Poem Summaries

Question 1

The Thought-Fox

Answer 1

Fox and poem merge, both products of the poet’s imagination (fox acts as inspiration for poet to write)

Question 2

The Jaguar

Answer 2

Despite all the animals being described as lifeless, the jaguar creates a realm for himself, believe that he has liberty and freedom inside the cage he is captivated in (human visionary)

Question 3

Famous Poet

Answer 3

About the poet being a new writer, represents a young man’s attack on what he sees as the staleness of maturity and wanting to flourish as a writer

Question 4

The Horses

Answer 4

The speaker feels overwhelmed by nature (being timeless and eternal), and the stillness of the horses

Question 5

Wind

Answer 5

Human’s passive action and response to act against the large destruction of the wind

Question 6

February

Answer 6

A person’s criticism towards the mythical and ferocious nature of wolves, changing into domestic, tame dogs (e.g., as circus creatures)

Question 7

Hawk Roosting

Answer 7

From a hawk’s perspective, believing that he has dominance over all aspects of nature (acting predatory towards them, believes he is at the top of the ecosystem)

Question 8

View of a Pig

Answer 8

Presents the violence humans have caused to animals to be dead, to help benefit themselves

Question 9

Pike

Answer 9

Represents the violent and competitive nature of pikes, and how they threaten each other, other life at sea, and humans

Question 10

Thistles

Answer 10

Resurrecting nature of the flowers, and how they return to haunt humans, to spike them

Question 11

Her Husband

Answer 11

A corrupt relationship between wives and husbands, how they do not consider their feelings towards each other (e.g., the wife not cleaning miner’s mess, and miner inconsiderate of wife’s hard work cleaning house)

Question 12

Full Moon and Little Frieda

Answer 12

Describes daughter’s observations of the world around her, reflecting on nature and family. She also has a closer relationship to father compared to mother (who isolates herself as she feels she cannot be close to her)

Question 13

Wodwo

Answer 13

A creature in between humanity and nature, questioning the purpose of his existence

Question 14

Examination at the Womb-Door

Answer 14

Dialogue between death and the crow, the only answer to life is death

Question 15

Crow’s First Lesson

Answer 15

God tells crow to produce love but instead, he only can produce many aspects of evil

Question 16

That Moment

Answer 16

Offers s a cosmic description of a single death, or a complete apocalypse, and concludes in how the pain and victimisation of one life/humanity is ultimately inconsequential.

Question 17

Crow and the Birds

Answer 17

Represents a significant shift in Hughes’ work, depicts crow’s creation and journey through the universe in search of his creator

Question 18

Crow’s Last Stand

Answer 18

Resilience of nature in face of death, criticises Christian creation story with blunt, shocking language that distances itself from his other work

Question 19

Lovesong

Answer 19

About a couple’s romantic relationships strengthening, resulting in them hiding other emotions (E.g., anger, rage, false promises)