Critical Analysis of Hawk Roosting:

Introduction:

“Hawk Roosting” is a famous poem written by English poet, Ted Hughes. It

was published in 1960 in his second poetry collection, “Lupercal.”

It consists of 24 lines divided into 6 quatrains. The poem is written in free

verse and does not have a fixed rhyme scheme. “Hawk Roosting” is one of
those poems which explore the animal world. The speaker of the poem is the
bird, the hawk itself. The hawk is given the power of speech and thought.
Hence, it describes its emotions of power, authority, and violence. The hawk
views itself as supreme and considers everything else beneath it. However, it
doesn’t consider it wrong morally as this is a part of its nature.

Significance of the title:

Hawk Roosting is seen as a very symbolic nature poem, since the image of
hawk is the bloodiest animal at the top of the food chain. Yet it symbolizes
the vigorous and powerful nature as a whole rather than the bloody animal
world itself.

Hughes about Hawk’s Monologue:

In an interview with the London Magazine, Ted Hughes remarked that the
bird in ‘Hawk Roosting’ had been ‘accused of being a fascist’ and ‘the symbol
of some horrible genocidal dictator’. Hughes went on to clarify that what he
had in mind when he wrote the poem was that ‘in this hawk Nature is
thinking. Simply Nature’.

Summary:

Ted Hughes’ poem Hawk Roosting is a dramatic monologue spoken from the
perspective of a hawk, symbolizing absolute power and control.

The poem begins with the hawk describing how he sits at the top of the
forest with his eyes closed. He does nothing: he experiences no false dreams
as he sleeps, practising how to kill and eat his prey in the most perfect and
efficient way.

He praises the ‘high trees’ for their convenience. Up here, the air is light and
capable of flying, and the sun is strong. These are both useful to the hawk as
he looks for prey, the contents of the earth below him facing up towards him
so he can examine it.
His feet, are fixed firmly on the bark of the tree branch on which he sits.
Alluding to the religious idea of divine Creation of all living things, the hawk
declares that his feet and his feathers are the product of all of his creative
effort. It is as if he is the pinnacle of God’s achievement. Sometimes, when
he flies up into the sky and flies around, it is as if he is making the world
spin. The hawk sees himself as possessed of godlike power.

He certainly kills like a god, slaughtering whatever he wishes wherever he

wishes, because every living thing belongs to him. He makes no false or
deceitful arguments to excuse his behaviour as he is not answerable to
anyone(‘no sophistry’). His dignity and ‘manners’ is to tear the heads off his
prey.

That’s how death gets dished out. My flight takes me straight through life,
causing others to die. I need no logical justifications for my actions.

The sun is ‘behind’ him. There’s an ambiguity in this phrase, since it can
mean two things: both that the hawk can see his way to his prey because the
sun is not in his eyes, but also that the sun; seems to support the hawk’s
destructive actions, or to be fully ‘behind’ him in what he does.

Nothing among the nature has changed since the hawk has existed. My gaze
has not allowed anything to changed. I will keep things like this forever.

Themes:

1. Narcissism:

The theme of narcissism in Hawk Roosting is evident in the hawk’s excessive

self-importance and belief in its absolute dominance. The hawk perceives
itself as the supreme ruler of nature. The hawk sees itself as the center of
creation, believing that nature exists solely for its benefit.

“It took the whole of Creation

To produce my foot, my each feather.”

The hawk’s self-obsession and disregard for anything beyond itself make it a
powerful metaphor for authoritarian rulers who see themselves as invincible.
Like a narcissistic figure, the hawk believes it is superior to everything else
and justifies its violent actions without guilt.

“I kill where I please because it is all mine.”

Through this portrayal, Hughes critiques the dangers of unchecked
narcissism, showing how it leads to absolute dominance and a denial of any
challenge or change.

2. Violence and Survival:

The theme of violence in Hawk Roosting is central to the poem, reflecting

both the brutal instincts of nature and the mindset of unchecked power. The
hawk, as the speaker, expresses a cold and unapologetic attitude towards
killing, viewing it as a natural right rather than an act of cruelty. Hughes does
not romanticize nature; instead, he presents it as raw and ruthless, where
strength determines dominance. It also reflects the harsh reality of nature,
where the strong thrive while the weak perish. The hawk’s confidence in its
destructive abilities is further reinforced in;

“My manners are tearing off heads,”

This portrayal of violence extends beyond the natural world, serving as a

metaphor for authoritarian rule, where power is maintained through force
and suppression. By presenting violence as both instinctive and deliberate,
Hughes forces readers to question whether brutality is an unavoidable part of
nature or a reflection of human ambition and tyranny.

3. Nature and Natural World:

The theme of nature and the natural world in Hawk Roosting highlights the
raw, instinct-driven reality of existence, where survival and dominance are
paramount. The hawk, as a symbol of nature’s brutal efficiency, operates
without guilt or hesitation, embodying the idea that power and predation are
fundamental laws of life.

“I sit in the top of the wood, my eyes closed.”

This shows the hawk’s dominance over its environment, as it sits at the
highest point, completely unthreatened and in control.

The hawk represents the raw and unfiltered reality of the natural order,
where the strong prevail without question.

“No arguments assert my right.”

In nature, there is no debate or morality—power alone determines

dominance, and the hawk instinctively understands this.

Unlike human morality, nature does not distinguish between good and evil—
it simply exists, indifferent to concepts like justice or fairness.
Hughes challenges idealized views of nature, showing it as a world ruled by
instinct and necessity rather than compassion or balance. The poem
ultimately suggests that power and survival are the true forces that shape
the natural world.

4. Resistance to Change:

The theme of resistance to change in Hawk Roosting is evident in the hawk’s

unwavering belief that the natural order and it’s absolute power, will remain
the same forever. The hawk speaks with confidence and authority, rejecting
any possibility of change or challenge to its dominance.

One of the clearest expressions of this theme is the line;

“Nothing has changed since I began. / My eye has permitted no

change.”

This suggests that the hawk sees itself as a ruler who has maintained control
without interruption. The phrase “my eye has permitted no change”
implies that the hawk views itself as an enforcer of nature’s laws, ensuring
that its power remains unchallenged.

Additionally, the hawk declares;

“I am going to keep things like this.”

This statement reveals its determination to maintain the existing status,

refusing to accept any shift in the natural hierarchy. It conveys a sense of
arrogance, as if the hawk believes it has the authority to dictate the course
of nature itself.

The hawk’s resistance to change also ties into the broader theme of absolute
power. Tyrants, both in nature and human society, often resist change
because it threatens their dominance. The hawk, as a symbol of ruthless
authority, sees any form of transformation as unnecessary or even
dangerous.

Structure and Form of Poem:

The poem’s structure is a single continuous stanza of free verse. There are
no specific breaks or pauses between stanzas, which gives the poem a
flowing, uninterrupted feeling . This free verse form, devoid of a strict rhyme
scheme or meter, mirrors the hawk’s unbounded and relentless nature.

In Hawk Roosting, the tone is arrogant and authoritative, as the hawk speaks
with supreme confidence, reflecting its belief in its absolute power and
dominance over the natural world. The mood is intense and ominous, with
the hawk’s chilling, cold perspective creating a sense of danger and tyranny.
Seamus Heaney; a critic and poet says;

“The free verse in Hawk Roosting allows for a fluidity that mirrors
the unchecked, violent energy of the hawk.”

Literary Devices in Hawk’s Monologue:

Ted Hughes uses several literary devices in Hawk Roosting to enhance the
meaning and impact of the poem.

1. Personification: Giving human qualities to non-human things.

Example: “My eye has permitted no change” (the hawk’s eye is portrayed as
having control).

2. Metaphor: A direct comparison between two unlike things.

Example: “I hold Creation in my foot” (the hawk claims dominion over the
entire natural world).

3.Juxtaposition: Placing contrasting elements next to each other.

Example: “I kill where I please because it is all mine” (contrasting predation

with entitlement).

4. Repetition: Repeating words or phrases to emphasize a point.

Example: “I kill where I please” (repeated “I” emphasizes the hawk’s power).

5. Imagery: Vivid descriptions that appeal to the senses.

Example: “The air’s buoyancy and the sun’s ray” (creating a sense of the
hawk’s environment).

6. Enjambment: The continuation of a sentence without a pause at the end

of a line.

Example: “The allotment of death. / No arguments assert my right.” (lines

flow without a break, emphasizing inevitability).

7. Apostrophe: Addressing someone or something not present.

Example: The hawk speaks as if addressing the world itself, asserting control.

8. Hyperbole: Exaggeration for emphasis.

Example: “It took the whole of Creation / To produce my foot, my each
feather.” (exaggerating the hawk’s perfection).

9. Rhetorical Question: A question asked to make a point, not to get an

answer.

Example: “The allotment of death.” (suggesting death is inevitable, no

question is needed).

These devices enhance the poem’s tone, themes, and the portrayal of the
hawk’s dominance.

Symbolism:

Symbolism is a literary device where a symbol—whether a person, object, or

event—represents something beyond its literal meaning, often conveying
deeper themes or ideas.

1. The Hawk: Symbolizes power, dominance, and a tyrannical force that

controls its environment.
2. The Tree (Top of the Wood): Represents authority and control, as
the hawk sits at the highest point, asserting its superiority.
3. The Eye: Symbolizes vigilance, control, and god-like authority, as the
hawk’s gaze dictates its world.
4. The Sun: Symbolizes power and life, with the hawk using the natural
resources around it to maintain its dominance.
5. The Foot and Feathers: Symbolize physical perfection and the
hawk’s strength, which enable its control over nature.
6. The Allotment of Death: Symbolizes the inevitable and natural cycle
of life and death, which the hawk enforces.

Conclusion:

The final evaluation of Hawk Roosting highlights its exploration of power,

dominance, and control in both nature and human society. Hughes uses the
hawk as a symbol of absolute authority, portraying its arrogance and
resistance to change. The poem’s free verse structure mirrors the hawk’s
uninterrupted rule, while its cold, assertive tone reinforces its ruthless
nature. The final line, “I am going to keep things like this”, emphasizes
the hawk’s unwavering belief in its eternal reign. Whether seen as a symbol
of natural hierarchy or political dictatorship, the poem forces readers to
question the nature of power—its necessity, its arrogance, and its potential
for destruction.
One critic describes Hawk Roosting as;

“the most famous and the most anthologized of Hughes’s animal

poems,”