H Is For Hawk

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of illness or death and mental illness.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. MacDonald weaves three narrative strands together: her grief over her father’s death, her relationship with Mabel, and T. H. White’s story. Which aspects of this structure did you find most effective for telling her story? Did one strand resonate with you more than the others?

2. In what ways does H Is for Hawk differ from other grief memoirs or nature writing you’ve read, such as Cheryl Strayed’s Wild or Annie Dillard’s Pilgrim at Tinker Creek? What unique insights does MacDonald offer about the human relationship with nature?

3. Which stylistic elements of MacDonald’s writing did you find most compelling or memorable?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. MacDonald describes her retreat into the world of falconry as a way of coping with grief. What activities or pursuits have helped you process difficult emotions in your life? How did they provide comfort or distraction?

2. The author details her growing identification with Mabel, gradually adopting more “hawk-like” traits in her isolation. Have you ever found yourself unconsciously taking on characteristics of something you were deeply involved with?

3. Throughout the book, MacDonald struggles with the balance between isolation and human connection. When have you experienced this tension in your own life, particularly during times of personal difficulty?

4. After beginning antidepressants, MacDonald perceives Mabel differently—less as a cold killing machine and more as a playful creature. How have shifts in your mental or emotional state changed your perception of the people, animals, or activities in your life?

5. What objects or activities have served as both connections and barriers in your important relationships, similar to how MacDonald’s father used photography as both expression and shield?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. MacDonald discusses how falconry was historically tied to class and gender in Britain. In what ways do these historical connections continue to influence our relationship with nature and outdoor activities today?

2. The book explores how humans have projected their own values onto hawks throughout history—from aristocratic nobility to Nazi ruthlessness. Can you think of other examples of animals being misinterpreted to support human ideologies or values?

3. MacDonald notes that as wild animals become more endangered, they become less real and meaningful to the human imagination. Where have you observed this phenomenon in contemporary discussions about conservation and environmental protection? What consequences might this have for conservation efforts?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. What purpose does T. H. White’s story serve in H Is for Hawk?

2. The landscape in the book is portrayed as both natural and politicized. Discuss MacDonald’s use of physical spaces to reflect her emotional state and the book’s themes.

3. Consider the role of flight as both a literal and metaphorical element in the book. What ideas about freedom, escape, and perspective does MacDonald explore through this imagery?

4. MacDonald writes, “Their inhumanity is to be treasured because what they do has nothing to do with us at all” (275). What significance does this realization have for her relationship with Mabel and her understanding of grief?

5. The book portrays a journey from unhealthy to healthy detachment. Trace the evolution of MacDonald’s emotional relationship with her hawk, her father’s memory, and herself throughout the narrative.

6. MacDonald discusses how White incorporated his falconry experiences into his famous work The Once and Future King, particularly through the character of Merlin. What parallels do you see between MacDonald’s journey with Mabel and the way White transformed his falconry experiences into literature?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were to train a bird of prey, which species would you choose, and why? What aspects of your personality might complement or clash with your bird’s natural tendencies?

2. MacDonald describes the unique sensory world of the hawk, given its superior vision and different perception of time. Imagine and describe how you might experience the world if you had a hawk’s senses for a day.

3. In the spirit of MacDonald’s blending of memoir and literary analysis, what book from your past would you revisit to help make sense of a significant life experience?

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