Hawk Roosting ss Flashcards
Hawk roosting vehicle statement
Hughes uses ‘Hawk Roosting’ as a vehicle to satirise the tyrannical leaders of the past who have been consumed by their delusion of absolute power and strongly believe that their dominance stretches far beyond the natural world which surrounds the. In the poem, the ‘Hawk’ is used as an act of anthropomorphism to symbolise dictators such as Hitler. Ted Hughes had no experience of ar, however, his father served in World War One, as a result, he felt deeply connected and uses political resonances in the poem. He also studied animals and had a deep interest in them which is reflected through his use of the ‘Hawk’ is a symbol for totalitarianism.
‘I sit in the top of the wood, my eyes closed.’
‘I’ —> personal pronoun uses a first person persona showing how the poem is an internal monologue from the Hawk’s perspective. The use of a personal pronoun first and it’s repetition throughout the stanza’s indicate the self-entered nature of the hawk and it’s hubris.
‘Top’ —> noun ‘top’ is a preposition using height to physically place the hawk above all other life. This metaphorically creates a superiority complex for it and a dominant power dynamic over the pastoral setting. Portrays the way in which tyrants believe in their dominance over nature and the control over the echelons of society.
‘My eyes closed’ —> idea of eyes being closed indicates hawk’s power as it has no fear or threat over being hunted —> apex creature. Use of ‘.’ also indicates its conviction and confidence within itself.
‘My hooked head and hooked feet; or in sleep rehearse perfect kills and eat’.
‘Hooked’ —> adverb and its repetition creates impression that the horse is concentrated and intensely focused for prey.
‘Feet’ —> use of the human feature for an animal is an example of anthropomorphism which links to context —> Hawk represents autocracy’s such as that of Hitler’s party in Germany.
‘Rehearse perfect kills and eat’ —> through subconscious window, portrays Hawk’s obsession with violence. Idea of being ‘perfect’ indicates its confidence in its ability whilst its engrossed nature over ‘kills and eat’ can portray the hawk as fixated on Epicurean delights. This can portray it as similar to tyrants in their fixation over power and pain and lack of emotional intelligence.
‘Feet’ and ‘eat’ —> uses rhyming couplet which is not used often in the poem. This can indicate the importance of these lines as it highlights the Hawk’s obsession with violence.
‘Air’s buoyancy and the sun’s ray are of advantage to me; and the earth’s face upward for my inspection’
‘Air’ and ‘sun’ —> uses pastoral imagery, however, in ‘advantage’ it portrays nature as beneficial for him and indicates his power showing how it bends to his will in his opinion. This is conceited showing the hawks nature representing dictators.
‘Earth’s face upward’ —> preposition creates power dynamic placing hawk above. This creates dominance from the Hawk. However, Hawk is disillusioned as the earth does not face up for it, but it must fly to be above the earth. Disillusionment in its power.
‘Inspection’ —> imitates Tyrant’s as Hawk believes it has the power to scrutinise. Links to tyrants belief in their power over the natural world.
‘My feet are locked upon the rough bark.’
‘Locked’ —> portrays a sense of immovability and suggests that Hawk is an immovable weapon as it is physically ‘locked’ into a place.
‘Locked’ —> can indicate his stability within his environment and the lack of threat that the Hawk has to face. Portrayed its strong dominance.
‘My’ —> continuously uses personal pronouns to indicate hawk’s obsession with itself and arrogant nature. Strong hubris.
‘Took the whole of creation to produce my foot, my each feather: now I hold creation in my foot’
‘Whole of creation’ —> hyperbolic language centralises the Hawk portraying it as the pinnacle of all life. This links to the theory of creationism and presents it at the centre indicating a conceited nature.
‘Hold creation in my foot’ —> verb ‘hold’ connotes to a grasp over creation showing the Hawk’s dominance over natural forces as well as its environment. ‘Foot’ is physically low on the body and can create another power dynamic as the Hawk’s foot holds ‘creation’ where ‘creation’ would be below most of the Hawk’s body’.
‘Creation in my foot’ —> in biblical texts, ‘creation is held’ within God’s hands. In this, the hawk deifies itself as Godly portraying its tyrannical and overly-confident nature.
‘It is all mine. There is no sophistry in my body: my manners are tearing off heads -‘.
‘All’ —> adjective suggests encompassing dominion over all life. Highlights the extent of its power.
‘’No sophistry’ —> noun ‘sophistry’ connotes to an action used with the intent of deception, however, in the hawk’s lack of ‘sophistry’ it indicates its direct and blunt nature as it does not deceive but directly harms others. Can mimic the outright harsh nature of the dictator Hitler.
‘Manners are tearing off heads’ —> noun ‘manners’ connotes to etiquette, however, when it’s etiquette is ‘tearing off heads’ the use of graphic imagery anchors the Hawk’s blunt and violent nature as a powerful and Ruthless figure. Does not have to use etiquette to please others.
‘-‘ —> the use of the pause is abrupt and breaks the stanza off. This uses a disturbing structure to perhaps further imply the Hawk’s control even in the text as it blunt as it’s narrative ends the quatrain. Use of a quatrain for all stanzas also indicates the Hawk’s consistency and links to its immovable nature.
‘The one path of my flight is direct through the bones of the living.’
‘Direct’ —> adjective shows precision. Can show its expertise in causing pain and death portraying its violent nature. However, in it’s ‘direct’ path, it can also insinuate the hawk’s confidence in itself and its strong hubris as it believes thoroughly in its ability.
‘Through’ —> preposition can suggest further violence as the hawk permeates through other characters causing destruction to other life. This is further reiterated through the ‘bones’ —> creates decay and juxtaposes the term ‘living’. This can show the Hawk’s purpose within nature which is to turn life into death. This represents the belief that tyrants such as Hitler had as they caused death.
‘No arguments assert my right’
‘Assert’ —> connotes to having to declare or state a fact, however, when ‘no arguments assert my right’, or implies that the Hawk does not need to have his power proclaimed and is naturally in control. There is no attempt to dethrone its power and it does not have to prove its position within society, as it is an unchallenged leader with no ‘arguements’ or opposition against its power. Mimics Hitler.
‘My eye has permitted no change. I am going to keep things like this’.
‘My’ —> possessive pronoun indicates its arrogance when using the noun ‘eye’ where ‘eye’ portrays a sense of vigilance and implies that the Hawk is all-powerful with control and vigilance over all activity.
‘Permitted’ —> verb connotes to the idea of allowing or authorising, as a result, in the context it suggests that the Hawk has the power to allow activity and without it society and nature is not allowed to function. Shows Hawk’s dominance and power within nature.
‘Going’ —> term indicates Hawk’s belief in permanence in its power instead of the idea of temporary control. Self-confidence in itself and its ability to dominate over nature for the foreseeable future. Links to dictators in their belief that their power will remain unchallenged and constant without any threat.
