The Windhover

In this activity, students will synthesize three unrelated things to create a poem about what it means to be a good person. This poem will show the student’s ability to connect unrelated images through metaphor and juxtaposition.

Students will be asked to pick three things: one thing from nature, one historical figure, and one belief. Their task is to write a poem similar to “The Windhover” that juxtaposes the three things to say something about the student’s personal beliefs about what it means to be a good person.

The easiest way to structure this is by breaking down each element of the poem. Tell students they must pick one natural object that inspires them and describe it in detail. Next, they must pick a historical figure who inspires them and write about why they are inspired by that person. Finally, they should identify one belief or feeling they have about what it means to be a good person and explain their philosophy. They should start by doing these three things separately.

Once they’ve outlined their thoughts on each thing, their task is to look for a way to connect the three things. Use “The Windhover” as an example. Hopkins connects the image of the bird to his belief in religious commitment.