Roe-Deer
How is the encounter with the roe-deer described?
A sudden, silent encounter.
How does Hughes personify the wind?
As a wild, almost living force.
What memory is Hughes reflecting on?
A moment in rural England nature with a sheep shearer.
What is the relic in the poem?
A jawbone of a shark.
What is the symbolic role of the telegraph wires?
Strangeness and ultimate frailty of human technology
What role does light and darkness play in the poem?
Highlights contrast, creates suspense and mystery.
What kind of imagery is used to convey the storm's force?
Violent and destructive — “crashing”, “booming hills”.
How is the natural world intertwined with the memory?
Natural setting mirrors emotions.
How does the poem explore the theme of death and survival?
The constant cycle of life and death
How does Hughes contrast human-made and natural elements?
Delicate and strange vs. powerful nature
What does the deer’s sudden appearance symbolize?
Innocence and wonder.
How is the house affected by the wind?
Trembles, bends, and creaks.
What does the speaker learn or feel in recalling this experience?
A mix of joy, longing, and reflection. Also, admiration and awe
What role does the sea play symbolically?
Symbol of predation, power, and time.
What is the speaker observing or meditating on?
Man’s presence in nature.
How is the natural world portrayed as both mysterious and delicate?
Quiet, snow, fragile setting.
What emotions does the poem evoke — fear, awe, excitement?
Fear and awe.
How is time represented in the poem?
Time is slowed down, almost frozen.
How does Hughes portray nature as indifferent or violent?
Ruthless, indifferent, predatory.
How do you understand "but the wires cannot hide from the bad weather"?
Humanity's dominance over the natural world isn''t all that secure
What is the tone of the poem — awe, fear, wonder
Awe and wonder
How does Hughes use sound devices (alliteration, onomatopoeia) in this poem?
Alliteration (“bang and booming”) and onomatopoeia enhance the chaos.
How does Hughes use contrast to enhance the poignancy of memory?
Through oppositions: past/present, light/dark.
What mood does the poem evoke?
Grim, eerie, unsettling.
What themes of communication or isolation arise?
Nature as free, humans as distant or detached.