bayonet charge Flashcards
(58 cards)
What literary device is used to describe the sound and impact of the shots in ‘Bayonet Charge’?
Violent imagery and onomatopoeia
These devices create a vivid picture of the battlefield experience.
What transformation occurs in the soldier’s perspective throughout the poem?
Patriotism turns to fear and pain
The soldier’s heroic ideals are replaced by the painful reality of war.
What does the stanza pause to focus on?
The soldier wondering why he is there
This moment of reflection highlights his confusion and disillusionment.
How is the soldier’s state of mind described when he is bewildered?
He is likened to someone blind and irrational
This suggests there is no rational reason for war.
What does the simile about the hare emphasize in the poem?
The hare’s frantic movement and hints at danger
It reflects the chaos of war and the soldier’s fear.
What does the phrase ‘he’s been reduced to a basic level’ imply about the soldier’s actions?
He is attacking out of desperation, not moral principle
This indicates a loss of humanity in warfare.
How is the soldier’s state described during the events of the poem?
Sounds as if he’s in a confused, vulnerable state
The events seem like a nightmare, confirming their reality.
What does the repeated ‘h’ sound in the poem imitate?
The soldier’s heavy breathing as he runs
This auditory imagery enhances the tension of the scene.
What does the simile ‘his rifle is useless’ suggest?
The soldier’s rifle is compared to a smashed arm
This highlights his feeling of helplessness in combat.
What imagery is used to convey the soldier’s insignificance?
Sweating like molten iron from the centre of his chest
This emphasizes his physical and emotional burden.
What does the phrase ‘cold clockwork of the stars and the nations’ imply?
The people in charge of the war do not care about individual soldiers
It reflects the mechanized nature of war and its disregard for human life.
What does the soldier listen for during his run?
The reason of his still running
This indicates his confusion and search for purpose.
What does the caesura in the poem signify?
It ends the soldier’s period of thought and forces him to return to reality
This structure emphasizes the abruptness of his situation.
What does the image of the yellow hare suggest in the poem?
A distressing image of out-of-control movement
The hare rolling like a flame contrasts with the violence of war.
What metaphor is used to describe the soldier’s emotional state?
His terror’s touchy dynamite
This metaphor illustrates the explosive nature of his fear.
What does ‘king, honour, human dignity, etcetera’ suggest?
These reasons for war are not even worth listing
This indicates a cynical view of the motives behind warfare.
What does the soldier seem to become as the poem progresses?
A weapon rather than a human being
He is driven purely by his terror, losing his humanity.
What historical context is provided for the poem?
Set during World War One, describing a soldier going over the top
This refers to the dangerous assault of soldiers on enemy lines.
What is a bayonet?
A blade/knife that’s attached to the end of a rifle
Bayonets were commonly used in close combat during wars.
What does ‘clods’ refer to in the poem?
Lumps of earth
This imagery relates to the battlefield terrain.
What is the meaning of ‘statuary’?
A group of statues
This term is used metaphorically to describe the soldier’s frozen state.
What does ‘threshing’ mean in the context of the poem?
Thrashing or the beating of crops to separate the crop from the straw
This agricultural term contrasts with the violence of war.
Who is the poet of the poem discussed?
Ted Hughes
Ted Hughes was a 20th-century English poet.
What historical events influenced Ted Hughes when writing the poem?
World War I and World War II
The poem focuses on the experiences of a soldier during World War I.
