Bayonet Charge

• What is the form of the poem "Bayonet Charge"?

  Free verse
• What does the phrase "snaking the belly out of the air" suggest in "Bayonet Charge"?

  It conveys a sense of action and urgency
• How does the structure of "Bayonet Charge" reflect the theme of futility in war?

  The lack of order in free verse emphasizes chaos and confusion
• What does the phrase "peace is war" imply in the context of the poem?

  It suggests a paradoxical relationship between peace and conflict
• What is a key theme in "Bayonet Charge" related to nature?

  Man vs nature
• What literary device is used in "Bayonet Charge" to create differing line lengths?

  Enjambment
• How does the poem "Bayonet Charge" portray the soldier's internal conflict?

  It contrasts determination with hesitation
• What are the key comparisons made in "Bayonet Charge"?

  • Compared to "Charge of the Light Brigade"
  • Compared to "Remains"
  • Compared to "Exposure"
  • Compared to "War Photographer"
• What does the nameless soldier in "Bayonet Charge" symbolize?

  A universal experience of soldiers in war
• What action does the soldier take in the second stanza of "Bayonet Charge"?

  He climbs out of the trenches
• What transformation does the soldier undergo in "Bayonet Charge"?

  From a living person to a dangerous weapon of war
• Who is Ted Hughes and what is his background?

  He was born in Yorkshire in 1930 and his father was a WWI veteran
• What imagery is used to describe the soldier's rifle in "Bayonet Charge"?

  It is described as part of the body, weaponizing men
• What does the rhetorical question "In what cold clockwork of the stars and nations..." suggest in the poem?

  It reflects on the insignificance of individual lives in the context of war
• What does the phrase "His foot hung like statuary in mid-stride" convey?

  It illustrates a moment of paralysis or hesitation
• What does the list of three reasons for war in "Bayonet Charge" signify?

  It shows that concepts like "King, honour, dignity" are no longer significant
• What epiphany does the soldier experience in "Bayonet Charge"?

  He realizes he doesn't want to die for his country
• How does the landscape of the soldier's birthplace affect his perception of war?

  It juxtaposes glory with horror, impacting his writing
• What was Ted Hughes' experience with the RAF?

  He was in the RAF but never fully in combat
• What does the phrase "His terror's touchy dynamite" imply about the soldier's state of mind?

  It suggests that his fear is overwhelming and explosive
• What does the metaphor "original principles gone" signify in "Bayonet Charge"?

  It indicates that the soldier's initial motivations for fighting have disappeared
• What literary device is used in "Bayonet Charge" to convey desperation?

  Alliteration