How to Tell the Birds from the Flowers and Other Woodcuts · Chapter
The Elk; The Whelk explained
This chapter contrasts the elk and the whelk through their distinct roars: the elk's roar is heard across the sky, while the whelk's roar emanates from its shell, each roar indicating the presence of the respective creature.
What happens
This chapter contrasts the elk and the whelk through their distinct roars: the elk's roar is heard across the sky, while the whelk's roar emanates from its shell, each roar indicating the presence of the respective creature.
Themes in this chapter
Wordplay and Homophones
The chapter plays on the homophones 'welkome' and 'welkin', and the similar sounds of 'elk' and 'whelk', using wordplay to distinguish the two creatures.
Humor and Absurdity
The absurd premise of identifying an elk or whelk by the location of a roar—whether from the sky or a shell—adds a humorous, whimsical tone.
Key passages
“A roar of welkome through the welkin Is certain proof you’ll find the Elk in;”
A welcoming roar echoing through the sky is a sure sign that an elk is nearby.
Simplifies the archaic language and clarifies the elk's association with the sky.
“But if you listen to the shell, In which the Whelk is said to dwell, And hear a roar, beyond a doubt It indicates the Whelk is out.”
However, if you listen to the shell where the whelk supposedly lives and hear a roar, it definitely means the whelk is present.
Clarifies the contrast between the elk's sky-roar and the whelk's shell-roar.