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Bayonet Charge (War) (Structure (line length varies- this reflects the…
Bayonet Charge (War)
Structure
line length varies- this reflects the movement of the soldier and his progress is hindered by what he sees and panic ascends.
Difficult to understand- relects the soldiers struggle as he makes slow progress. The fact that readers are unable to comprehend what's being said by Hughes suggets that we do not and will not ever understand the effects of war unlike the soldiers.
The flow of the poem broken by dashes- suggests that the soldier's progress is hindered or it represents his bewildered state of mind.
Begins mid action with 'suddenly'- Leaves the readers in a state of confusion which helps us sympathise with what the soldier's feeling.
Enjambment and caesura- chaotic structure reflects the chaos of war to give the readers an understanding of the reality of war.
Repetition of the consonant H- replicates a sense of heavy breathing due to the hard work of running in the heavy mud.
Meaning
It depicts the thoughts and feelings of one soldier as he charges at the enemy and begins to question his role in the battle.
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Imagery
the soldier is the only person described in the poem. His comrades are not mentioned. This is surprising – a battlefield would in reality be full of people. This sense of isolation makes the moment more intense. The soldier is fighting for his own survival; everything else is irrelevant
the only indication of the enemy’s presence is the ‘green hedge / That dazzle[s] with rifle fire’. The enemy is dehumanised and unseen, making them more frightening and unpredictable.
Both the hare and the soldier are caught up in a deadly situation – in someone else’s battle. The hare resembles the soldier.
Soldier as arm of a clock- represents the ruling government. It points the way the mechanisms decide just like a clock. Hence, he begins to question patriotism.
Language
simile 'numb as a smashed arm'- difficulty carrying a rifle.
suggests the soldier's young and weak. 'Smashed arm' highlights death and carnage on the battlefield, which highlights the horrors of war.
Metaphor of the clock- life becomes insignificant as he is part of a machine. The soldier's decisions are not his own.
'The stars and the nations- destiny and politics. Free will is taken. The quotes is phrased as a rhetorical question which engages reader's in soldier's plight.
Alliteration, sibilance, assonance, onamatopoeia- creates a violent image, drwas attention to the events and to the experiences of the soldiers.
Effects
Resentment towards the government and those in power. Sympathy for the soldier. Urges readers to learn from the mistakes they've made.
Context
Hughes' father served in WW1. Hence he's writing from a personal viewpoint.
Hughes' work reflects the dual nature of beauty and violence.
Bayonets were used to conserve ammunition- shows disregard for the soldiers as they were more concerned about weapons than the protection of the soldiers.
Charges only occured when opportunity presentd itself-sudden as we're thrown in at the beginning.
WW1 was an example of the bloodiest, violent wars
A trench war- go over the top to charge at an enemy.
Media glorified war as a worthy cause-soldiers indoctrinated to die for their country.
Hughes' influence in archaeology and anthropology is seen in the poem