In Hawk Roosting no Imagery is used and the poem is controlled containing short sentences unlike Wind which has a lack of punctuation and structure. The Hawk in Hawk roosting is different for the black back gull in Wind which is said to be “Bent like an iron bar slowly” this gives the impression that the bird is weak wheras in Hawk Roosting the hawk is strong and streamlined much more than animal.
The Hawk uses words such as falsifying and inaction this gives the impression that the Hawk is sophisticated whereas the black backed gull is weak and powerless.It is certain that the hawk is designed to kill in the way it’s body is shaped a prime example of this is the following quote from the Hawk: “Between my hooked head and hooked feet” a further example of this would be: “My feet are locked upon the rough bark” both of these examples describe the hawk’s feirce weponary.
The tone of the poem Hawk roosting should be relaxed and confident as the Hawk is confident in everything he does and the text illustrates this in the way the hawk says “There is no sophistry in my body: my manners are tearing off heads the allotment of death”. It may be suggested that the Hawk has no remorse for what he does and doesn’t have to justify his action another example of this is another quote: “No arguments assert my right:The sun is behind me” The fact that the sun is behind the Hawk makes him ever more powerful.
Coming back to the idea of Imagery there are many examples to be found in Wind By Ted Hughes. I mentioned that the house was described as being out at sea in order to achieve this effect more imagery is used the hills are describes like this: “The woods crashing through darkness,the booming hills” there is a slight trace of onamatopeia here with the word booming this makes me invision giant waves crashing around and upon the house and due to the hills being in darkness it is easy to imagine the waves surrounding the house.
It is my understanding that although the humans are inside Ted Hughes makes them seem unsafe and scared as if they are not at one with the enviroment.
As I mentioned before the poem seems quite controlled or it is trying to tame the wind itself. The title Wind seems like an understatement as wind is quite calm whereas in this poem the wind shakes windows and blows alongside bolts of lightning.
The lightning is described as: “Blade-light,luminous black and emerald, flexing like the lens of a mad eye” this represents several quick flashes of lightning which could be described as frantic a total contrast from Hawk roosting which seems to be very relaxed and calm with no wind but glorious sun which is said to be behind the hawk.
Coming back to Hawk roosting I’d like to make final point about the hawk and that is that the hawk seems almost God like in the way he acts and talks for example : “And the earth’s face upward for my inspection” my final example of this is: “My eye has permitted no change. I am going to keep things like this” This shows the hawk is definitely in control and the fact that he is high up higher than anything else makes him seem like a god.
Adam Kane
10 NH