{"id":866784,"date":"2025-08-19T20:22:55","date_gmt":"2025-08-19T14:52:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/discover\/?p=866784"},"modified":"2025-08-19T20:22:55","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T14:52:55","slug":"ncert-notes-class-11-english-woven-words-poem-7-hawk-roosting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leverageedu.com\/discover\/school-education\/ncert-notes-class-11-english-woven-words-poem-7-hawk-roosting\/","title":{"rendered":"NCERT Notes Class 11 English Woven Words Poem 7: Hawk Roosting (Free PDF)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The poem Hawk Roosting by Ted Hughes is the seventh poem in the Poetry section of the NCERT Class 11 English Woven Words textbook. This powerful poem is written from the perspective of a hawk and explores the themes of power, control, and the natural instinct of dominance. Through this poem, Hughes presents a raw, unapologetic view of nature\u2019s hierarchy. This blog provides easy-to-understand NCERT Class 11 English notes with explanations, meanings, and analysis to help students understand the poem\u2019s themes. You can also download the free PDF for quick revision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Explore Notes of Class 11 English Woven Words<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poem 1<\/strong><\/a><\/td>Poem 2<\/strong><\/a><\/td>Poem 3<\/strong><\/a><\/td>Poem 4<\/strong><\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Download PDF of NCERT Notes Class 11 English Woven Words Poem 7: Hawk Roosting<\/strong><\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Important Word Meanings in Hawk Roosting by Ted Hughes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the poem Hawk Roosting by Ted Hughes, specific words and phrases are used to convey the hawk\u2019s sense of absolute power, control, and instinctual dominance. Understanding these terms clarifies the poem\u2019s tone and message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Word \/ Phrase<\/strong><\/td>Meaning<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Top of the wood<\/td>The highest point in the forest symbolises the hawk\u2019s elevated position of power<\/td><\/tr>
Inaction<\/td>A state of stillness or rest, reflecting the hawk\u2019s confident repose<\/td><\/tr>
Falsifying dream<\/td>Illusory or deceptive thoughts, which the hawk claims to lack, emphasising its clarity of purpose<\/td><\/tr>
Hooked head and hooked feet<\/td>The hawk\u2019s physical features, designed for predation, symbolise its lethal precision<\/td><\/tr>
The convenience of the high trees<\/td>The strategic advantage of the hawk\u2019s perch aids its dominance<\/td><\/tr>
Air\u2019s buoyancy<\/td>The uplifting quality of the air assists the hawk\u2019s flight<\/td><\/tr>
Sun\u2019s ray<\/td>Sunlight, enhancing the hawk\u2019s vision and authority<\/td><\/tr>
Earth\u2019s face upward<\/td>The ground below, subject to the hawk\u2019s inspection, symbolises its control over creation<\/td><\/tr>
Locked upon the rough bark<\/td>The hawk\u2019s firm grip on the tree signified its unyielding authority<\/td><\/tr>
Whole of Creation<\/td>The entirety of the natural world, which the hawk claims to dominate<\/td><\/tr>
Hold Creation in my foot<\/td>The hawk\u2019s assertion of supremacy, as if controlling the world with its talons<\/td><\/tr>
Sophistry<\/td>Deceptive or manipulative reasoning, absent in the hawk\u2019s straightforward nature<\/td><\/tr>
Manners are tearing off heads<\/td>The hawk\u2019s brutal, instinctual behaviour, unapologetic in its predation<\/td><\/tr>
Allotment of death<\/td>The hawk\u2019s role in dispensing death, seen as its natural right<\/td><\/tr>
Direct through the bones of the living<\/td>The hawk\u2019s precise, lethal flight path targets prey without hesitation<\/td><\/tr>
No arguments assert my right<\/td>The hawk\u2019s authority is unquestioned, rooted in its natural dominance<\/td><\/tr>
Sun is behind me<\/td>The sun\u2019s position enhances the hawk\u2019s power, as if nature supports its supremacy<\/td><\/tr>
Permitted no change<\/td>The hawk\u2019s refusal to allow alteration, asserting its control over its environment<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Line-by-Line Explanation of the NCERT English Woven Words Poem 7: Hawk Roosting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here is the line-by-line analysis of each stanza of the poem \u2018Hawk Roosting\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lines 1\u20134:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I sit in the top of the wood, my eyes closed.<\/strong>
<\/strong>Inaction, no falsifying dream<\/strong>
<\/strong>Between my hooked head and hooked feet:<\/strong>
<\/strong>Or in sleep rehearse perfect kills and eat.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The poem opens with the hawk speaking from its perch at the \u201ctop of the wood,\u201d a position of dominance, with its eyes closed in confident repose. Its \u201cinaction\u201d is free of deceptive dreams, and even in sleep, it mentally rehearses \u201cperfect kills,\u201d emphasising its predatory nature and focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lines 5\u20138:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The convenience of the high trees!<\/strong>
<\/strong>The air\u2019s buoyancy and the sun\u2019s ray<\/strong>
<\/strong>Are of advantage to me;<\/strong>
<\/strong>And the earth\u2019s face upward for my inspection.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hawk describes the strategic advantages of its environment: the high trees provide a vantage point, the air aids its flight, and the sun enhances its vision. The \u201cearth\u2019s face upward\u201d suggests the world below is subject to its scrutiny, reinforcing its control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lines 9\u201312:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My feet are locked upon the rough bark.<\/strong>
<\/strong>It took the whole of Creation<\/strong>
<\/strong>To produce my foot, my each feather:<\/strong>
<\/strong>Now I hold Creation in my foot.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hawk\u2019s talons grip the tree, symbolising its unyielding authority. It claims that the \u201cwhole of Creation\u201d crafted its perfect form, and now it dominates creation, metaphorically holding the world in its foot, asserting absolute power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lines 13\u201316:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or fly up, and revolve it all slowly, <\/strong>
<\/strong>I kill where I please because it is all mine.<\/strong>
<\/strong>There is no sophistry in my body:<\/strong>
<\/strong>My manners are tearing off heads.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hawk describes its flight, surveying its domain with the freedom to \u201ckill where I please,\u201d claiming ownership over everything. It rejects \u201csophistry\u201d (deceptive reasoning), embracing its brutal instinct to kill, described vividly as \u201ctearing off heads.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lines 17\u201320:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The allotment of death.<\/strong>
<\/strong>For the one path of my flight is direct<\/strong>
<\/strong>Through the bones of the living.<\/strong>
<\/strong>No arguments assert my right.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hawk sees itself as the dispenser of death, its flight path precise and lethal, cutting \u201cthrough the bones of the living.\u201d Its authority requires no justification, as its dominance is an inherent right in the natural order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lines 21\u201324:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sun is behind me.<\/strong>
<\/strong>Nothing has changed since I began,<\/strong>
<\/strong>My eye has permitted no change.<\/strong>
<\/strong>I am going to keep things like this.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hawk concludes with the sun behind it, symbolising nature\u2019s support for its supremacy. It asserts that nothing has changed since its existence began, and its unwavering gaze ensures no change will occur, emphasising its absolute control and resolve to maintain the status quo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also Read: <\/strong>NCERT Notes Class 11 English Woven Words Chapter 7: Glory at Twilight (Free PDF)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Analysis of the NCERT English Woven Words Poem 7: Hawk Roosting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The poem Hawk Roosting by Ted Hughes is a dramatic monologue spoken by a hawk, exploring themes of power, control, and instinctual dominance. Through vivid imagery and a commanding tone, Hughes presents the hawk as a symbol of raw, unapologetic authority, reflecting the natural hierarchy and the predator\u2019s mindset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Theme \u2013 Power, Control, and Instinctual Dominance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The central theme is the hawk\u2019s assertion of absolute power and control over its environment, viewing itself as the pinnacle of creation. The poem explores the unapologetic instinct of a predator, whose authority is unquestioned and rooted in its natural design, contrasting with human complexities like sophistry or moral debates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symbolism and Meaning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Here, we have mentioned the symbolism used in this poem, along with the meaning behind that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n