'Roe-Deer' by Hughes by Liz Finnigan

Post up your analysis of 'Roe-Deer' here. Thanks!

lizfinnigan — 2017-03-28 11:09:41 UTC

'Roe-Deer' Analysis

2017-03-28 15:13:08 UTC

The title itself is telling in that it suggests the theme will be one of nature. Roe-deer are adapted to cold climates, this suggests that perhaps the poem's tone will be unwelcoming as cold temperatures are. The line, 'the biggest snow of the year,' conjures images of a landscape which is covered with snow, completely white. This would explain the description of the deer as 'blue-dark,' as in they appear almost as silhouttes against the white background. The use of the word, 'alerted' portays the deer as sentries, and the speaker as an intruder. The words, 'my dimension' suggest that the speaker acknowledges that animal and human experience two entirely different worlds. The lines, 'they happened into my dimension, the moment I was arriving just there,' indicates that the deer intended for the speaker to see them. Perhaps the deer felt the need to display themselves in order to establish their territory. The deer are said to be staring which reinforces the idea that the speaker is somehow trespassing. This is furthered with the line, 'waiting for me to remember the password,' which adds to the image of the deer as guards and the speaker as an unwelcome intruder into their 'secret deerhood'. The line 'the curtain had been blown aside,' adds to the idea that this is a world that humans are not a part of, it is entirely divided. The speaker says the deer had 'come for them.' This again reinforces the idea that the deer are the dominant creatures, and the speaker feels chosen and perhaps fortunate that the deer have allowed themselves to be seen. The deer then run off, they are said to 'eddy and glide and fly away up' which portrays them as magical and mysterious.

The use of 'dawn-dirty, blue-dark, snow-screen, all-way, snow-lonely' perhaps sounds like a deer's hooves galloping off into the countryside. The slow pace of the poem adds to the feeling that this is an intense, almost mystical moment.

The poem is about two worlds, that is, the human world and the animal kingdom, and serves to highlight natures dominance over humankind. It portrays the animal as sentient and calculating and the human as a mere spectator.

Claire Anderson

Imagery and Sound in 'Roe-Deer'

2017-03-29 15:34:44 UTC

1.Imagery - From the first few lines it can be seen that it is cold in the morning ("dawn-dirty light, biggest snow of the year") and the deer aren't afraid of the speaker ("deer stood") who's mesmerized but the deer. It seems like the deer are in a cult perhaps nature is that cult ("two or three years of secret deerhood"). Eventually the barrier between man and nature is torn and a connection between the speaker and the deer is felt ("the curtain had blown aside"). It seems like nature has come to take man back ("the deer had come for me"). But then nature took the deer back (" the snow took them"). After this the speaker is inspired and goes back to their day ("revising its dawn inspiration, back to the ordinary").
2.Sound - There is no rhyme scheme and rhythm in this poem which can mirror the unexpected events that take place in the poem. The pace of the poem is quite slow which helps Ted Hughes to prolong this encounter with the deer and make it seem like a mystical experience.

Odeta

Analysis of Ted Hughes- 'Roe-Deer'

2017-03-30 16:49:37 UTC

The imagery portrayed within Ted Hughes 'Roe- Deer' conveys the faint description of two deer, he describes them as, 'Two blue- dark deer'. This reveals to the reader how the deer are but a faint memory in Ted's eyes. Perhaps the link of there being two figures relate to his own lose of his 2nd wife Assia Wevill and their child who took their lives 4 years before the writing of this poem. This idea may be forever explored later on throughout the poem when Ted uses imagery to describe the disappearing of the deer, 'all-way disintegration'. The figures he is seeing vanish before his eyes. He further continues this sentence, 'And so for some lasting seconds'. Conveying how time seemed to freeze. The idea of seeing lost loved ones can also be imagined through the sentence, 'That the curtain had blown aside for a moment'. Ted was able to imagine/hallucinate those he had once held close but recently lost.Ted's personal loses laid heavely on his concious especially due to the feminist movement made out of his 2 previous wives suicide, he never publically commented on these allegations until his very last collection 'Birthday Letters' was released 9 months before his death. The poem 'Arraignment' by Robin Morgan pointed directly at Ted Hughe's being the issue of the 2 suicides performed.
The sound within the poem however has a slow flow to it, perhaps conveying the cautious movement of the deer as though they are afraid of the writer.
Abbie Hayes

Roe Deer Analysis

alannah_mcguigan — 2017-03-30 19:52:39 UTC

The reader gets their first hint at what poem this may possibly be when they look at the title. The title, "Roe-Deer" seems to suggest that this poem may be a nature poem. The poem then goes onto describe the scenery, describing the light with alliteration by using the words "dawn-dirty", which is a rather strange way to describe light and may be described this way as the sky is filled with brown and orange colours during dawn and Hughes could be likening the light to that or they could be possibly mean that the light is so harsh and bright that it's hard to see, similar to how it's difficult to look through something that's dirty. The reader also sees that the poem is taking place possibly during winter or it may just be in a environment where it is cold all year round by how Hughes says it's the "biggest snow of the year." Then, Hughes goes onto describe the very roe-deer mentioned in the title. Hughes uses a neologism to describe the two deer as "blue dark" and they possibly look like a blue colour due to the previously mentioned "dawn-dirty light" distorting their colours to the speakers eyes as it makes it difficult to see the deer probably. They could also be seen a "blue dark" as it is most likely dawn and a little bit of the dark night sky could be affecting how the deer look to the speaker.

The poem goes on to talk about how the deer had "happened into my dimension", which may indicate the these deer are not from the speakers world which may explain their "blue dark" appearance but it may also be that since deer usually stay in the forest but these deer are "stood on the road" in a place where humans usually live, so they truly are in a different world, albeit in a metaphorical way. The speaker of the poem goes on to say that the deer had just happened into my dimension "the moment I was arriving just there." The meaning behind this line could possibly be seen as that the speaker only feels like they've just arrived in this human world for the first time, just like the deer, despite most likely living their all their life and this could mean that the speaker feels like an alien and an outsider to this human world, similar to the deer.

The speaker then goes onto say how the deer "planted their two or three years of secret deerhood clear on my snow-screen vision of the abnormal." To emphasise the impact, Hughes uses assonance to help them get a better picture of what is going on. Just by looking at the deer, the speaker feels as if they've gotten a look into the secret deer's world and feels special.

In the next stanza, the speaker talks of how the deer and them stare at each other for a few second. Here, Hughes uses the repetition of the word "and" to emphasise the slow passing of time as the deer and the speaker stare at each other while waiting to see what will happen next.

The next stanza discusses how the speaker feels like the deer are "waiting for them to remember the password and sign." This could be linked to what was mentioned previously about how the speaker could feel like an outsider in this human world and different from everyone else and that the deer are waiting to see if there is any proof of this.

'Roe-Deer' by Ted Hughes

2017-03-30 20:49:05 UTC

In the beginning of the poem Hughes talks about the lack of sunshine and the abundance of snow. These 'blue-dark deer' are alien to the speaker, the next stanzas help to further highlight the differences between nature and humans. This encounter with this rare animal seems almost momentous to the speaker, a moment when two separate worlds collide for a few seconds. It is clear that the speaker felt some sort of connection with the deer for those few seconds ' I could think the deer were waiting for me'. Hughes describes how the rest of the world was at a halt during these seconds ' the trees were no longer trees nor the road a road'. As the structure begins to change from the fifth stanza onward, the deer begin to move, Hughes describes the deer's movements as almost spirit like, 'seeming the eddy and glide and fly away up'. At the end of the poem the speaker talks about how the snow swallows them up and leaves no trace of the moment and the poem ends with 'back to the ordinary' as if nothing ever happened. The sound of the poem is slow possibly mirroring the deers fright but towards the middle and end it starts the pick up which could the reflect the cautious movements of the deer and the heaviness of the snow.
Chelsea

Roen

2017-03-30 21:02:00 UTC

'Roe-deer' by Ted Hughes

2017-03-30 21:02:58 UTC

The imagery used in the poem describes a man (Hughes) seeing two deer in the middle of a massive snow storm. Hughes paints a picture of a storm that is overwhelming to be in the middle of. This along with the imagery of two intimidating deer gives the poem an ominous tone. This is further cemented through his fear of the deers. He also tries to justify his fear through describing the deers as almost supernatural creatures, by saying the seem to "glide and fly" away.
Their is no clear rhyming scheme in the poem, with the stanzas each being two lines long bar stanza seven. The line "the deer had come for me" is placed alone for a dramatic effect to make it sound more ominous and scary. This along with the beat for beat structure of the poem gives it the sound of someone telling a scary story that happened to them.

Ben Veale

'Roe-deer' by Ted Hughes

2017-03-30 21:38:39 UTC

Roe deer is a nature poem. It uses alliteration in stanza 1 "dawn-dirty" to emphasis the appearance and colour of his surrounding. He is also using dark ominous colours to built tension and give an emphasis on what is to come.
The poem is written in free verse with no regular rhyme scheme. The poem is quite choppy and does not flow easily which could be an emphasis on the uncertainty and uncomfortable situation the speaker is facing in the poem.

Roe-Deer

2017-03-30 22:44:34 UTC

The poem "Rod-deer" by Ted Hughes has a theme of nature which is common in many of Hughes' poems.

The poem begins with a description of the narrator's surroundings, there is imagery used by Hughes in the first line "dawn-dirty light[...] biggest snow of the year" to describe the lack of sunshine and the heavy amounts of snow, this first line creates a tranquil time that the speaker sees the "two blue-dark deer" on the road.

The poem puts forward the idea of there being two worlds - nature and human. The deer being described as "alerted" creates a feeling of tension between the two worlds. The deer happening in the speaker's "dimension" shows the deer as mystical creatures. Imagery later used in the poem as the deer "glide and fly away up/ into the boil of big flakes" further convey that the deer as mystical creatures.

Roe-deer

lydiamcalister — 2017-03-31 00:22:12 UTC

The poem begins by describing a winter scene and the deer as 'blue-dark'. This immediately adds a sense of mystery and magic from the snowy weather. Hughes continues to describe the odd coincidence of the deer appearing in his path but his clever use of the word 'dimension' adds to the mysterious and magic tone.
The caesura in line 8 is added to build the tension and to highlight the mystical and intense qualities of the deer.
In line 14 it is written that the deer 'rode their legs'. This is a reference to the deer becoming almost spirit-like that they flew through the air ad became disconnected to their animal bodies.

Nature is a common theme throughout Hughes' poems and 'Roe-deer' is no exception. A heavy emphasis is placed on observing nature as it runs its own course and the interaction of animal and humans. In this poem, there is a clear idea of animals having some higher spiritual consciousness than humans, an idea that Hughes' was very interested in through his clear regard for Paeanistic religious views on nature.

Roe-deer

2017-03-31 07:01:43 UTC

Roe-deer is yet again another poem with the theme of nature which is common in most of his poetry.

Ted Hughes often uses hyphenated words like diry-dawn and all-way. The poet often uses positive descriptivery vocabulary words to talk about nature. This link in with imagery
- the boil of big flakes
-secret deerhood
-snow-screen vision of the abnormal

Roe-deer

2017-03-31 07:32:22 UTC

Roe-deer is like most of Hughes' other poems as it is also about nature.
At the beginning of the poem Hughes describes the deer as "blue dark" this could mean that Hughes only sees them from the distance adding mystery to the poem. It may make the speaker feel special because it is a rare moment to be even this close to them.

"the deer had come for me" this makes it seem like fate that the deer are near the speaker as if they wanted him to know their presence for a certain reason that is unknown.

when the speaker says "upright they rode their legs" it makles it seem that the speaker is talking about them flying and that they are not actually animals but mystical creatures who have crossed in the speakers dimension for a short while which could make the speaker feel privileged.

At the end of the poem the speaker says "back to the ordinary" which gives a sense that they have to go back to the real world and almost forget that this happened now that the deer have gone
Rhiannon

Roe-deer

2017-03-31 09:52:09 UTC

Roe-deer, like most of Hughes' other poems, includes a wide use of nature imagery as well as imagery of animals. For example, the title 'Roe-deer' immediately implies that this poem will refer to nature and a certain environment, undoubtedly including a range of secret, underlying messages within.

Within the fourth stanza, readers will notice the use of sibilance when the poem reads; 'And Stared at me. And So for Some laSting Seconds'. I believe Hughes' included this to create a sense of tension as the creatures stare at the narrator.

James Blevins

Roe-deer

2017-03-31 12:40:49 UTC

2017-03-31 12:41:42 UTC

Roe-deer

2017-03-31 15:01:26 UTC

Roe-deer, as the title reveals uses nature imagery as the basis of the poem, like most of Hughes' poems. The atmosphere is described at the beginning of the poem in the line 'In the dawn-dirty light, in the biggest snow of the year'. Already it is clear that the poem will have a dark, cold setting yet the alliteration 'dawn-dirty' portrays a very detailed scene which connects to the theme of nature. The deer are the main animals in this poem, and Ted Hughes uses their actions to convey his emotions. For example, the fact the deer were 'alerted' shows that perhaps they were afraid of the writer, or waiting to attack as well as making the animal world seem like a completely different world to that of humans by continuing with the line 'They had happened in my dimension'. This tension is continued throughout the poem by the frequent use of full stops such as in the line 'The deer had come for me.' which separates the poem into two halves, and in the second half the deer starts running away.

The sound of the poem is rather calm and continuous, however the frequent use of full stops creates tension and fear, for example 'And stared at me.' The line which 'breaks' the poem into two also makes the second half of the poem sound different.

Weronika

Roe-deer

2017-04-03 13:58:36 UTC

This poem again is about nature like the majority of Hughes' poetry. This poem talks about two deer and that they had happened into the writers 'dimension' indicating as if they are two aliens to him, even though he was brought up around nature and with a love for it. by this stage it suggests that it didn't happen in real life because it's like he is not sure about the whole aspect of nature. 'Secret deerhood' this gives a quick glimpse into another world which leaves the narrator feeling privileged, as if he can see into their lives. the beginning of the poem talks about 'blue-dark deer' and 'snow of the year' which indicates that it is winter time and this links into the title because 'Roe' is a small deer that has a reddish coat in the summer and it changes to a greyish colour in the winter. Then at the end of the poem it says' Back to the ordinary' suggesting that he is wondering did it actually happen or was it all a dream. when he talks about there not being trees were there used to be and the road not a road also ties in with the fact that it didn't actually happen.

2020-04-13 10:01:52 UTC

ys "back to the ordinary" which gives a sense that they have to go back to the real world and almost forget that this happened now that the deer have gone Rhiannon

2020-04-29 10:06:41 UTC

The poem then goes onto describe the scenery, describing the light with alliteration by using the words "dawn-dirty", which is a rather strange way to describe light and may be described this way as the sky is filled with brown and orange colours during dawn and Hughes could be likening the light to that or they could be possibly mean that the light is so harsh and bright that it's hard to see, similar to how it's difficult to look through something that's dirty. The reader also sees that the poem is taking place possibly during winter or it may just be in a environment where it is cold all year round by how Hughes says it's the "biggest snow of the year."

2020-07-25 11:30:16 UTC

The idea that they ‘happened into my dimension’ gives a sense of supernatural, of forces beyond human from a different spiritual world, just at the appropriate moment.

2020-10-29 08:08:45 UTC

Roe-deer The poem begins by describing a winter scene and the deer as 'blue-dark'. This immediately adds a sense of mystery and magic from the snowy weather. Hughes continues to describe the odd coincidence of the deer appearing in his path but his clever use of the word 'dimension' adds to the mysterious and magic tone. The caesura in line 8 is added to build the tension and to highlight the mystical and intense qualities of the deer. In line 14 it is written that the deer 'rode their legs'. This is a reference to the deer becoming almost spirit-like that they flew through the air ad became disconnected to their animal bodies

2020-10-29 08:08:50 UTC

Roe deer

dericktan — 2021-02-19 01:25:14 UTC

It talks about "two blue dark deer" that tranced the poet while he was on the way. 'Roe deer' by ted Hughes presents how a simple scene of nature can give one lasting sensation of a lifetime. The poem is about two roe deer that the poet saw while he was on his way. It was the time of winter.

2021-06-09 08:04:14 UTC

neologism

dear random people from the padllet

2025-05-15 03:13:51 UTC

i love you, im passing my exam of tomorrow because of you all