Hawk Roosting Flashcards
Who wrote Hawk Roosting, and when was it published?
Ted Hughes, published in 1960 in his collection Lupercal.
How does Hughes’ background influence Hawk Roosting?
Hughes grew up in the countryside and had a deep fascination with nature, particularly its raw and violent aspects, which are reflected in the hawk’s voice.
How does Hawk Roosting relate to Hughes’ recurring themes in his poetry?
Hughes often explores power, nature, and the animalistic instincts that drive both creatures and humans.
How can Hawk Roosting be interpreted politically?
Some critics suggest the hawk represents a dictator, symbolizing absolute power and control, possibly alluding to figures like Hitler or Stalin.
Why is Hawk Roosting sometimes seen as controversial?
The poem’s seemingly amoral justification of dominance and violence can be unsettling, and some read it as endorsing totalitarian ideologies.
What is the main theme of Hawk Roosting?
Power and dominance, both in nature and potentially as a metaphor for human authority.
How does the hawk view itself?
As the pinnacle of creation, believing it has absolute control over life and death.
How does the poem explore the idea of arrogance?
The hawk’s voice is self-important and godlike, reinforcing its belief in its supremacy.
What does the hawk’s perspective suggest about the natural order?
It presents a Darwinian worldview, where the strongest rule without question or moral restraint.
What does the phrase “I kill where I please because it is all mine” reveal about the hawk’s mindset?
It suggests entitlement, absolute power, and a lack of conscience or morality.
How does Hughes contrast nature’s beauty with its brutality in the poem?
While the hawk describes the world as ordered and perfect, it also acknowledges that its power comes from violence and dominance.
What is the significance of the first-person perspective in the poem?
It creates an intimate, chilling insight into the hawk’s mindset, reinforcing its egotism.
How does the poem’s structure reflect the hawk’s character?
The controlled, regular stanzas mirror the hawk’s composed, methodical nature and its unwavering confidence.
What is the effect of the short, declarative sentences in the poem?
They emphasize the hawk’s authority and unwavering self-belief, making its speech sound commanding and absolute.
How does Hughes use enjambment in the poem?
It creates a natural, flowing rhythm, mimicking the hawk’s thoughts as they move seamlessly from one idea to another.
What role does imagery play in Hawk Roosting?
Vivid, violent imagery (“tearing off heads”) reinforces the hawk’s ruthless nature.
How does Hughes use a metaphor in the poem?
Phrases like “the allotment of death” create a harsh, controlled tone, emphasizing the hawk’s precision.
How does the poem’s ending reinforce its central message?
The final line, “Nothing has changed since I began,” suggests the hawk’s power is eternal and unquestioned.
“I sit in the ____ of the wood, my ____ closed.”
“I sit in the top of the wood, my eyes closed.”
“Or in sleep rehearse ____”
“Or in sleep rehearse perfect kills and eat.”
“It took the whole of ____ to produce my ____ and each feather.”
“It took the whole of Creation to produce my foot and each feather.”
“Now I hold ____ in my foot”
“Now I hold Creation in my foot”
“I kill where I please because ____”
“I kill where I please because it is all mine.”
“The ____ of death”
“The allotment of death”
“My ___ has permitted no change.”
“My eye has permitted no change.”
“I am going to keep things ____”
“I am going to keep things like this.”
“Nothing has changed since I ____”
“Nothing has changed since I began.”
How would you analyse “I sit in the top of the wood, my eyes closed”?
The hawk is physically elevated, symbolizing its superiority and dominance over nature. The closed eyes suggest arrogance, as if the hawk does not need to see to control its world.
How would you analyse “Or in sleep rehearse perfect kills and eat”?
The hawk’s violent nature is instinctive, even extending into its subconscious. The word “perfect” suggests ruthless efficiency, reinforcing a Darwinian survival of the fittest ideology.
How would you analyse “It took the whole of Creation to produce my foot and each feather”?
The capitalization of “Creation” implies a godlike power, as if the universe itself has worked toward producing the hawk as the ultimate predator. The emphasis on “my” reinforces the hawk’s egocentric perspective.
How would you analyse “Now I hold Creation in my foot”?
The hawk views itself as a master of the world, possessing ultimate control. The word “hold” suggests a tight grip, signifying dominance and power over life and death.
How would you analyse “I kill where I please because it is all mine”?
A chilling declaration of absolute power. The phrase “where I please” suggests unchecked free will, while “it is all mine” reinforces a dictator-like sense of entitlement.
How would you analyse “The allotment of death”?
The formal tone of “allotment” makes death sound bureaucratic and inevitable, reinforcing the hawk’s control over life and nature.
How would you analyse “No arguments assert my right”?
The hawk refuses to justify its power, implying might is right. The lack of opposition suggests an authoritarian rule where force is the only law.
How would you analyse “My eye has permitted no change”?
The singular “eye” could symbolize a dictator’s surveillance and control, suggesting the hawk’s power is constant and unchallenged.
How would you analyse “I am going to keep things like this”?
The simple, assertive tone reinforces the hawk’s unchallenged dominance. There is no question or doubt—only certainty in its continued rule.
How would you analyse “Nothing has changed since I began”?
The hawk’s eternal supremacy is emphasized here, suggesting that violence and power are unchanging forces of nature. It also implies a cynical view of history, where dominance is a permanent state.
“No arguments _____my____”
“No arguments assert my right”
