Stanza Analyses | “Bat” by D.H. Lawrence

Stanza 1 – 3: The poem opens with the description of scenery, although the poem is about a “Bat” which is a nocturnal animal with wings that flies and feeds at night. It is a very strange and mysterious animal which people find difficult to identify its specie. The poet therefore descriptively paints a repulsive picture of the animal, pointing out its strange characteristics, antics and several appearances.

The poem also reveals the impression and attitude of the poet towards the bat, a nocturnal bird which sees at night but is blind during the day. This flying animal is also called “Pipistrello” in Italy which actually means “Little Piper”. The poet begins the poem by introducing us to the setting of the poem which is in Italy. Names of ancient cities and places in Italy like Pisa, Florence, Mountains of Carrera, Ponte Vecchio and River Arno are referred to in the poem. 

This makes the poem rich in allusions. The first three stanzas of the poem show that the time of the incident is a certain evening. The personaA persona is a character in a story, especially the narrator. More sits on a terrace looking towards the Ponte Vecchio, an old bridge built