HAWK ROOSTING

Question 1

Poet, dates, key themes

Answer 1

Ted huGHES, 1930-1998, nature/religion/power/ HUBRIS

Question 2

Who was ted hughes?

pOET context!!!

Answer 2

• Born in Yorkshire in 1930
• Regional poet
• ordinary background and upbringing
• explored themes that were mythic and elemental
• married to sylvia plath

Question 3

Poem / literary context

Answer 3

• Dramatic departure from prevailing modes
• > uses SHAKESPEARIAN language for mythic, elemental and VISCERAL themes
• > wanted to caputure ALIVENESS of animal
• > reality of hawks
• > simple, primitive language

Question 4

What was Ted Hughes’ intention for the poem

Answer 4

The poem was supposed to be of nature / about hawks without relation to mankind
Challenges anthropocentric society we live in (illuminates hubris of man!!)

Question 5

Structure and form

Answer 5

Dramatic monologue, four lines for six stanzas
abrupt defined -> power, strength,control, continuity, balance
Controlled punctuation kept tight within the lines, occasional enjambement further establishes The Hawk in control and can break his own rules / unstoppable force

Question 6

‘between my HOOKED head and HOOKED feet’

+ ‘eat’ rhyme

Answer 6

fORCE and power of bird, he is a purposeful creation for killing
rhyme -> monosyllabic, simple rhyme again shows power of bird as he does not feel the need to justify his statements

Question 7

‘In sleep rehearse’ perfect kills and eat

Answer 7

A life revolved around killing-> incomprehensible for humans

encourages people to view animals as equals to themselves? be less arrogant?

Question 8

’ earth’s face upward for my inspection’

Answer 8

Metaphorically implies the earth is in duty to the hawk
the hawk is ruler revered by all

// hubris of hawk as he aligns himself with feats only accomplishable by gods

Question 9

‘whole of creation’ to produce my ‘foot’ my ‘feather’

Answer 9

Self important, every detail of the killing machine is perfected for it’s master lol
‘foot’ ‘feather’
fricative words show fleeting insignificance of these parts therefore how important hawk is to have had the whole of creation produce these parts

Question 10

’ now i hold Creation in my foot ‘

Answer 10

Self importance, legendary beast
Power of the hawk, Creation is his servant / he has overthrown creation it is of little importance
// the tree

Question 11

‘my manners are tearing off heads’

Answer 11

Visceral language to shock audience

• > the social niceties of a distinctly opposed to that of a human
• > it is their instinct, their job, like saying please is to us

Question 12

’ the allotment of death’

Answer 12

OXYMORONIC PHRASE
allotment = growth
death = the end / no more growth
the hawk -> grim reaper, reaps the death / grows death / animals ready for death
Hubris of hawk associating himself with godlike power of deciding death

Question 13

‘I am going to keep things like this’

Answer 13

Ominous ending line echoes power, force, endless rule, dictator, fear

Question 14

Link to

Ozymandias

Answer 14

Ozymandias -> percy bysshe shelley
both revolve around HUBRIS, ARROGANCE, POWER, EMPIRES, CONTROL
‘look on my works ye mighty and despair’ -> irony as the works are no nothing but a ruined empire -> DRAMATIC IRONY as this is the what will happen to the hawk? ( ‘ i AM going to keep things like this’ ‘ the earth turns upwards for my inspection’)
‘King of kings’ ‘ hold creation in my foot’
‘colossal wreck’ -> mocks empire as the only powerful thing about it is the size of the ruins it has become
‘cold command’ ‘its is all mine’ ‘no arguements assert my right’