Compare the methods poets use to present a point of view in Hawk Roosting and Flag.

Sample language paragraph: Both poets use repetition of phrases as a language technique to present the reader with their discontentment towards war and questioning of patriotism. Agard uses the repetition of the phrase its just a piece of cloth to highlight the insignificance of the flag and also mock the people who place high levels of importance on an artefact such as the flag in the name of patriotism. The fact that this phrase has been repeated over the majority of the stanzas in which the flag was doing different things such as unfurling, rising and flying suggests that no matter what it does or becomes , in the end the flag is just a piece of cloth and also puts forward that it was the men after all who have given the flag , a mere artefact, such importance and have blown it out to something so huge which bring nations to its knees, than what it was originally; a mere artefact. The repetition of the rhetorical questions in the beginning of each stanza provides the reader with different perspective of the flag. The use of the word fluttering in the first rhetorical question, Whats that fluttering in the breeze, connotes the flag with a butterfly, a harmless creature which usually just flutters by, giving the reader a sense that the flag has as much significance as the butterfly in our lives, which is very low, also implying that the flag needs to be set free just like a butterfly has been, with the inner meaning and Agardss accusation that us humans have held on to the flag and have made it into something much more bigger than it ever was.

Similarly, Hughes uses repetition of the word hooked in the first stanza of Hawk Roosting, hooked head and hooked feet to present his point of view in which Hawk is seen as the perfect killing machine and that it is designed to kill , being a natural predator to many organisms. Although not intended by the poet, the hawk many a times is also compared with soldiers, which could be due to the fact that the American soldiers who promoted a military intervention in Iraq were called hawks emphasising that war and conflict still exist today. The comparison could also imply that men are not programmed to kill each other and that it is against the natural way of life which presents Hughess disapproval of war. The repetition of hooked also connotes with a sharp material used for securing and anchoring things hence the use of that word before the hawks body parts implies that the hawk anchors itself on its prey so that it cant escape just like how men have anchored themselves on this theme of patriotism and have refused to let go which presents Hughess questioning of patriotism and indirect, unintended accusation on mankind.

Introduction: Both Hughess Hawk Roosting and Agards Flag present a very negative point of view of conflict in which both of them question war and the cruelty and loss of humanity that us humans show to each other in the name of patriotism which as accused by the poets have blinded [our]conscience. Agard uses ambiguous answers in his poem to highlight the two voices, the voice of the questioner and the voice of the narrator also using simple imagery which suggests that the first voice is of a child.

Continued language:

This is also emphasised by the juxtaposition of this line and the third line in the first stanza, that brings a nation to its knees which shows the reader how much power and importance we have given the flag that now it not only influences on people lives but also controls the nation which causes shock and realisation within the reader. The use of the simple imagery breeze connotes with nature and innocence again contradicting with the next two lines in the same stanza which display maturity and wisdom, its just a /.....knees, suggesting that there are two voices, the voice of the questioner and the narrator not only in the first stanza but throughout the poem through the use of ambiguous answers. The innocence found in the first line suggests that this voice might belong to a child. Agards use of imagery, makes guts of men grow bold