Amanda M. answered • 12/15/21
4 Years of Experience Tutoring AP History Students to a 5
This poem describes father elephant as a creature "whom no one can vanquish", and references the night of the hunt as dark, rainy, and silent of all noises aside from father elephant. The power and size of father elephant is demonstrated in the sound he makes when he walks, baou, mention of his roar, and the image of him carelessly breaking trees to eat. Despite the power of father elephant and the dark, silent, lonliness of the night the hunter is encouraged, "take your bow!", and to "lift up your heart". All of these images emphasize the importance of bravery in the hunt, the importance of facing the night when most other creatures are asleep, and of facing father elephant in all of his power and size. The value of sacrificing safety to obtain meat for the tribe is central to the message of the poem.
