"The Unknown"

Hayden Myrick

Jernigan

AP Literature

February 7, 2011

“The Unknown”

            This poem examines an event that occurred during Edgar Lee Master’s life. He speaks directly to the reader, addressing them as “aspiring ones.” This introduction into the poem acts as a word of wisdom or a warning to the reader. He describes himself as “reckless and wanton”, two character traits that few envy. As he wonders with a gun, Masters displays his recklessness by shooting a nearby hawk for no reason other than it happened to perch near him. Although he does not show much remorse, he shows no further signs of brutality. All in all, Master’s represents a troubled youth that feels caged in to his surroundings.

            One striking aspect of this poem appears as Masters begins caring for the bird he maliciously shot. The bird does not die, but sustains a broken wing. This broken wing symbolizes the bird’s inability to get away. The entrapment of the bird builds when Masters puts it into a cage. As soon as he puts the bird into the cage, Masters attempts to nurture the bird by feeding it. This completely contradicts his previous action of shooting the bird. At the end of the poem, Masters feels a deep connection to the bird’s situation. He wishes to “offer him the friendship of on whom life wounded and caged.” Master’s feels the same way the bird feels. He feels trapped by the world. The world crippled and caged him so he, in return, crippled and caged a creature that he could control and relate to.