Understanding how Hughes presents the power of nature in 'Hawk Roosting'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how Hughes presents the power of nature.
Key learning points
- The poem is written from the perspective of a drowsy hawk, who muses on his life as a predator.
- The hawk’s voice is characterised as egotistical and conceited; he revels in the power that nature has allowed him.
- The poem explores the instinctive savagery and violence of nature; the hawk is therefore amoral.
- The poem was published in 1960, and many people thought that the hawk may be a metaphor for fascist dictators.
- Hughes stated that he wanted to explore the power and complexity of nature through this poem.
Keywords
Conceited - extremely arrogant and self-absorbed
Egotistical - self-centred and self-absorbed
To revel - to take immense pleasure and satisfaction in something
Hierarchy - a system of ranking people or things based on how much power they have
Instinct - a pattern or style of behaviour that we are born with - it is programmed into us
Common misconception
Students think that Hughes wrote this poem about fascist dictators like Hitler.
Hughes stated that this was not his intention. Though the poem can be interpreted in this way, this was not what Hughes set out to convey - he wanted to convey the power of nature.
Teacher tip
At the beginning of the lesson, you could show students a clip of a hawk hunting and ask them about the ways in which it is powerful and what gives a person or thing power as a 'hook' into the lesson.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the Eduqas poetry anthology for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What do we mean by perspective?
Q2.What do we associate with the word predator?
Q3.If something is controversial that means it's ...
Q4.What is a dictator?
Q5.The word 'instinctual' means ...
Q6.A is a system of ranking people or things based on how much power they have.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Who is the speaker in 'Hawk Roosting'?
Q2.What is the tone of the speaker in 'Hawk Roosting'?
Q3.Starting with the first, put the order of events from 'Hawk Roosting' in to chronological order.
Q4.Which word from 'Hawk Roosting' shows the hawk is a perfect predator?
Q5.Hughes' 'Hawk Roosting' explores the instincts and violence of ...
Q6.When the poem 'Hawk Roosting' was originally published in 1960, many people through the hawk may be a metaphor for ...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Understanding how Hughes presents the power of nature in 'Hawk Roosting', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Understanding how Hughes presents the power of nature in 'Hawk Roosting', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the Poetry anthology (Assessment until summer 2026) unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.