The Badger's "Hold" (Symbol)
In the beginning of “The Badger,” the titular animal is displaced from his home and made to fight in the city. However, Clare continues to describe him as inhabiting his hold until the end of the poem, when he finally dies. Here, “hold” refers not to a physical den or nest, but rather to the badger’s own essential qualities, especially his ferocity and courage. Throughout the fight, it is these attributes that protect the badger from his larger and stronger enemies. The final lines suggest that only death, wrought by prolonged violence, is enough to divest the badger of his bravery.
Turning Back (Motif)
Throughout the second and third stanzas, John Clare repeatedly depicts the badger turning around. At the beginning of the second stanza, “he turns about to face the loud uproar.” A few lines later, when the dogs are made to join the fight, “the badger turns and drives them all away.” Finally, in the third stanza, he attempts to flee to the woods, but the people beat him back and “he turns again and drives the noisy crowd.” The motif emphasizes the badger’s ferocity and willingness to fight, while also suggesting that he has nowhere to run—he’s constantly turning in circles, but always meeting with more of the same enemy. The motion also adds to the excitement of the scene, stressing the mobility of the crowd.
