Bayonet Charge

Question 1

context:
1. Poet
2. Influence of upbringing
3. military service
4. his father

Answer 1

1. Ted Hughes
2. Grew up in Yorkshire countryside- influenced his works
3. served in RAF for 2 year
4. Father served as a soldier in WWI

3&4 show how he has first hand and second han experienced the terror and destructive and false identity of the military

Question 2

how is form used to create irregular rhythm + what is effect

Answer 2

enjambent and causera + uneven line lgnth creates irreuglar rhythm- mirrors struggle of soldiers

Question 3

narrator

Answer 3

“he” creates anonymity shows the soldier could be any soldier in WWI- universal struggle

Question 4

start of poem

Answer 4

starts in media res- makes the reader confused as to what is going on

Question 5

‘S——- he a—– and was r—— - r–’

Answer 5

Suddenly he awoke and was running - raw
in a confused, vulnerable phase- like a nightmare- media res
raw. On the other handnshows his discomfort as well as inexperience
shows reality of war is harsh

Question 6

‘r– - s—— hot k—-, his —— heavy’

Answer 6

raw-seamed hot khaki, his sweat heavy
h shound- heavy breathing
clothes uncomfortable
war is full of discomfort
sweat = mental anxiety of death alt

Question 7

‘B——- s—— the b—- out of the a– - He l—– a r—- as —- as a s——- arm’

Answer 7

Bullets smacking the belly out of the air - He lugged a rifle as heavy as a smashed arm

assonance of U sound shows his struggle in battle
similie foreshadows his injuries
violent imagery and onomatopeia shows the brutality of war
showshow his rifle has become part of him-disturbing

Question 8

‘he a—– s—— - In what c— c——– of the s—- and the n——-‘

Answer 8

he almost stopped - In what cold clockwork of the stars and the nations
war is devoid of purpose
alt = fate of soldiers doomed by the people in charge of war who don’t care
emphasise insignificance and lack of control
clockwork metaphor= compares him to another piece out of many in a clockwork- role is pre determined, pre empting the soldiers death.

Question 9

‘k— , h—–, human d——-, etcetera
Dropped like l——-‘

Answer 9

King, honour, human dignity, etcetera
Dropped like luxuries
persuasive triplet to discourage war
etcetera- ridicules war
simile shows he has been reduced to basic level

Question 10

‘His t—–’s t—– d——-‘

Answer 10

His terror’s touchy dynamite
driven by terror not by will to win and patriotism- not a human being
alt= dynamite- shows how he is waiting to meet his fate of death

Question 11

reality of conflict

Answer 11

1. confusing
2. soldiers are helpless
3. uncomfortable
4. tragic - anonymous narrator - lots of suffering

Question 12

effects of conflict

Answer 12

makes you inhumane
makes you feel insignificant
loose moral values