Night of the Scorpion by Nissim Ezekiel

Night of the Scorpion

-Nissim Ezekiel

I remember the night my mother
was stung by a scorpion. Ten hours
of steady rain had driven him
to crawl beneath a sack of rice.

Parting with his poison --- flash
of diabolic tail in the dark room
he risked the rain again.

The peasants came like swarms of flies
and buzzed the Name of God a hundred times
to paralyse the Evil One.

With candles and with lanterns
throwing giant scorpion shadows
on the sun-baked walls
they searched for him; he was not found.
They clicked their tongues.
With every movement the scorpion made
his poison moved in Mother's blood, they said.

May he sit still, they said.
May the sins of your previous birth
be burned away tonight, they said.
May your suffering decrease
the misfortunes of your next birth,
they said.

May the sum of all evil
balanced in this unreal world
against the sum of good
become diminished by your pain,
May the poison purify your flesh

of desire,and your spirit of ambition
they said, and they sat around
on the floor with my mother in the centre
the peace of understanding on each face.
More candles, more lanterns, more neighbours
more insects and the endless rain.
My mother twisted through and through
groaning on a mat.

My father, sceptic, rationalist,
trying every curse and blessing,
powder, mixture, herb, and hybrid.
He even poured a little paraffin
upon the bitten toe and put a match to it.
I watched the flame feeding on my mother.
I watched the holy man perform his rites
to tame the poison with incantation.

After twenty hours
it lost its sting.
My mother only said:
Thank God the scorpion picked on me
and spared my children.
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I am sure that you must have grasped the poem by heart and enjoyed it but if not you can read the poem again below with the paraphrase under each stanza and also see the meanings of difficult words. Go ahead and enjoy it.
Stanza 1 I remember the night my mother was stung by a scorpion. Ten hours of steady rain had driven him to crawl beneath a sack of rice. Paraphrase and meanings of difficult words I remember the night when my mother was stung by a scorpion. Actually, ten hours of continuous rain had forced the scorpion to crawl under a bag of rice. (Steady = continuously, sack = bag, crawl = movement of an insect) Stanza 2 Parting with his poison --- flash of diabolic tail in the dark room he risked the rain again. Paraphrase and meanings of difficult words The room was dark. He stung mother quickly flashing its devilish tail (sting) and injected his poison into mother’s toe and ran away. He didn’t care for the rain. ( diabolic = devilish) Stanza 3 The peasants came like swarms of flies and buzzed the Name of God a hundred times to paralyse the Evil One Paraphrase and meanings of difficult words The peasants came my home in a big number in groups like swarms of flies. They uttered the name of God hundreds of times so that the evil effect of the venom may be paralyzed. (swarms+ groups of flies, buzz= utter)
Stanza 4 With candles and with lanterns throwing giant scorpion shadows on the sun-baked walls they searched for him; he was not found. They clicked their tongues. With every movement the scorpion made his poison moved in Mother's blood, they said. Paraphrase and meanings of difficult words They began the search for the scorpion with the help of candles and lanterns they had with them. In the process of the search their bodies made giant shadows which looked giant scorpion on the sun baked walls of the house. But the scorpion was not found. They believed that the poison moved in mother’s blood on each movement of the scorpion so they clicked their tongues helplessly because they could not catch the scorpion to stop its movement. (sun-baked = hardened in the sun) Stanza 5 May he sit still, they said. May the sins of your previous birth be burned away tonight, they said. May your suffering decrease the misfortunes of your next birth, they said. Paraphrase and meanings of difficult words They wished to God for mother that the scorpion might sit still so that suffering might decrease and sins of mother’s previous birth might be burned away so that sufferings in the next birth might decrease Stanza 6 May the sum of all evil balanced in this unreal world against the sum of good become diminished by your pain, May the poison purify your flesh Paraphrase and meanings of difficult words They further wished that the sum of all sins/ evil deeds done in the previous birth might be balanced by the good deeds and the sufferings of present birth. They wished that the poison might purify her body and ( diminish = become less) Stanza 7 of desire, and your spirit of ambition they said, and they sat around on the floor with my mother in the centre the peace of understanding on each face. More candles, more lanterns, more neighbours more insects and the endless rain. My mother twisted through and through groaning on a mat. Paraphrase and meanings of difficult words her spirit of worldly desires and selfish ambitions. They sat on the floor around mother keeping her in the center with the peace of understanding on each face of the peasants. More neighbors with more candles and lanterns appeared and more insects appeared with more and more rains which seemed to be endless. Mother was groaning and twisting thoroughly in pain on the mat on the floor. (Groan= cry in pain, through and through = thoroughly) Stanza 8 My father, sceptic, rationalist, trying every curse and blessing, powder, mixture, herb, and hybrid. He even poured a little paraffin upon the bitten toe and put a match to it. I watched the flame feeding on my mother. I watched the holy man perform his rites to tame the poison with incantation. Paraphrase and meanings of difficult words My father who believed in reason and knowledge and questioned everything tried every treatment from curses, blessings, powder, mixture, herb and even combined treatment of these treatments. He even poured a little amount of paraffin and burnt it with a matchstick. I watched helplessly flame coming from the toe of my mother. The holy man performed rites on mother and uttered incantation to tame the poison but to no effect. (Sceptic = a person who doubts everything, rationalist= a person who believes in reason and knowledge, tame = control, incantation= magic spell/charm) Stanza 9 After twenty hours it lost its sting. My mother only said: Thank God the scorpion picked on me and spared my children. Paraphrase and meanings of difficult words After twenty hours the pain of the sting went away by itself. My mother only said that she thanked God that the scorpion bit her and spared her children. (Spare = leave)
Stanza-wise Explanation and Literary Devices
Stanza 1 From “I remember the night my mother” to “he risked the rain again.” Explanation The poet recalls the night when his mother was stung by a scorpion. Continuous rain for ten hours forced the scorpion to seek shelter inside the house under a sack of rice. After stinging the mother, it flicked its tail in the dark and escaped back into the rain. This stanza introduces the incident and creates a tense, fearful atmosphere. Literary Devices Imagery: “flash of diabolic tail” Alliteration: “steady rain” Symbolism: scorpion → danger and suffering Tone: ominous and narrative Stanza 2 From “The peasants came like swarms of flies” to “to paralyse the Evil One.” Explanation Villagers rush into the house in large numbers. They chant God’s name repeatedly, believing it will stop the scorpion’s power. Their reaction reflects panic, superstition, and blind faith rather than rational action. Literary Devices Simile: “like swarms of flies” Metaphor: “The Evil One” → the scorpion Repetition: chanting God’s name Irony: prayer replaces medical help Stanza 3 From “With candles and with lanterns” to “his poison moved in Mother’s blood, they said.” Explanation The villagers search for the scorpion using candles and lanterns. The flickering light creates frightening shadows on the walls. When they fail to find it, they believe that every movement of the scorpion increases the poison in the mother’s blood, showing ignorance and fear. Literary Devices Imagery: “giant scorpion shadows” Symbolism: light → fear, not clarity Superstition as theme Visual exaggeration Stanza 4 From “May he sit still, they said.” to “the misfortunes of your next birth, they said.” Explanation The villagers pray that the scorpion should remain still. They believe the mother’s suffering will erase sins from her past life and reduce suffering in her next birth. Pain is justified as spiritual purification. Literary Devices Repetition: “they said” Religious imagery: sin, rebirth Irony: suffering is glorified Belief in karma Stanza 5 From “May the sum of all evil” to “groaning on a mat.” Explanation The villagers believe the mother’s pain will reduce evil in the world and purify her desires and ambitions. They sit calmly around her while she writhes in agony. The stanza contrasts their peaceful expressions with her intense physical suffering. Literary Devices Contrast: calm faces vs pain Symbolism: poison → purification Imagery: rain, insects, groaning Irony: spiritual peace amid suffering Stanza 6 From “My father, sceptic, rationalist,” to “to tame the poison with incantation.” Explanation The poet’s father, a rationalist, tries every possible remedy—scientific, traditional, and religious. In desperation, he burns the bitten toe with paraffin. A holy man also performs rituals. The stanza shows human helplessness and irony. Literary Devices Irony: rationalist using superstition Enumeration: “powder, mixture, herb, and hybrid” Repetition: “I watched” Imagery: flame feeding on flesh Stanza 7 From “After twenty hours” to “and spared my children.” Explanation After twenty hours, the poison loses its effect. The mother expresses gratitude that she was stung instead of her children. The poem ends on a note of selfless maternal love and human compassion. Literary Devices Understatement: “only said” Irony: quiet ending after chaos Theme: maternal sacrifice Symbolism: loss of sting → end of suffering

I. Multiple Choice Questions.
Q. 1. What drove the scorpion inside the house? (a) Steady rain (b) Snake (c) Noise (d) Water Answer: (a) Steady rain Q. 2. The scorpion is referred to as....... (a) The evil one (b) Poisonous one (c) Dangerous (d) Ill spirit Answer: (a) The evil one Q. 3. The phrase 'clicked their tongues' expresses....... (a) The peasants' worries about the sting (b) The peasants' sorrow for the mother (c) The peasants' failure to find the scorpion (d) None of the above Answer:(b) The peasants' sorrow for the mother Q. 4. The poem is about......... (a) Peasants' concern for the suffering woman (b) Mother's love for children (c) Endurance of woman (d) Father's rational approach Answer: (b) Mother's love for children Q. 5. What did the villagers do when scorpion stung? (a) They were indifferent (b) They visited the temple (c) They flocked to the narrator's home (d) They went in search of the scorpion Answer: (d) They went in search of the scorpion Q. 6. ‘The peasants came like swarms of flies’ What figure of speech of speech is used here? (a) Metaphor (b) Simile (c) Personification (d) Alliteration Answer: (b) Simile Q. 7. What assessments of the father's character you made by reading the poem? (a) He is detached and cruel (b) He is harsh but effective (c) He is concerned but helpless (d) He is a holy man and very pious Answer: (b) He is harsh but effective Q. 8. A sceptic is a person who - (a) Doubts everything (b) Believes everything (c) Always thinks of God (d) Removes curses Answer: (a) Doubts everything Q. 9. Why did the scorpion risk the rain again? (a) The scorpion likes the rain. (b) The scorpion likes water. (c) The scorpion had stung mother. (d) The scorpion had stung mother so it was feeling unsafe there. Answer: (d) The scorpion had stung mother so it was feeling unsafe there. Q. 10. The author of the poem "Night of the Scorpion" is ........ (a) R K Narayan (b) Jerome K Jerome (c) Nissim Ezekiel (d) Rabindranath Tagore Answer: (c) Nissim Ezekiel II. Short Answer Questions Answer the following questions in one or two sentences each: Q. 1. Do you agree that the poet has chosen good title for the poem? Answer: No doubt the title of the poem is very good because it is about the night when the scorpion stung the poet's mother. Q. 2. For whom is the word ‘I’ used in the poem? Answer: The word ‘I’ has been used for the author of the poem. Q. 3. How did the peasants try to paralyze the evil one'? Answer: They searched for the scorpion to kill it to paralyze the evil one. Q. 4. Why does the poet refer to the scorpion's tail as diabolic? Answer: The poet refers to the scorpion's tail as diabolic because it is evil, a power that belongs to a devil. Q. 5. What did the peasants do to give relief to the author's mother? Answer: The peasants searched for the scorpion everywhere in order to kill it so that its movement is stopped and mother gets relief. Q. 6. How did the villagers react to the mother's agony? Answer: They clicked their tongues and took the name of God hundreds of times and prayed to God. Q. 7. Why did the peasants take the name of God a hundred times? Answer: The peasants took the name of God hundreds of times so that sins of mother may be diminished and God may reduce pain. Q. 8. Why did the peasants want the scorpion to sit still? Answer: Peasants belief was that the pain results from the movement of the scorpion so they wanted it to sit still. Q. 9. What attempts were made by the holy man to tame the poison? Answer: The holy man performed rituals to tame the poison with incantation. Q. 10. What did father do to tame the poison of the scorpion? Answer: Father tried everything to tame the poison ranging from curse and blessing, powder, mixture, herb and hybrid. He even poured a little paraffin and set match to it. Q. 11. What did the mother say in the end? Answer: Mother thanked God and said that although the scorpion stung her, it spared her children. Long Answer Questions : Answer the following questions in about one hundred words each:

Q. 1. Write a short summary of the poem 'Night of the Scorpion. Answer: Summary of the poem “Night of the Scorpion,”
Night of the Scorpion is the best poem portraying rural India and village people. This particular quality only includes this poem in the list of best poems.
The setting is of a village and the author’s mother is stung by a scorpion. It is the poem of the author's childhood days, Scores of peasants flock at the home of the author. It is the time of night and the peasants come with their lanterns in their hands making “scorpion shadows”( a very striking metaphor that brings a very beautiful imagery in our minds).They click their tongues and take the name of God hundreds of times . They do so so that her sins may be decreased and pain alleviated. Their faith is that when the sins of previous birth and present life exceed the limit, a scorpion stings a person. On the other hand they search for the scorpion so that it may be killed because it is their faith that the pain continues with the movement ofthe scorpion. Unfortunately, the scorpion is not found. They pray to God that the scorpion may sit silently and the pain is alleviated but it doesn't happen. The holy man does some rituals with incantation to tame the poison but all in vain. Author’s father, who is a septic rationalist, does almost everything to tame the poison. He uses herbs, powder, mixture and hybrid of all these but no use. He uses curse and blessings too. He even pours a little paraffin on the toe of mother and sets fire to it but in vain he tries all these things. The pain alleviates itself after twenty hours. However mother then thanks God and says that the scorpion stung her but spared her children. The author seems to be in possession of a very keen observation of village life and village people which is what makes the poem outstanding.
Q. 2. Write a short note on the superstitions of the villagers.
Answer: The village people click their tongues and take the name of God hundreds of times. They do so so that her sins may be decreased and pain alleviated. Their faith is that when the sins of previous birth and present life exceed the limit, a scorpion stings a person. On the other hand they search for the scorpion so that it may be killed because it is their faith that the pain continues with the movement of the scorpion. Unfortunately, the scorpion is not found. They pray to God that the scorpion may sit silently and the pain is alleviated. A holy man does some rituals with incantation to tame the poison of the scorpion but it also does not work.
Q.3. Show the different qualities in the narrator's father and mother in the poem.
Answer: Author’s mother is a simple house wife who is devoted to her family. It comes out from the fact when she thanks God and says that the scorpion stung her but save her children.While the father of the author is a septic rationalist who tries herbs, powder, medicine and mixture of these but it fails therefore he allows a holy man also to perform incantation. Father wants to alleviate pain by any means. He pours a little paraffin on the toe and set fire to it.
Vocabulary
Give antonyms of the following words:
Night, parting, unreal, pain, peace, blessing, tame, lost, holy
Answers:
Word Antonym
night day
parting meeting
unreal real
pain relief
peace war
blessing curse
tame free
lost found
holy unholy
ii. Make sentences using the following words:
Through – Thorough
Curse — Course
Rites —- Rights
Holy —-Wholly
Some —sum
Movement —moment
Answers:
Through – Thorough
Can you go through this jungle?
I have done thorough study of my subject.
Curse — Course
She cursed him that he might die.
You have to revise the whole course.
Holy —-Wholly
The holy man will perform the rituals
This bread is wholly burnt.
Some —sum
I want some water.
This sum is very difficult. I shall have to consult my teacher.
Movement —moment
The movement of the hands of this watch has stopped.
He is happy now but the next moment he is angry.
About the author Nissim Ezekiel
Nissim Ezekiel was a renowned Indian poet, playwright, critic, and editor who lived from 1924 to 2004. He was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), India, and spent much of his life there, becoming an important figure in the Indian literary scene.
Ezekiel was part of the first generation of Indian poets writing in English, and his works often dealt with the complexities of identity and culture in post-independence India. He was also a prolific writer of essays and criticism, and was known for his sharp wit and incisive commentary on Indian society and politics.

Source- English Across Cultures Hindi Granth Academy Bhopal

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