Theme, Substance and Dramatic Monologue ,Critical Appreciation of Hawk Roosting

HAWK ROOSTING

MASTER ANSWER (6 MARKS)

(Theme, Substance and Dramatic Monologue)

Ted Hughes' poem "Hawk Roosting" is a powerful dramatic monologue. The speaker is a hawk who sits at the top of a tall tree. Through the bird's voice, the poet reveals the raw power and cruelty of nature. The hawk is very arrogant and proud. He sits with his eyes closed, not sleeping, but rehearsing how to kill and eat his prey. He believes that he is the center of the universe and that the trees, the air, and the sun exist only for his convenience.

The central theme of the poem is absolute power and violence. The hawk claims that he holds creation in his foot. He thinks he is superior even to God because he decides who lives and who dies. He says, "I kill where I please because it is all mine." He does not need any arguments or excuses for his actions. The poem shows that nature is "red in tooth and claw," meaning it is ruled by strength, not mercy. The hawk represents the blind force of nature that has no morality.

HAWK ROOSTING

CRITICAL APPRECIATION (6 MARKS)

By PKG SIR

Ted Hughes' poem "Hawk Roosting" is a brilliant example of a dramatic monologue. It gives a voice to a bird of prey, allowing us to see the world through its eyes. The poem is not just about a bird; it is a critical study of power, violence, and instinct. The language of the poem is sharp and direct, matching the character of the hawk. Hughes uses strong imagery like "hooked head" and "hooked feet" to emphasize the bird's deadly nature and its readiness to kill.

The poem is special because it shows nature without any false emotions. The hawk is portrayed as a cold and arrogant dictator. He sits at the top of the wood and believes that the sun, the air, and the trees exist only for his convenience. He rejects all human rules and morality. He says, "There is no sophistry in my body," meaning he does not lie or pretend. He kills simply because he has the power to do so. This creates a terrifying but majestic image of nature. The poem successfully makes us appreciate the raw, wild energy of nature that is beyond human control.

HAWK ROOSTING

AS A DRAMATIC MONOLOGUE (6 MARKS)

(Simple and Easy Language)

Ted Hughes' poem "Hawk Roosting" is a perfect example of a dramatic monologue. A dramatic monologue is a poem where a single character speaks to a silent listener to reveal his inner thoughts. In this poem, the speaker is not the poet, but a Hawk. The Hawk speaks in the first person using "I" and "My." Throughout the poem, the bird talks about his physical strength, his sharp eyes, and his killing power.

The main purpose of a dramatic monologue is to reveal the character of the speaker. Here, the Hawk reveals that he is very arrogant, proud, and cruel. He thinks he is the master of the world. He believes that God created the world just for him to hunt and eat. He says, "I hold Creation in my foot." By using this form, Ted Hughes allows us to enter the mind of a bird. We see nature not as beautiful and peaceful, but as violent and powerful. This direct speech makes the poem very realistic and frightening.

Comments