Hawk Roosting Summary

1. HAWK ROOSTING FINAL DRAFT –
LONG ANSWER -
“Hawk Roosting” is a poem by Ted Hughes signifying self-esteem or self-assertion of a Hawk
that is strikingly different from its natural world; a dramatic monologue where the hawk
himself is showing his point of view and carries the false belief of himself being the most
superior living being. Ted Hughes created such striking impressions of the hawk by using
various factors such as his trademark theme of nature, then by attributing human traits to a bird
and finally showing the hawk as a dictatorial or authoritarian figure. Furthermore, the imagery,
the poetic effects, the tone and the structure of the poem leave the reader with stunning
impressions of the hawk.
The author builds prominent impressions of the hawk by portraying the natural instincts of the
hawk in vivid fashion. The hawk's natural instincts are presented as awe-inspiring and
admirable, providing the reader with an impression of the hawk as a creature of power and
strength. Throughout the poem, the hawk's actions and thoughts are portrayed in a way that
emphasises its natural instincts. The hawk is depicted as the apex predator with the world
subservient to it and at its feet. There is much evidence in the poem. “In sleep rehearse perfect
kills and eat” depicts how even in sleep the hawk inhabits its true nature, it portrays the hawk
as a creature that is constantly aware of its place in nature and its role as a predator. “There is
no sophistry in my body” – the hawk only needs to do what comes naturally which signifies its
animal instinct. “Hooked head and hooked feet” - mentally and physically sharp and with
weapons bestowed by nature and the hawk personifies humans and superiority by saying
“hooked” and “feet” as well as alliteration of the letter “h”. “I sit on top of the wood”, since he is
at the highest point of the wood, it is confirmed as the apex predator.
Hughes adds a twist by comparing the hawk’s behaviour with the authoritarian and self-
indulgent behaviour of a dictator. The poem, published in 1960, shows the hawk representing
Nazi Germany and with the same traits as a dictator. In this poem, he is so single-minded and so
arrogant that he becomes a parody of human's authority. Ted Hughes reveals to the reader the
hawk's total utter disrespect to his creator through his arrogance. “My manners are tearing off
heads”, a dictator also relentlessly kills other people because the dictator is the most powerful
being and has the authority to do whatever it wants, which shows self-indulgence. “Now I hold
creation in my foot”, Hughes used allusion as he uses “creation” to describe God and the hawk’s
arrogance portrays itself as a god-like figure and the pinnacle of creation, similarly how humans
also are conceited, and belittling God and Creation is condemned as fascism by many critics
which is another human action. The fact that the writer compares the dictatorial behaviour of
humans with the behaviour of the hawk gives a salient impression of the hawk.
However, Hughes creates unique impressions of the hawk by giving it human qualities. Its
natural behaviour as a hunter is presented as cruel, violent, and self-indulgent. “The allotment of
death,” this imagery used by the author exhibits how the hawk allots death to its prey, similarly
to how humans also get allotted to do work, showing the hawk’s ownership. Hughes strikes a
note of self-satisfaction and attainment; “The convenience of the high trees!” marked by the sign
of exclamation connotes how the Hawk takes the entire nature to be at its service. The “air’s
buoyancy and the sun’s ray” are all “of advantage” to the Hawk. The tone of pride and arrogance
signifies the hawk’s confidence in its own superior vision; the earth is at an inferior position as
it ‘faces upward’ for the hawk’s “inspection” so, the Hawk thinks. This compares to how humans
are so prideful and narcissistic. “The Sun is behind me.” The use of the negative, “Nothing has

2. changed since I began” supports the hawk’s unprecedented position. “My eye has permitted no
change. I am going to keep things like this.” Showing how adamant humans are and leading to
justify the hawk’s might, power, and authority. The concluding lines assert the Hawk’s might
and position that the Hawk maintains to be all its own. It is not willing to exchange it with
anyone else. Even the mighty sun is seen to play a secondary role and supports its presence. The
poem acquires symbolic and metaphysical interpretation as the poem links to the circle of life,
suggesting that the superior position of the Hawk and its reign will never end.
Besides the astonishing behaviour of the hawk, the author uses a unique structure and tone to
impress the readers. “I kill where I please because it is all mine”, the haughty tone of the hawk
shows its aggression and cunningness. “Through the bones of the living. No arguments assert
my rights”, The enjambment used here is a different and special way by the author to depict the
overpowering directness and it doesn’t need or use human logic to justify its role. The title
“Hawk Roosting” means that the hawk is looking down from where it is roosting, the highest
point in the woods. It is symbolic of we humans who don’t tend to think beyond what has been
defined to us by society beyond our perspective. Once again, the distinctive way of symbolizing
the points in the structure and tone is breath-taking as they highlight the flabbergasting points
of the hawk.
To conclude, Hughes has created a poem where the natural order of an apex predator is likened
to the base qualities in a dictatorial rule, attributing cruelty, violence and self indulgence to the
hawk even when those are human traits.