Poetry: Hawk Roosting

Question 1

Whys: 1

Answer 1

Hughes encourages his readers to draw parallels between the callous and vicious nature of the
hawk and twentieth century dictators.

Question 2

Whys: 2

Answer 2

Hughes condemns the exploitation of power, where rulers commit acts of depravity and
despotism for personal gain.

Question 3

Whys: 3

Answer 3

Hughes exposes how absolute power often results in narcissism and delusions of grandeur,
with leaders developing a misguided sense of invincibility.

Question 4

Whys: 4

Answer 4

Hughes criticises how power often strips people of their moral compass and sense of
conscience, resulting in them behaving in an animalistic, barbaric manner.

Question 5

Which themes are present in this poem?

Answer 5

Faith and worship
Death and loss
Negative emotions
Nature

Question 6

Which poems can be linked with this poem?

Answer 6

Ozymandias
To autumn
Afternoons
Death of a naturalist