# The Hawk; The Hollyhock explained — How to Tell the Birds from the Flowers and Other Woodcuts

> Chapter companion for How to Tell the Birds from the Flowers and Other Woodcuts by Robert Williams Wood.

## What happens

This chapter humorously distinguishes the hawk from the hollyhock by observing a broody hen's reaction: she tolerates hollyhocks near her chicks but cannot abide the hawk, highlighting the absurdity of confusing a bird of prey with a flower.

## Themes in this chapter

### Wordplay and Homophones

The chapter plays on the similar sounds of 'hawk' and 'hollyhock' to create a humorous confusion between a bird and a flower.

### Humor and Absurdity

The absurdity of confusing a predatory bird with a garden flower is highlighted through the hen's contrasting toleration.

## Character check-ins

### the Birds

The broody hen and her chicks are referenced as examples of birds that interact with hollyhocks and hawks.

## Key lines

> To recognize this bird‑of‑prey, The broody hen you should survey: She takes her chicks on daily walks, Among the neighboring Hollyhocks, While with the Hawk association, Is quite beyond her toleration.

To identify a hawk, observe a broody hen: she walks her chicks among hollyhocks but cannot tolerate the hawk's presence.

_The passage uses the hen's behavior to distinguish between the hawk and the hollyhock._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/how_to_tell_the_birds_from_the_flowers_and_other_se/chapters/the-hawk-the-hollyhock
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/how_to_tell_the_birds_from_the_flowers_and_other_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/how_to_tell_the_birds_from_the_flowers_and_other_se/chapters