in the lines," Kagwa hurried home;/ went to the king's
chair and spoke;/ in the forest, I found a talking skull;/ The king was silent ".
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Irony - At the end of the poem, the hunter has the same fate as the "talking
skull" - this showcases the situational irony of the human life.

Symbolism - Being a lion hunter, Kagwa was a man of courage and strength.
However, none of those attributes make up for his lack of wisdom and discretion.
Here," Kagwa" is a symbol of flawed human nature. A simple flaw can cause
cracks in the overall human stature.

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7.How is the poem organized?

The huntsman is a ballad, a poem that narrates a story using short

stanzas. The poem consists of five stanzas with six lines each.
It is written in the 3rd person point of view, where Kagwa
(the huntsman ) is the main character . The poem does not have a
set rhyme scheme . Lowbury uses the exact words for the sake of
rhyming 5-7 words an average per line . Readers cannot find a
regular matrical pattern in this poem. It mainly consists of the
iambic meter with a number of variations.
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8.Do patterns of rhyme and rhythm contribute to the
meaning and effect of the poem?
Rhythm
The rhythm of a poem, affects its flow and pacing. In here, poem when considering about this
poem, a dynamic and energetic rhythm might mirror into intensity of the pursuit.

Contrast and Irony

Rhyme and rhythm can be used to create contrast and ironies in the poem. In here, poem
describes a brutal and intense hunt, using of rhyming words poet creates a suble irony,
highlighting the paradoxical nature of the activity.

Enhancing emotions
Rhyme, when used effectively, can enhance the emotional impact of the poem. In here, the
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subject matter involves pursuit and perhaps violence, rhyme can complify the emotional tension.
Elevating language
Skillful use of rhyme and rhythm can elevate the language of the poem, making it more
memorable and engaging for the reader. This language can enhance the vivid description of the
hunt.

Unity and Cohesion

A consistent rhyme scheme and rhythm can contribute to the unity and cohesion of the poem. It
ties together various stanzas, creating a structured and organized composition. This cohesion can
mirror the discipline and order associated with a traditional hunt.

When considering those points, it is clear that rhyme and rhythm contribute to the meaning and
effect of the poem, "The Huntsman"
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9.What themes does the poem contain?

"The Huntsman" by Edward Lowbury is a poem that explores themes of nature,

the cycle of life, and the relationship between humans and the natural world.
The poem often delves into the primal and instinctual aspects of hunting,
portraying it as a timeless and essential part of the human experience.
Additionally, it may touch upon the interconnectedness of life and death in the
natural order.

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10.What was your initial response to the poem?

The huntsman is a very interesting poem. By this poem describes about certain
major human weaknesses. That is very important to identify our weakness and
reduce them. And also, poet gives a great advice to the society through the
poem. I really appreciate it. The poem is written in simple language and the
message is laid straightforward. So, we can grasp the meaning of the poem
easily. I would love to such a simple poem. Therefore, I enjoyed it very much.

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 Thank you!
GROUP MEMBERS
1. J.M.T.R.Jayasinghe E-1729
2. W.W.G.S.Premachandra E-1824
3. T.M.A.L.Tennakoon E-1810
4. M.N.K.Perera E-1756
5. B.A.A.S.Sarathchandra E-1686
6. A.A.N.T.Abeysinghe E-1674
7. H.M.R.B.K.Herath E-1717 17