Themes and Symbolism in the Poem

The speaker understands the dangers of leaving the deer's carcass on the road.
The speaker feels a responsibility to remove the deer from the road, even though it is a difficult task.
The speaker finds the deer's fawn still inside her belly and hesitates before taking action.
The speaker ultimately chooses to push the deer over the edge of the cliff into the river, sacrificing the fawn's life.

The poem explores the complexities of human choices and the ethical dilemmas we face in the face of death.
The speaker struggles with a choice between safety and compassion, ultimately choosing a utilitarian decision that saves others at the expense of one life.
The poem also touches on themes of nature versus human intervention, and the consequences of our actions on the natural world.

The poem takes place on a rural road, likely at night, indicated by the "glow of the tail-light" and the "wilderness listen."
The focus is on the natural environment, featuring a "deer" dead on the "Wilson River road" and the "mountain road" with the "river."

The speaker encounters a dead deer on the road and must decide what to do with it.
Initially, they consider rolling the deer into the canyon to avoid danger for other drivers ("that road is narrow; to swerve might make more dead").
The speaker then investigates the deer, discovering its large belly and the reason for its death: a fawn that died before birth.
The speaker hesitates, showing an internal conflict between the practical need to remove the deer's body and the emotional impact of the situation.
Ultimately, the speaker chooses to push the deer over the edge of the road into the river, a decision that carries both immediate practicality and a broader symbolic weight.

Nature and Man's Role: The poem explores the relationship between humanity and the natural world. The speaker, trapped between his own needs and the fragility of life, must confront the harsh realities of nature.
The Circle of Life and Death: The poem illustrates the inevitability of death and the fragility of life. The dead deer and its unborn fawn represent the cyclical nature of life and death, a natural process beyond human control.
Choice and Responsibility: The speaker's decision to dispose of the deer is a microcosm of larger life decisions. This act of choice, fueled by responsibility and a sense of duty, emphasizes the moral weight of human actions in the world.
The Value of Empathy: The poem suggests that even in the face of difficult choices, empathy and compassion are fundamental to being human. The speaker’s hesitation and internal struggle highlight the emotional impact of encountering death, even when that death is natural.

The Deer and the Fawn: Represent the cycle of life and death, and the potential lost due to misfortune or external forces.
The Mountain Road: A symbol of human progress and interaction with the natural world, highlighting the potential conflict between these two forces.
The River: Represents the flow of time, the inevitability of change, and the natural world's indifference to human emotions.
Gloom and Darkness: The poem's setting of darkness and gloom emphasizes a sense of helplessness and isolation, contrasting with the speaker's inner struggle.
The Car: Represents the speaker's human needs for transportation and progress, but also their potential to inflict harm on the natural world.

The poem is primarily descriptive, conveying the speaker's experience through precise imagery and detail.
The tone is contemplative and solemn, reflecting upon the weight of the decision and the existential nature of the encounter. There is a sense of struggle and quiet resignation.

The speaker is driving at night and encounters a dead deer on the side of the road.
The speaker decides to move the deer because the road is narrow and swerving could cause more accidents.
The deer is a doe, recently killed, and is already stiffening.
The speaker discovers that the doe is pregnant and her fawn is stillborn.
The speaker feels a sense of responsibility for the fawn and hesitates before pushing the doe into the river.
The speaker's car is running, and the lights are illuminating the scene.
The speaker feels a sense of connection to the natural world and the deer.
The speaker makes a difficult decision, choosing to push the dead doe over the edge of the road into the river.

Nature and Death: The poem deals with the inevitability of death and the cyclical nature of life and death in nature.
Human Responsibility: The poem explores the role of humans in the natural world and the moral complexities of interfering with nature.
Choice and Consequence: The speaker is faced with a difficult decision and must weigh the consequences of their actions.
The Power of Nature: The poem emphasizes the power and vastness of nature, and the smallness of human beings in comparison.

The Deer: The deer represents the vulnerability of life and the cycle of birth and death.
The River: The river symbolizes the flow of time and the inevitability of change.
The Car: The car represents the intrusion of human technology into the natural world.
The Wilderness: The wilderness represents the wild, unpredictable nature of the world.
The Fawn: The fawn represents the lost potential of life and the pain of loss.