# data[].attributes.headline
Question 6. What is the theme (the central idea) of this poem? Can you state it in a single sentence? Elaborate on your idea.

# data[].attributes.subject
Question 6. What is the theme (the central idea) of this poem? Can you state it in a single sentence? Elaborate on your idea.

# data[].attributes.body
The theme of this poem is to live a happy life and not to let death take away the joy of living. The speaker in the poem is not letting the hawk, which represents death, disturb him. In the poem, it says "I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love, If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles. You will hardly know who I am or what I mean, But I shall be good health to you nevertheless,". Even though he is dying, the speaker never lets death make him despair. And believes that even if he dies, he will be return to nature and benefit someone else.

# data[].attributes.headline
Question 5. Are there any symbols? What do they mean? Are they universal symbols or do they arise from the context of this poem?

# data[].attributes.subject
Question 5. Are there any symbols? What do they mean? Are they universal symbols or do they arise from the context of this poem?

# data[].attributes.body
The poem "The Spotted Hawk Swoops By" by Walt Whitman has one major symbol of the hawk in the poem representing death. In the poem it says, "The spotted hawk swoops by and accuses me, he complains of my gab and my loitering" and "I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable, I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world." The hawk is trying to disturb the speaker's happy life, but the speaker doesn't let the hawk annoy him or hinder him in any way and even shows his joy in living by letting out an energetic scream for the world to hear. This symbol is not universal since the symbol for death is usually a human skull or bones. It arises from the context of the poem as the hawk or death tries to disturb the speaker from living a happy life, but the speaker is unfazed and dies happily as his time has come to an end.

# data[].attributes.headline
Question 1. What is the poem’s tone? Which words reveal this tone? Is the poem ironic?

# data[].attributes.subject
Question 1. What is the poem’s tone? Which words reveal this tone? Is the poem ironic?

# data[].attributes.body
The poem is optimistic as it portrays Whitman's ideas and their effect on society. In the first and second stanzas, it starts with, "The spotted hawk swoops by and accuses me--he complains of my gab and my loitering. I too am not a bit tamed--I too am untranslatable..." (Whitman). Whitman tells the reader that he knows he will face controversy and outrage in the world when he uses the word "too". He shows understanding for those who oppose him and tells them that even when he dies, Whitman's ideas will still do good for the world.

# data[].attributes.headline
Question 4.What figures of speech are used? How do they contribute to the tone and meaning of the poem?

# data[].attributes.subject
Question 4.What figures of speech are used? How do they contribute to the tone and meaning of the poem?

# data[].attributes.body
A major figure of speech that is used is the metaphor, comparing the hawk to Whitman's critics and death. The last stanza strongly emphasizes the metaphor, stating, "Failing to fetch me at first, keep encouraged...I stop somewhere, waiting for you" (Whitman). This quote makes connections to how Whitman's critics will always return and how death will eventually arrive at a certain point, yet Whitman is ready, waiting for them. The metaphor contributes to the overall meaning and tone, showing optimism that it is just natural and shows there's no point in avoiding the inevitable.