Hawk Roosting - Ted Hughes

Question 1

Structure and form

Answer 1

• dramatic monologue addressing mankind the audience
• First person narrative gives authority over poem – complete control
• strong regular form with six equal stanzas = expressing strength and control
• First two stanzas = physical superiority
• Stanza three and four = his power of nature and creation, how he controls life and death in his claws- - last 2 stanzas = justification for his actions – no arguments, even sun supports
• Begins in a meditative state = roosting
• monologue ends with a confident statement about the future
• Metaphorically alluding to dictatorship

Question 2

Context

Answer 2

• Ted Hughes was born in Yorkshire and grew up in the countryside
• Studied archaeology and anthropology in Cambridge
• The themes of the countryside human history and mythology therefore already deeply influenced his imagination
• Some believe this was an allegory for human nature
• The hawk could symbolise the dictator who is using violence and fear
• However Hughes has denied this and explained that he intended the voice in the poem to be nature expressing itself

Question 3

“I sit in top of the woods, my eyes closed”

Answer 3

• proposition top create an image of authority and power as he is placed on a pedestal.
• It shows how he metaphorically and literally is on top of the food chain
• The noun ‘woods’ could represent the world.
• If the hawk symbolises dictators, this could allude to the mentality is these powerful figures have – that that they are the strongest and that they run the world

Question 4

“Now I hold Creation in my foot”

Answer 4

• “now” indicates a change of time and awareness of how the possession of power has changed.
• This shows how the Hawk is aware the power is not permanent
• Capitalisation of ‘creation’ is connected to religion and highlights the importance of people and nature = compares himself to God
• Could suggest that he places himself above God as he is in possession “I hold” of creation (God’s first act in the Bible)

Question 5

“Face upward for my inspection”

Answer 5

• proposition ‘upwards’ creates the intimidating image of population and everything else looking up at the powerful figure on top – they are positioned below him
• First person possessive ‘my’ highlights his authority as he is in control
• The verb ‘inspection’ is arrogant – like he’s even scrutinising earth

Question 6

“I kill where I please because it is all mine”

Answer 6

• The first person pronouns ‘I’ and ‘mine’ reflect the ego and self importance of the Hawk. The possessive pronoun ‘mine’ also shows this
• The simple, mainly monosyllabic language creates a sense of control

Question 7

“No arguments assert my right”

Answer 7

• Links to dictatorship - no one can say no to him

Question 8

“The allotment of death”

Answer 8

• plays god ‘s role deciding who should die

- juxtaposes life and life

Question 9

“I am going to keep things like this”

Answer 9

• the declaration shows the speaker’s certainty in their own actions and highlights that powerful figures believe they have the final say
• The sentence is direct and to the point – there is no challenging it whatsoever – assertive

Question 10

“Permit no change”

Answer 10

• believes he is in charge of change itself