WBCHSE Class-12 English Semester-IV Hawk Roosting -Ted Hughes- 6 Marks Questions​

WBCHSE Class-12 English Semester-IV Hawk Roosting -Ted Hughes- 6 Marks Questions

“Attention: Write any one answer in the exam.”

1. Justify the title of the poem ‘Hawk Roosting’.  6 Marks

(‘হক রুস্টিং’ কবিতাটির নামকরণের সার্থকতা বিচার করো।)

Ans: In this poem, we come across a hawk roosting on the top of a wood. Its eyes are closed and its body is calm and restful. All these we come to know from the hawk’s own speech. As the poem progresses, we learn about its physical strength, behaviour, attitude towards nature, and sense of superiority. The entire poem is a dramatic monologue that takes us into the mind of the hawk. The poet wants to show the mindset of a powerful predatory bird — a unique creation of nature. This deep insight into its mind is possible only when it is roosting. Hence, the title “Hawk Roosting” is quite apt and meaningful.

OR

Answer: In this poem, we see a hawk resting on the top of a tree. Its eyes are closed, and its body is calm. We learn all this from the hawk’s own words. As the poem continues, we understand its physical strength, behavior, attitude toward nature, and sense of superiority. The poem is a dramatic monologue that takes us into the mind of the hawk. The poet wants to show the thoughts of a powerful bird of prey — a special creation of nature. This deep understanding of the hawk’s mind is possible only when it is resting. Therefore, the title “Hawk Roosting” is very suitable and meaningful.

2. Describe the central theme / Substance of the poem ‘Hawk Roosting’  ?  6 Marks

(‘হক রুস্টিং’ কবিতার মূল বা কেন্দ্রীয় ভাবটি / বিষয়বস্তু আলোচনা করো । )

Ans: “Hawk Roosting” is a unique poem in which we enter into the mind of a hawk and hear it speaking in a human voice. Through this dramatic monologue, the poet presents the mindset of a predator created by nature. The hawk, being at the top of the food chain, symbolizes power, pride, and domination. Its body and instincts are shaped by nature to make it a perfect killer. There is no sense of morality or mercy in its actions. The poet, through this portrayal, reflects the natural law of survival and supremacy. Thus, the hawk’s mindset of power and control forms the central theme of the poem.

OR

Ans: Hawk Roosting is a unique poem where we enter the mind of a hawk and hear it speak in its own voice. Through this dramatic monologue, the poet shows the thoughts of a predator created by nature. The hawk, at the top of the food chain, represents power, pride, and domination. Its body and instincts are perfectly designed to make it a skilled hunter. There is no sense of mercy or morality in its actions. Through this, the poet reflects the natural law of survival and supremacy. The poem highlights the hawk’s confident and controlling mindset, showing how nature creates powerful creatures to dominate their world. The hawk’s thoughts and actions form the central theme of the poem.

3. What are the activities of the hawk in its roosting condition? How does it describe its activities in flight? 3+3 Marks

(বিশ্রামরত অবস্থায় বাজপাখির ক্রিয়াকলাপগুলি কী কী ? কীভাবে সে উড়ন্ত অবস্থায় তার ক্রিয়াকলাপের বর্ণনা করেছে ?)

Ans: When the hawk is roosting on the top of the wood, his eyes remain closed. However, he assures that this is not mere idleness. Even in his rest, he dreams of killing his prey with perfect precision. In his imagination, he practises the act of hunting — striking, killing, and eating the flesh of his victim with his hooked beak and sharp claws.

After resting, the hawk takes flight high up in the sky. While flying, he circles slowly to observe the movements of his prey below. As soon as he detects a target, he dives down with lightning speed, pierces into the body of the victim, and kills it violently. His swift and deadly flight shows his power and skill as a perfect predator.

OR

Ans: When the hawk is roosting at the top of a tree, its eyes are closed, but this is not idleness. Even while resting, it imagines killing its prey with perfect skill. In its mind, it practices hunting — striking, killing, and eating the victim with its hooked beak and sharp claws.

After resting, the hawk takes flight high in the sky. It circles slowly to watch the movements of prey below. Once it spots a target, it dives down with great speed, pierces the victim, and kills it. This swift and deadly flight shows the hawk’s strength, skill, and perfection as a predator. Its body and instincts make it a powerful and confident hunter.

4. How do the different body parts of the hawk help him in his activities ? What natural elements are helpful to him ?  3+3 Marks

(কেমন করে বাজপাখির ভিন্ন ভিন্ন অঙ্গ তার কর্মকাণ্ডে সাহায্য করে ? কী কী প্রাকৃতিক উপাদান তার জন্য সহায়ক ?)

Ans: The body parts of the hawk are perfectly designed by nature to help him in hunting and killing. His hooked beak helps him tear the flesh of his victim. His sharp talons give him a strong and deadly grip on the prey. He also has powerful wings and well-shaped feathers that support smooth and swift flight. Moreover, his keen eyesight enables him to detect his prey even from a great height.

Apart from these special body parts, several natural elements also assist the hawk in his hunting. The tall trees provide him a high perch to watch his surroundings. The air helps him to float and glide easily, and the sunlight sharpens his vision, helping him to spot his target clearly. Thus, both his body and nature work together to make him a perfect predator.

OR

Ans: The hawk’s body is perfectly designed by nature for hunting and killing. Its hooked beak helps tear the flesh of prey, and sharp talons give a strong, deadly grip. Powerful wings and well-shaped feathers allow smooth and fast flight, while keen eyesight helps it spot prey from a great height.

Besides its body, natural elements also help the hawk hunt. Tall trees give it a high perch to watch around, the air allows it to glide easily, and sunlight sharpens its vision to spot targets clearly. Together, the hawk’s body and nature make it a perfect predator, strong, skilled, and confident in hunting and dominating its surroundings.

5. What pictures of violence and fierceness are drawn in the poem ‘Hawk Roosting’?  6 Marks

(আক্রমণ ও হিংস্রতার কোন চিত্র ‘হক বুস্টিং’ কবিতায় অঙ্কন করা হয়েছে ?)

Ans: Ted Hughes’ poems often present vivid pictures of violence and death. In “Hawk Roosting”, the poet portrays the hawk as a symbol of power, cruelty, and destruction. The hawk is shown as a perfect killing machine, created by nature to bring violent death to its prey. With its hooked beak and sharp talons, it tears off the heads of other creatures without mercy. While flying slowly high in the sky, it looks for victims to strike and crush into bones. Even in its resting state, it dreams of killing with perfect precision. Thus, throughout the poem, the poet draws ruthless and fierce images of violence, reflecting the hawk’s savage nature.

OR

Answer: Ted Hughes’ poems often show strong images of violence and death. In Hawk Roosting, the hawk is a symbol of power, cruelty, and destruction. It is portrayed as a perfect killing machine, created by nature to kill its prey. With its hooked beak and sharp talons, it tears the heads of other animals without mercy. While flying slowly high in the sky, it watches for prey and strikes quickly, crushing them to bones. Even while resting, it imagines killing with perfect skill. Throughout the poem, Hughes presents fierce and ruthless images, showing the hawk’s savage and violent nature. The poem reflects how nature creates powerful predators that dominate and control their world.

6. “The convenience of the high trees”- Why are the high trees convenient to the speaker ? What other advantages does he get from nature ? 3+3 Marks

(“উঁচু গাছগুলির সুবিধা”- বক্তার কাছে উঁচু গাছগুলি কেন সুবিধাজনক ? প্রকৃতির কাছে আর কোন কোন সুবিধা সে লাভ করে ?)

Ans: The speaker in the poem is the hawk, roosting on the top of the wood. The hawk finds the high trees convenient because they give him a clear view of the wide area on the ground below. From this vantage point, he can observe the movements of animals, which helps him plan his hunting.

Apart from the high trees, other natural elements also benefit the hawk. The air, with its buoyancy, allows him to fly and glide effortlessly in the sky. The sunlight enhances his sharp vision, enabling him to spot his prey from a great distance. Thus, both the high trees and other elements of nature help him in hunting and maintaining his dominance.

OR,

Ans: The speaker in the poem is the hawk, resting on the top of a tree. The high trees are useful to the hawk because they give a clear view of the ground below. From this height, it can watch the movements of animals and plan its hunting.

Other natural elements also help the hawk. The air allows it to fly and glide easily, while sunlight improves its sharp vision, helping it spot prey from far away. Together, the trees, air, and sunlight support the hawk in hunting and maintaining its power. Nature works with the hawk’s body and instincts to make it a perfect predator.

7.“There is no sophistry in my body”- What does ‘Sophistry’ mean and for what purpose is it used ? What does the hawk suggest about himself by this line ? 2 + 4 Marks

(“আমার দেহে কোনো বিভ্রান্তি নেই”– ‘সফিস্ট্রি’ শব্দটির অর্থ কী ? এবং কী উদ্দেশ্যে সেটি ব্যবহৃত হয় ? এই লাইনটির মাধ্যমে বাজপাখি নিজের সম্বন্ধে কী ইঙ্গিত দিচ্ছে ?)

Ans: The word ‘Sophistry’ means the use of clever but false arguments, often intended to deceive or mislead others.

In this line, the hawk suggests that there is nothing deceptive about his body or appearance. His hooked beak, sharp talons, and streamlined feathers give no false impression about his intentions. Every part of his body is designed for hunting and killing efficiently. In his own words, his actions are straightforward — he tears off the heads of other animals, and his flight is aimed at swooping down on his prey to cause death. Thus, the line highlights the hawk’s honesty, power, and ruthless efficiency.

OR

Ans: The word sophistry means using clever but false arguments to deceive others. 

In this line, the hawk shows that there is nothing false or misleading about its body or actions. Its hooked beak, sharp talons, and sleek feathers clearly show its purpose. Every part of the hawk is made for hunting and killing efficiently. The hawk’s actions are direct and honest — it tears the heads of prey and swoops down to kill with precision. This line highlights the hawk’s honesty, strength, and ruthless efficiency, showing that its power and intentions are clear and undeniable.

8. “The sun is behind me”- What does this statement reveal about the hawk ? How is the sun advantageous to the hawk ?  4+2 Marks

(“সূর্য আমার পিছনে”– এই বক্তব্য বাজপাখির সম্বন্ধে কোন তথ্য প্রকাশ করে ? সূর্য কীভাবে বাজপাখির পক্ষে সুবিধাজনক ?)

Ans: The statement “The sun is behind me” reveals that the hawk positions itself so that the sun is at its back. With the light source behind him, his eyes are not dazzled, allowing him to see his prey clearly and accurately. Moreover, the sunlight falling from behind highlights the hawk’s majestic presence and power. It also symbolizes nature’s role in creating a perfect predator like the hawk.

As a natural element, the sun benefits the hawk by providing bright light, enhancing his sharp vision, and helping him spot prey from a distance on the ground.

OR,

Ans: The statement “The sun is behind me” reveals that the hawk positions itself with the sun at its back. This ensures that its eyes are not dazzled, allowing it to see its prey clearly and accurately. The sunlight falling from behind also makes the hawk appear majestic, powerful, and dominant, reflecting its strength as a predator.

The hawk relies on natural elements like the sun to enhance its hunting skills. The bright sunlight improves its sharp vision, making it easier to spot prey from a distance. By using nature to its advantage, the hawk demonstrates both its intelligence and control over its surroundings. This line highlights the hawk’s ability to combine its natural features with external elements, showing how perfectly it is designed to dominate and hunt effectively.