Class 12 English Unit 12: Animal World: The Medusa and the Snail by Lewis Thomas

 

Unit 12: Animal World: The Medusa and the Snail by Lewis Thomas

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL85KGB6qsI

Reflection of the Essay

This essay is about the self and what nature can teach us. In the beginning, the writer brings attention to the trend in humans on uplifting the feeling of self, based on individuality, independence and uniqueness. When we read the whole of the essay, we come to know that the writer is making a satire on such a trend of humans uplifting individuality. The writer doesn't think so.  To mock human's idealization of uniqueness, the writer gives several examples of uniqueness in other creatures and plants.

However, the most striking hit is given to the readers who glorifies uniqueness, individuality and independence when he describes an interaction of two organisms where two selves make a single organism. The life of entire creatures on this living planet is based on dependency on each other. Co-existence is the most important thing rather than being aware of individual identity. We are all important and one's life is determined by another like the relation between anemones and crabs as well as medusa and snail.

The main theme of this essay is the importance of interdependence in the ecosystem. This essay shows how a distinct organism is connected to another distinct organism. The essayist has made us understand the mechanism of nature by bringing scientific references. When we read a few initial paragraphs of the essay, we think that he is talking about the importance of self-realization. It seems that the essayist idea lies the concept that humans are unique. But creatively, the essayist shifts on the concept of the importance of interdependence. He gives examples of other unique creations both animals and plants. Every creature has self-markers and we believe that this phenomenon is to defend and protect us from the rest.

Moreover, the ultimate goal of the writer is to make us aware of the importance of the interdependence of every creature to maintain the ecological balance. The life of every species is dependent on other species.

Extra Tips about Essay

‘The Medusa and the Snail" is an essay written by Lewis Thomas, a renowned physician, poet, and essayist. The essay was published in his collection of essays titled "The Medusa and the Snail: More Notes of a Biology Watcher" in 1979.

In the essay, Lewis Thomas explores various topics related to biology and the interconnectedness of life on Earth. The central theme of the essay revolves around the idea that everything in nature, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is intricately connected and essential for the survival of the planet and its inhabitants. Thomas uses the metaphor of the medusa, a jellyfish-like creature, and the snail to illustrate his points. He compares the medusa's ability to drift with the ocean currents and the snail's slow, deliberate movement to highlight the diverse ways in which life adapts and persists.

One of the key messages Thomas conveys in the essay is the importance of humility and understanding in the face of the complexity of the natural world. He argues that humans should approach nature with awe and respect, recognizing that we are just one small part of a vast and intricate web of life. Thomas also discusses the intricate nature of biological systems and emphasizes the interconnectedness of all living organisms. He highlights the interdependence of different species and the delicate balance required for ecosystems to thrive. He expresses concern about the potential consequences of human actions that disrupt this balance, such as environmental degradation and the extinction of species.

Overall, "The Medusa and the Snail" is a contemplation on the wonders of biology and the need for humans to appreciate and protect the fragile beauty of the natural world. It encourages readers to view the world through a biological lens, fostering a sense of wonder and promoting a deeper understanding of our place within the interconnected tapestry of life.

About Medusa

Medusa is a figure from Greek mythology. She was originally a beautiful woman with long, flowing hair, but she was cursed by the goddess Athena. According to the myth, Medusa's beauty attracted the attention of Poseidon, the god of the sea, and they had a romantic encounter in Athena's temple. As punishment for defiling her temple, Athena transformed Medusa's hair into snakes and made her face so hideous that anyone who looked into her eyes would turn to stone.

Medusa became a monstrous creature with snakes for hair and a gaze that could petrify anyone who looked at her directly. She was banished and became a feared and dangerous creature. In some versions of the myth, she also gained the ability to turn objects into stone with a single touch. Medusa's story is often associated with Perseus, another mythological hero. Perseus was tasked with killing Medusa and was able to defeat her using a mirrored shield to avoid looking at her directly. With the help of the gods, Perseus beheaded Medusa, and from her blood sprang the winged horse Pegasus and the giant Chrysaor.

Medusa has since become a popular figure in literature, art, and popular culture, representing female power, danger, and the monstrous. She is often depicted as a fearsome and powerful creature with a snake-like appearance.

Working with words

A.    Read the text and tick the best alternative to fill in the gaps.

a.      Persons who are related to you and who live after you, such as your child or grandchild are called ……..

i. relatives             ii. √descendants     iii. siblings

b.     ‘…………...’ means to turn or spin around and around quickly.

i. √Twirl                ii. Fold                  iii. Fetter

c.      ……….. are proteins which contain oligosaccharide chains (glycans) attached to amino acid side-chains.

i. √Glycoproteins   ii. Legumes           iii. Meat products

d.     ………. are carbohydrate-binding proteins that are highly specific for sugar groups that are part of other molecules and so cause agglutination of particular cells.

i. Lactose              ii. Legumes           iii.√ Lectins

e.      ….are abnormal tissue growths that most often look like small, flat bumps or tiny mushroom like stalks found in the phylum Cnidaria and the medusa.

i. √Polyps              ii. Buds                 iii. Tulips

f.       …………. is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey.

i. Murder               ii. Homicide                    iii. √Predation

g.     ………. is a genus of flowering plants in the buttercup family.

i. √Anemone                   ii. Ammonia                    iii. Amoeba

h.     A/An …………… person is extremely or excessively particular, exacting, or meticulous in taste or standards.

i. arrogant              ii. √finicky            iii. symbiotic

i.       …………. is a group of soft-bodied, marine gastropod molluscs which shed their shells after their larval stage.

i. Shell                  ii. √Nudibranch     iii. Jellyfish

j.       A …….is a free-swimming sexual form of a coelenterate such as a jellyfish, typically having an umbrella-shaped body with stinging tentacles around the edge.

i. √medusa             ii. sea horse           iii. sea slug

B.     Look up a dictionary and write the meanings of the following words then use them in your own sentences.

a.       Arthropod- any member of the phylum Arthropoda; Arthropod is an invertebrate animal which has jointed legs.

b.      Gastropod - snail or slug from Mollusca phylum; Nudibranch is an example of gastropods.

c.       Biomass - renewable organic material from plants or animals; Biomass is the largest source of total annual US energy.

d.      Calcification - the process of building up calcium in body tissue; Calcification happens when calcium builds up in body tissue, blood vessels or organs.

e.       Metamorphosis - physical development of animals after birth or hatching; Metamorphosis is a process by which animals undergo extreme, rapid physical changes sometime after birth.

f.        Sturgeon - a very large primitive fish with bony plates on the body; The fisherman struggles to angle the enormous lake sturgeon from the water after he caught it.

Comprehension

Answer the following questions.

a.      What are the indicators of the fact that we are very self-conscious about ourselves these days?

The indicators of the fact that we are very self-conscious about ourselves these days are self-realization, self-help, self-development, self-awareness, self-respect and self-enlightenment.

b.     How have we celebrated the fact that we have our individual identity?

We have celebrated the fact that we have our individual identity by providing ourselves with a real name.

c.      Are we, human beings, really unique? Why/Why not?

No, we, human beings, aren’t really unique. It’s because uniqueness is so commonplace a property of living things that there is really nothing at all unique about it. The phenomenon can’t be unique and universal at the same time.

d.     How do fish recognize each other?

Fish recognize each other by the help of their smell.

e.      What is the function of individuality?

The function of individuality is self-preservation and maintenance.

f.       What does the mix-up of two selves tell us about our identity?

The mix-up of two selves tells us that unity and cooperation with each other is required for survival and existence.

g.     What does the author illustrate with the tale of the nudibranch and the medusa?

The author illustrates the value of co-existence, cooperation, helpfulness, collaboration, and togetherness with the tale of the nudibranch and the medusa. It also projects the significance of friendship and dependence on each other for survival and existence.

h.     Why is the author disturbed by the thought of creatures like the nudibranch and medusa?

The author is disturbed by the thought of creatures like the nudibranch and medusa because it provides him with an odd feeling and confuses in with vague and bizarre concepts like a dream.

i.       What does the writer mean by “they remind me of the whole earth at once?”

By saying “they remind me of the whole earth at once”, the writer means to say that it is very complicated and bizarre to justify the relationship between the creatures and non-living things of the world, and as much as one tries to understand, the more he/she get confused.

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