Bayonet charge Flashcards
How many stanzas
It is split into three stanzas
What type of ryhme scheme does it have
Irregular rhythm scheme having: Free verse. Irregular line length. Enjambment (sentences flowing over the line). Caesura (breaks in the line).
Bullets smacking the belly out of the air
Violent imagery.
Highlights the danger of the battlefield
“Suddenly he awoke and was running
The poem begins in media res (in the middle of the action) – this creates a sense of urgency and highlights the chaos of war.
The patriotic tear that had brimmed in his eye…”
Simile.
The soldier’s patriotic ideals are useless now he is faced with the reality of conflict.
“King, honour, human dignity, etcetera…”
Listing.
Things that seemed important to the soldier before the war now seem futile when faced with death.
“In what cold clockwork of the stars…”
Harsh alliteration.
Potentially a reference to fate governing the soldier and his powerlessness.
Stumbling across a field of clods towards a green hedge…”
The verb “stumbling” indicates his lack of control as he is caught up in the chaos of war.
The shot-slashed furrows…”
Gruesome image.
Highlights the brutality of war.
He lugged a rifle numb as a smashed arm”
Simile.
The image suggests the rifle is useless and therefore emphasises how vulnerable he is.
