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Physical conflict – decisions and impact poems - Coggle Diagram
Physical conflict – decisions and impact poems
The Charge of the Light Brigade (Tennyson)
danger
"cannon to the right of them"
This repetition emphasises the harsh military machinery surrounding them
In the Charge of the Light Brigade, repetition is used to highlight inequality of the opposing sides and how they are surrounded (indicating that their odds aren't that good).
One side is a team of 600 on horses with swords - the other is a army with lots of cannons.
duty
"theirs not to make reply, theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die"
Anaphora- Victorian society values obedience to authority. These lines also sum up army life- even why death is inevitable- they must obey:
honour
"When can their glory fade"
rhetorical question alludes to the poem being a piece of propaganda
Rhetorical question which involves the reader and makes them think about the soldier's bravery:
Bayonet Charge (Hughes)
danger
"bullets smacking the belly out of the air"
This metaphor creates a tense, violent atmosphere and also alludes to someone being winded and unable to breath
Nature personified as another victim to war, highlighting the extensive effects of it. caesura creates pause, reflecting breathlessness after being hit - nature's feelings being taken into account = evoking sympathy personification - Hughes wants us to sympathise
Onomatopoeic language emphasises the violent impact of the shots. Hash alliteration of the plosive "b" sound highlights this further.
duty
"cold clockwork"
Mechanical machinery is emphasised by the harsh alliteration and implies that the soldier has been dehumanised in his role
Hughes uses symbolism to indicate fate and the speaker is asking what did he deserve for fate to send him into war, why is fate punishing him?
honour
"King, honour, human dignity, etcetera, dropped like luxuries"
The solider appears to have completely abandoned his previously upheld values and motivation to fight
Structure
irregular rhythm and line length with irregular enjambment and caesura
echo the soldier's haphazard progress and the chaos of war. The complexity in structure of the poem presents the reader with difficulty in reading it - mirroring the soldier's difficulty in getting through the war zone.
Alternatively, reflects chaos in soldier's mind - does not know what to think or do
lead to mental illnesses e.g. PTSD as experienced with his father