Analysis

• "Hawk Roosting" - Hughes uses the image of the hawk to suggest power. The word ‘Roosting’ implies that the hawk feels at home and is

  comfortable on his perch.
• "I sit in the top of the wood," - The word ‘top’ shows that he is at the top of the food chain.
• "my eyes closed." - He does not need to look at the world to know his place in it – he is almost meditating on his success.
• "falsifying dream" - Reality is better than dreaming for him. He doesn’t need to lie.
• "hooked head and hooked feet:" - Repetition of ‘hooked’ suggests he is in control – his claws are sunk in.
• "Or in sleep rehearse perfect kills and eat." - He even dreams that his kills go perfectly. He is constantly thinking about death.
• "The convenience of the high trees!" - Suggests they are there specifically for him
• "The air's buoyancy and the sun's ray are of advantage to me;" - All aspects of nature are for his ease.
• "my inspection." - Arrogant tone – he is even scrutinising earth.
• "My feet are locked upon the rough bark." - Verb 'locked' shows power – links to the idea of a dictator 'locking down’ on others’ freedom.
• "It took the whole of Creation to produce my foot, my each feather:" - Sees himself as God-like
• "Now I hold Creation in my foot" - Repetition of ‘Creation’ and the capitalisation of it emphasises his arrogance and God delusions.
• "revolve it all slowly" - The verb ‘revolve’ the world turns just for him.
• "it is all mine." - Shows his selfish and power obsessed nature.
• "There is no sophistry in my body:" - No false arguments – links

  to the arrogance in the first stanza – he feels he is perfect.
• "My manners are tearing off heads" - Brutally honest – violent language shows his brutality.
• "The allotment of death." - He can ‘play God’ and decide who lives and who dies.
• "Through the bones of the living." - Contrast between ‘bones’ and ‘living’ reminds the reader he has the power to take life away.
• "No arguments assert my right:" - Links to dictatorship – no one else has a say or can challenge him.
• "The sun is behind me." - Suggests even the sun is backing him up and supporting him.
• "Nothing has changed since I began." - Links to the circle of life – his reign will never end
• "My eye has permitted no change." - He is in charge – he decides the rules of nature.
• "I am going to keep things like this." - Arrogant tone to end the poem. Reinforces his need for power and control.