Question

(50 PTS) What does the fox represent, and how is it used within the poem?

The Fox
By Susan Stewart

Did we live lightly then?
Twice we've seen the fox,
The flash
Of red that leaps
The weeds and brush, an after-
Image gray,

Then blank, then gone
Delight cannot be sought
Or pleasure thought
Or joy re-caught
But twice we've seen the fox, not once,
And knew his fear of us

Step in time, love, step in time,
Live inside the morning
Twice we've seen the fox, not once,
And knew his fear of us

Answer 1

I spent a long time staring at this and even went as far as to look it up online to confirm my thoughts (to which I found nothing). So keep in mind this is a matter of opinion as are most thoughts on what things may represent.

When I read this, I believe that the fox is representing life and death (hence twice we've seen the fox). The poem is using the fox to represent life by saying it is a flash of red, leaping through the weeds and then it just ends. All thoughts cease once the fox is gone. The fox is fearing because people are afraid of death.

That's just my analysis of what is happening.