The Death of a Toad

What can the vivid description of a toad’s death-by-lawnmower say about the world? In the hands of American poet Richard Wilbur, this subject conveys much more than the sad demise of an amphibian. Through the use of literary devices, such as personification, symbolism, and a strict rhyme scheme and form, Wilbur, in “The Death of a Toad” (1948), is able to extrapolate a broader view of human society.

Richard Wilbur’s “The Death of a Toad”

“The Death of a Toad” (1948) is a poem by American poet Richard Wilbur. It was originally published in Poetry magazine in 1948. It was later included in a collection of Wilbur’s poetry. Wilbur was a highly-lauded American poet, and this poem exemplifies the skills that made him famous: his wit, mastery of form, and relevant subject matter.

“The Death of a Toad” at a glance

Summary of “The Death of a Toad”

In a mere three stanzas and eighteen lines, Wilbur is able to pack a punch with this poem. It begins with a striking image: a power mower catching a toad’s leg in its blades and the now-legless toad limping to the periphery of the garden in search of safety. The toad remains at the edge of the garden in order to die, bleeding out amongst the grass and the flowers.

Wilbur describes the dead toad “as if he would return to stone” (10). In the final stanza, he mentions the “lost” (14) Amphibian empire and the harm done to it by humans. As the day turns into night, the dead toad’s eyes stare out into the garden as the light fades.

Analysis of “The Death of a Toad”

At first glance, this may appear to be a poem about nothing but the sorry plight of one unlucky toad. However, Wilbur embeds a deeper meaning in the description of the toad’s death. He comments on the relationship between humanity and the natural world. The toad symbolizes the innocent victims of humanity’s indifference toward nature. The person steering the power mower has no regard for the destruction it causes. The toad is killed as a result and must die, trapped in the garden that has been tamed and shaped to the will and whims of the homeowner.

"The Death of a Toad": Themes

Wilbur has two primary themes that he explores throughout the poem.

“The Death of a Toad”: Man vs. nature

Wilbur uses the plight of the toad to exemplify the theme of man vs. nature. The toad lives in its natural environment, which is disrupted and disturbed by man. It is clipped by the power mower and subsequently dies. It is clear that the toad’s death is shaped by the will of man. When the toad, “with a hobbling hop” (2), moves to the periphery of the garden, it is unable to leave the garden and instead dies within its bounds. It cannot even escape dying amongst the natural patterns of nature. The toad’s final moments in the garden are amongst “shade” (4) under the “ashen” (5) cineraria leaves, which paints a grim picture of the effects of human pruning.

Furthermore, the toad’s dead eyes stare across “the castrate lawn” (17). The use of the word castrate exposes Wilbur’s opinion about the struggle between man and nature. The grass of the lawn has been cut down by the power mower, which Wilbur describes as castration. This portrays the mowing of the grass as something that makes it infertile and impotent. By contrast, the toad’s blood, flowing out of its body as it dies, is “rare original heartsblood” (7), a description that Wilbur imbues with vitality. Everything that the power mower and man’s influence touch—the lawn and the sculpted nature of the garden—is ashen and castrated. The toad and his ancestry, however, were brimming with life.

“The Death of a Toad”: Peace in death

Wilbur here also comments on the experience of death. The toad’s death sees its “heartsblood” (7) draining into the ground as if giving another shot at life and vitality to the castrated lawn. In death, the toad returns to “misted and ebullient seas” (13) and “lost Amphibia’s emperies” (14). These descriptions of the place to which the toad goes after its death are not grim or scary. The seas in which the toad would thrive are exuberant, cheerful, and reminiscent of the once-great nature of a toad empire. Whilst the toad’s death could have been avoided if not for man’s attempt to tame nature, in death, it is returned to its glory.

Literary devices in “The Death of a Toad”

Wilbur utilizes multiple different literary devices in order to convey the tone and meaning of the poem "The Death of a Toad."

“The Death of a Toad”: Rhyme scheme and form

Wilbur employs a strict rhyme scheme of AABCBC throughout the three sestets of the poem. The structured nature of the rhyme scheme highlights his playful use of vocabulary and his skillful wit. By the second sestet, the reader knows what to expect from the poem’s form, which harkens back to older poetic traditions.

In using a traditional form of poetry, Wilbur places the plight of the toad on the same level of poetic merit as the heroes of the Romantic or Epic tradition. He elevates the subject matter through his use of the strict form. The toad’s characterization mimics that of an Epic hero—he is rendered with noble language, and Wilbur alludes to a noble heritage with the toad’s return in death to “Amphibia’s emperies” (12). While “The Death of a Toad” may not have the length of a traditional epic poem, Wilbur crafts a narrative in which the toad dies a hero’s death.

“The Death of a Toad”: Tone

As in many of his poems, in “The Death of a Toad,” Wilbur employs a musical tone. Each line feels as though it is read to the rhythm of music. He utilizes descriptive imagery to detail the toad’s experiences and emphasize the overall meaning with melodic playfulness. However, he contrasts this playful rhythm that paints the toad as a hero with the lawnmower as the villain that ultimately ends the toad’s life. This contrast between a playful musical tone and the somber end of the toad’s life condemns the actions of humanity, which creates pain and confusion for the reader. The tone of the poem valorizes the natural beauty of nature and condemns the actions of men.

“The Death of a Toad”: Symbolism

“The Death of a Toad”: Personification

Wilbur utilizes the poetic technique of personification to have the reader sympathize with the toad.

Just like any creature, the toad seeks dignity in its final moments. His hop is “hobbling” (2), he lies “still” (10) as if turning to stone, and even in his death, his eyes “still appear/to watch” (16-17). Every bit of nature is personified: the day is “drowning” (15), the sea is “ebullient” (13), and the edge of the garden “sanctuaried” (3) the toad. By contrast, the power mower, the unfeeling machinery and executor of death at human hands, is mentioned just once at the beginning and with no extraneous description. By personifying each of these aspects of nature and dismissing the human machinations that seek to destroy it, Wilbur reflects the innate humanity of nature and is able to relate it to the reader.