Bayonet Charge Flashcards
Who created bayonet charge
Ted Hughes
What is the context of BC
His father fought in the war and was traumatised from the trench warfare. As a tribute to his fathers suffering he created BC to warn future generations
What does the first word indicate BC
‘Suddenly’ thrust the reader into action related to the idea of waking up. This shows that in war there is no moment of peace
What does the second line show BC
Repetition of raw creates a sense of desperation. Additionally, the connotations of ‘raw’ are animalistic which denotes a lack of humanity in the situation
What does ‘dazzled with rifle fire’ and ‘Bullets smacking the belly’ show BC
‘Dazzled with rifle fire’ (sparks are created by rifle fire are beautified in this image) whereas the metaphor of bullets create a tense atmosphere and alludes someone is unable to breathe
Difference in what was happening was quick shows the danger of war
How is mechanical imagery used BC
‘Cold clockwork’ is emphasised by harsh allieration and implies that the soldier has been dehumanised
How is the hyphen used in stanza 2 BC
‘He almost stopped’ hyphen creates a pause which coincides with the idea of the soldier being about to stop
What is conveyed in the last senetnce of stanza 2 BC
Rural imagery subverted to create a juxtaposition between the nourishing connotations of farming and the life being taken away in the same place
What does the soldier question BC
‘Listening for the reason Of his still running’ question reasons for fighting
What is a difference shown in stanza 3 BC
Violent connotations of ‘threw up’ contrast with the innocence connotated by a hare
When is the soldier seen to lose motivation BC
‘King,honour,human dignity,etcetera Dropped like luxuries in a yelling alarm’. Abandoned previously upheld values and motivation to fight
What perspective is the poem in and why BC
Third person singular- gives limited narrative perspective allowing reader to focus on the individual impact of war.
Additionally, it emphasises the isolation felt by soldiers in the war as they are isolated from any help thus intensifying soldiers suffering to the speaker.
Poem is highly focused on emotion why is this ironic BC
Soldiers espedted to show no emotion and also shows how the soldier referenced cannot share his feelings with his oeers
