Hawk Roosting - About

Question 1

what is the poem about

Answer 1

focuses on a hawk boasting about it’s power, thinks it can control the universe. the bird describes how it likes to kill it’s prey very violently.

Question 2

what is the form of the poem

Answer 2

dramatic monologue, first person narrative

Question 3

what is the structure of the poem

Answer 3

begins with the hawk in a meditative state, then it talks about it’s superiority to God and other people, ends with a confident statement about the future

Question 4

how is violent language used

Answer 4

contains violent language to emphasise how efficiently the hawk kills it’s prey, takes delight in it’s ability to kill

Question 5

how is language of power used

Answer 5

first person pronouns emphasises the hawks dominance and control, the hawk is emphasised as an articulate speaker

Question 6

what are the attitudes and feelings in the poem

Answer 6

power and arrogance

Question 7

how is power shown

Answer 7

poet presents the hawk as powerful and destructive, however, since it is a part of nature, it will eventually die, this could suggest it’s not as powerful as it thinks

Question 8

how is arrogance shown

Answer 8

the hawks attitude is egotistical and arrogant - it believes it’s superior to both nature and God, it is unclear whether it’s confidence is real or not