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Bayonet Charge by Ted…
Bayonet Charge
by Ted Hughes
CONTEXT
WWI - soldiers were equipped with bayonets that were attached to the end of their rifles - these weapons were used for both close and distant combat
Ted Hughes
he grew up in a countryside in Yorkshire
he served the RAF for 2yrs
studied anthropology
themes of the countryside, human history and mythology.
his father tod him stories about his exploits in WWI
STANZA SUMMARY
Stanza 1
: it starts in medias res (in the middle). the soldier was running raw and could not feel anything other than the raw emotions and the fear. the soldier continues to run but the weight of his rifle suddenly increases causing him to change his perception - he was now feeling patriotism and pride and runs full force into the battle despite knowing the consequences.
Stanza 2
: in this stanza the solider feels as if he is running towards his death when he finally comes to his senses - he is not fighting out his own interest but by the pressure of the society on the soldiers - he feels as if he is being used by forces greater then he to accomplish their own goals; like a pawn in a game. after this realisation he suddenly stands as a statue.
Stanza 3
: in this stanza the key focus is the hare which is used to symbolise the soldier as they were both terrified, confused, driven from their homes and lives of comfort and seem to be in the middle of the battle which they care less about -the soldier suddenly keeps running without a reason but the hare can be considered as one of the main ones - he realises that he is part of the battle, one in danger of losing his life but also one who takes others.
THEMES
power of humans
power of nature
war
death
reality of war
effect of conflict
TITLE
it sounds as if he is running into the battle by himself -the singular noun 'Bayonet' and the verb 'charge' implies that there are no other soldiers accompanying him on all sides, running alongside with him.
STRUCTURE
three stanzas
it is written in blank verse
caesura
varied line length
reflecting the journey and pace of the soldier
past tense
enjambment
KEY QUOTES
First Line
:
'Suddenly he awoke and was running - raw'
the uncertainty -everything happening so fast
Last Line
:
'His terror's touchy dynamite'
shows how soldiers are being used as weapons
Line 6
:
'He lugged a rifle numb as a smashed arm'
his rifle doesn't bring any use -he doesn't have the heart to kill anyone -symbolises the change in the way he feels about his position, his duty and the weapon he carries.
Line 7&8
:
'The patriotic tear that brimmed in his eye/[..] from the centre of his chest'
contrast-supposed to be passionate but it suggests sadness -reveals that while the soldier was once proud to wear his uniform and carry his weapon with his head held high and a tear of patriotism in his eye, he was not now feeling patriotism or pride.
Line 10
:
'In what cold clockwork of the stars and the nations'
'cold clockwork'-refers to something that is cold and non-emotional 'clockwork'-refers to timing; speaker believes bad timing brought him to fight in this particular battle 'the stars'-refers to his horoscope or destiny; believes that the star alignment at the time of his birth determined his place in the current war 'the nations'-refers to the countries which were are war with one another
Line 11
:
'Was he the hand pointing that second?'
'he'-ambiguous pronoun highlights the soldier's lack of control over his own fate -the rhetorical question indicates that internal conflict of the soldier and his realisation of his insignificance