Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- How are the two parts of this poem different in their focus, tone, approach, and language? Why have two separate sections at all?
- How is death a redeemer in this poem? What is the nature of that redemption?
- Find a good dictionary, and look up the definition of "sublime." To what extent is this a poem of the sublime?
- Does the cause of each hawk's injury make any difference to the meaning of the poem? How would this read if we knew a human had hurt them? What if they were attacked by a natural predator?
- Why might ferocity be such an attractive quality to Jeffers?
- Is there a way we can read this poem as being about one hawk, even though the title is plural?