Eve Names the Animals

The poem Eve Names the Animals, by Susan Donnelly is based upon the relationship of Adam and Eve. I think that there are a few possible themes to this poem. One possibility is that this poem is about the arbitrary naming of animals in the beginning of time. Another possibility is that this poem addresses Adam and Eve’s differing views that surround change. Eve questions the names of animals. She sees that animals are …

…that the meaning behind theses words no longer fit. But this was okay because eve liked change. This poem reflects Eve’s openness to change and separation, while expressing Adam’s animosity towards it. Eve is more flexible in naming and bases it upon the sound of words and how it feels to say them On the other hand Adam uses length of a word to dictate the assignment of a creature to a title.