Compare and contrast two poems you have studied about birds of prey.

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Mr Simpson – Joel Robinson

Compare and contrast two poems you have studied about birds of prey.

The two poems I am going to compare and contrast are ‘Hawk Roosting’ by Ted Hughes and ‘The Eagle’ by Lord Tennyson. They are both poems about birds of prey. I am going to compare and contrast them through different features of the poems. These are theme, development of ideas, language, tone, rhyme, rhythm, imagery, mood and atmosphere and context. I am also going to write about my reactions to each of the poems.

Both of the poems are describing birds of prey. The Eagle focuses on the dominant side of the bird while Hawk Roosting focuses more on the ruthless side of the bird. They both start with the bird in an elevated position and emphasise the birds poise. Hawk Roosting says, “I sit on the top of the wood, my eyes closed.” The Eagle says, “close to the sun in lonely lands.” The two poems speak admiringly of the birds and describe the appearance of them. Hawk Roosting says, “my hooked head and hooked feet.” This gives us a picture of the hawk’s big claws and its arched back. The eagle says, “he clasps the crag with hooked hands.” This gives us a picture of the eagle’s claws and feet and how they “clasp” the “crag”. I think The Eagle builds up the better picture in describing the birds’ features. Both of the poems suggest that the birds control the environment and are a threat to all lesser creatures within their kingdoms. Hawk Roosting says, “Now I hold creation in my foot.” The Eagle says, “he watches from his mountain walls.”

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The Eagle is a short poem with two stanzas, each with three lines. It is ordered and symmetrical. Hawk Roosting is a long poem with six stanzas. Hawk roosting uses enjambment, this is a run over line where one sentence runs onto the next line. This creates dramatic monologue. The Eagle is a series of short sentences in order. This reflects the time it was written. It creates an impact as the sentences are short and catchy. Overall I think Hawk Roosting flows better with the use of enjambment and the poem builds up from the beginning through to the ...

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