"My poems are not about violence but vitality, animals are not violent, they're so much more completely controlled than men." Do you agree? Discuss with reference to 3 poems by Ted Hughes.

"Violence" refers to cruelty or intensive use of physical force, while "controlled" refers to being controlled or made obedient. Animal wildness and violence can often be found in Hughes' poetry: elusive movements of the imaginary fox in "Thought Fox"; violent consumption of the own kinds in "Pike"; consumption of humans by the serpent in "Theology." They suggest that Hughes' poetry is more violent than vital.

The fox in "Thought Fox" is only an imaginary animal. Even though it appears to be under the control of the persona's imagination, by studying its movements, animal wildness is witnessed.

From entering the persona's mind to existing out of it, the thought fox moves rather elusively than steadily. "Cold, delicately as...