H is for Hawk: Interest / engage the reader

Question 1

Writer creates tension by using imagery

Answer 1

Opening paragraph, “At their parcel tape handles, there doors of thin plywood and hinges of carefully tied string.”
Adjectives ‘thin’ and ‘carefully’ create the impression that the container is fragile and flimsy, leaving the reader enthralled by the possibility that the bird may break free, building interest.

Question 2

Interest further built when writer describes the immense size of the first hawk : T1 and T2

Answer 2

third paragraph, “enormous, enormous hawk”
Repetition of emotive adjective highlights writers disbelief to what is going to be her future ‘goshawk’.
writer humorously juxtaposes the writers overwhelmed state while ‘the man was perfectly calm’, captivating the reader as to how Macdonald is going to tend for the hawk.

Question 3

Writer presents the second hawk as menacing and alarming

Answer 3

Use of comparatives ‘young’ and ‘small’ highlight key differences between the two hawks.
Intensifies the sinister impression of the second hawk.

Question 4

Writer uses first person to help reader understand the writers desperation - T1 and T2

Answer 4

The verb ‘pleading’ and alliteration used to describe dramatic gesture ‘hands held out’ convey her desperation.
The final sentence ‘There was a moment of total silence’, leaves the reader in suspense, wondering whether she got to swap the second hawk for the first one.