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GCSE Poetry- Bayonet Charge - Coggle Diagram
GCSE Poetry- Bayonet Charge
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Recap Points
In media res to begin
Not based on personal experience (second-hand account)
Patriotism gives way to panic
Second stanza- questions point of war
Hughes was born in 1930 (after WW1)
Mocking tone used in the last stanza- pointing out the irony of patriotism
WW1 soldier
Reality of war- indescribable horror
Links to 'Remains' as something bad has happened before the poem begins- this makes the reader confused just like the soldier
Enjambment employed to show the chaos of war= disjointed effect on reader like soldier
Caesura used twice- second stanza= shows soldier stops to question
Repetition of "raw"- shows the inescapable patriotism soldiers felt- suffering because of their devotion
"Etcetera"= harsh critique of war
"He" critique of all wars/could be anyone
Form
Personal pronoun 'he'- keeping soldier anonymous presenting that he is a universal figure who could represent anyone
Irregular rhythm caused by enjambment, caesura and uneven line lengths- mirrors the soldier's struggling to run through the mud
World War 1
This war was described with the term "the war to end all wars"- a phrase that of course turned out to be tragically inaccurate with the onset of WW2
Trench warfare- make this setting clear
Around 16 million people died directly in WW1, with many more perishing in the Great Flu outbreaks and conflicts that followed
The historical context of this poem is the First World War
The soldier's epiphany in this poem- in which he suddenly seems to perceive the absurdity of war and the hollowness of patriotism- subtly mirrors the shift in public mood during the war from nervous excitement in the beginning to battle- weary depression by the end
Structure
First stanza sees the soldier acting on instinct
In media res- covers the soldier's movements and thoughts over a short space of time
Time stands still in the second stanza when the soldier thinks about his situation
In the final stanza, he gives up his thoughts and ideals and seems to have lost his humanity
Bayonets
Bayonets gave them a way of continuing to attack if they didn't have the time to reload their rifle
17th Century to WW1, it was considered a primary weapon for infantry attacks. Weapon of last resort
A bayonet is a knife designed to fit on the end of the muzzle of a rifle allowing it to be used as a spear-like weapon
Ted Hughes
One of the most significant British poets of the 20th Century
He grew up in West Riding, Yorkshire, a relatively rural part of England, interest in the natural world
Hughes's father served in this conflict, and Hughes himself grew up during WW2 (though was too young to fight)
Dennis Walder, describes Hughes as a "war poet at one remove, writing out of the impact of memory- the individual memory of his father, and the collective memory of English culture
Key Quotes
"His terror's touchy dynamite"
"King, honour, human dignity, ectetera/ Dropped like luxuries in a yelling alarm"
"He lugged a rifle numb as a smashed arm"
Quick Summary
Soldiers who begin to question their purpose as they lose patriotism. Reflects on the point of war
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Key Themes
Reality of war/conflict
Loss/absence
Effects of war/conflict
Memory
Power of man
Individual experiences