Whoso List to Hunt Questions

Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.

  1. Does the speaker only want the deer because he can't have her? Or do you think his desire is, ahem, pure?
  2. Why do you think Wyatt never published any of his poems (including this one) during his lifetime? 
  3. What is the effect of using a deer instead of, say, an eagle, or a bear, or a wolf?
  4. What is the effect of a Latin quotation in an English poem?
  5. Why does the speaker want the hind, really? Is it just a sex thing, a love thing, a friend thing? How can you tell?
  6. Is this poem really about Wyatt's love for, or relationship with, Anne Boleyn? Is there any way to know?
  7. This poem is loosely based on a poem by Petrarch. Does this make Wyatt a total rip off? Why or why not?