A Comparison of Hawk Roosting by Ted Hughes and The Eagle by Lord Tennyson

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A Comparison of Hawk Roosting by Ted Hughes and The Eagle by Lord Tennyson 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." The Eagle is a short poem with two stanzas, each with three lines. It is ordered and symmetrical. Hawk Roosting is a long p... ... middle of paper ... .... At first this may seem an advantage that The Eagle is easily understood but as Hawk Roosting is more complicated a lot more can be taken out of it. Each of the poems were written in different eras. The Eagle was written in the 19th Century and Hawk Roosting was written in the 20th Century. This reflects the content of the poems, which I have already commented on. The comparison between the two poems shows how much society does influence poets in their writing. My reactions to the two poems are mixed. I like The Eagle because of its order and rhyme making it easy to read but as it is undemanding it does not leave a lasting impression. Hawk Roosting is harder to read as it isn't ordered but I like it because after reflection there is a lot in it. Therefore I think Hawk Roosting is my favourite of the two poems.

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