Bayonet charge Flashcards
Facts about Ted Hughes
- Born 1930 in Yorkshire
- Married to fellow poet Sylvia Plath
- Both of his wives committed suicide as he had two marriages
Bayonet charge context
- inspired by his fathers experience at the western front
- poem was written in the aftermath of a devastating global conflict that claimed millions of lives and changed the political and social landscape of Europe and the world. This context is reflected in the themes and motifs of the poem, which focus on the violence and confusion of war and the impact that it has on individual soldiers
- the cultural context of post-World War II Britain. This was a period of significant change and upheaval in British society, as the country emerged from the war and began to rebuild and reorganize. This context is reflected in the themes of the poem, which emphasize the sense of disorientation and moral confusion that soldiers experience in the midst of battle.
-The cultural context of post-World War II Britain is also reflected in the language and style of the poem. Hughes uses a terse and direct style that reflects the sense of urgency and intensity that was present in the cultural and historical context of the period. The poem also makes use of vivid imagery and metaphorical language that reflects the trauma and violence of the war.
- his father had fought and escaped death, eventually returning home as one of the few men who had survived the battle of Galipoli
- describes the thoughts of a soldier whilst running for his life
stanza one how does starting with the word “suddenly” interest the reader
- plunges the reader right into the heart of the action
- poems narrative opens in medias res
- “su - den - ly” syllables are dactylic, sound like a machine gun going off, which ehoes references to the rifles in lines 4 and 6 which suits the context of a battlefield
- abrupt and unexpected nature of the soldier’s awakening. This creates a sense of disorientation and confusion, which reflects the chaotic and unpredictable nature of war
stanza 1 overview
- speed, noise, sound and fury rolled into one as we see the soldier “running” and “stumbling” his way across the field also “smacking” “sweating” very intense
stanza 2 overview
- soldier is asking why hes running
- solder is asking what hes running from and towards
- immediately it seems absurd (illogical) that he should be running an escape for his life, when ultimately, it all ends up in the same place anyways
analysis of “ in what cold clockwork of the stars and nations was he the hand pointing that second”
- the poet combines the metaphor of clockwork with the metonymy of “the stars and nations”
- these two lines zoom out from the scrutinizing glare that has so far been posed on the soldier in the first two stanzas
- the soldier being the clockhand could suggest that he is running out of time and so he has to run even faster without stopping
- the image of the clock also functions as a memento mori ( reminder) of time that no matter how quickly or desparately he runs, there is always an expiration date, and that he is only ever running towards death
analysis of “stars and nations”
- substitutes for fate and politicians, which are both forces which, to some extent, appear to ultimately dictate how everyones lives turn out
“The patriotic tear that had brimmed in his eye analysis”
-“Patriotic tear”: The word “patriotic” suggests a strong sense of loyalty and love for one’s country, and the fact that the tear is described as “brimming” emphasizes the soldier’s initial enthusiasm for the cause he is fighting for. This also foreshadows how this feeling will be challenged and ultimately shattered as the soldier experiences the brutal reality of war.
-Brimmed in his eye”: The verb “brimmed” suggests that the tear is just on the verge of overflowing, emphasizing the intensity of the soldier’s emotions, suggests that he is on the brink of overflowing with emotion. The use of “his” rather than “the soldier’s” or “the man’s” creates a sense of intimacy, as if we are seeing directly into the soldier’s thoughts and feelings. In addition, the phrase “brimmed in his eye” is a powerful example of personification, as it imbues the tear with human-like qualities. This creates a sense of intimacy and connection between the reader and the soldier, as if we are seeing directly into his thoughts and feelings.
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“sweating like molten iron from the centre of his chest analysis
- simile is a striking and vivid image that conveys the physical response to the soldier’s emotions. The use of “molten iron” suggests heat, intensity, and danger, which reflects the soldier’s growing sense of unease and fear as he prepares to enter battle.
Suddenly he awoke and was running - raw / In raw-seamed hot khaki, analysis
- the repetition of “raw” emphasizes the physical and emotional vulnerability of the soldier, who is exposed and unprotected in the face of danger. This technique also helps to create a sense of immediacy and urgency, which heightens the tension and drama of the scene.
- “raw-seamed hot khaki” is a striking example of imagery, as it creates a vivid and evocative image of the soldier’s uniform. The use of “raw-seamed” suggests a garment that is poorly made and ill-fitting, which emphasizes the unprepared nature of the soldier’s situation. The adjective “hot” emphasizes the uncomfortable and oppressive conditions in which the soldier is fighting, while the use of “khaki” conveys a sense of drabness and uniformity, which underscores the impersonal and dehumanizing nature of war.
- “his sweat heavy” is a powerful example of personification, as it imbues the soldier’s sweat with human-like qualities. This creates a sense of weight and burden, which reflects the physical and emotional toll of war on the soldier’s body and mind
meaning of drabness
a lack of interest or colour; the fact of being boring
“Cold clockwork of the stars and the nations / Like clay in the hands of a potter, shaping and reshaping analysis
metaphor - Cold clockwork of the stars and the nations - The phrase “cold clockwork” suggests a world that is precise and unfeeling, while the use of “stars and the nations” suggests a vast and complex system that is beyond human understanding. This metaphor also emphasizes the sense of detachment and disillusionment that the speaker feels towards the world around him
simile - “Like clay in the hands of a potter, shaping and reshaping - compares the world to a malleable material that can be molded and changed at will. This simile suggests a sense of agency and control, as if the world is subject to the whims and desires of those who shape it. At the same time, however, it also implies a sense of vulnerability and fragility, as if the world is subject to forces beyond its control. This image serves to underscore the sense of powerlessness that the soldier feels in the face of the larger forces at play in the world
juxtaposition and enjambment - By breaking up the sentence between the first and second lines, the poet emphasizes the contrast between the “cold clockwork” of the first line and the more human and creative image of the potter in the second line.The juxtaposition of these two images serves to emphasize the sense of disorientation and confusion that the soldier experiences as he is thrust into the chaos of war. The image of the clockwork suggests a world that is operating according to a predetermined plan, while the image of the potter suggests a world that is subject to constant change and transformation. Together, these images create a sense of instability and uncertainty, highlighting the sense of danger that the soldier is facing.
“In bewilderment then he almost stopped analysis
bewilderment - suggests confusion that is so profound that the soldier is almost immobilized by it
he phrase “almost stopped” is also significant, as it suggests that the soldier is struggling to maintain his momentum and continue moving forward. This creates a sense of tension and uncertainty in the poem, as the reader is left to wonder whether the soldier will be able to overcome his confusion and continue fighting.
“King, honour, human dignity, dropped like luxuries in a yelling alarm
he phrase “dropped like luxuries” is a powerful metaphor that conveys the idea that the values and principles that people hold dear, such as king, honour, and human dignity, become worthless and disposable in the face of war. The metaphor emphasizes the sense of moral confusion and loss that is often experienced by soldiers in the midst of battle, the phrase “dropped like luxuries” is also significant, as it creates a sense of finality and inevitability. emphasizes the idea that once war has begun, there is no turning back and no way to avoid the loss and destruction that it brings
- The word “yelling” creates a sense of noise and panic, emphasizing the sensory overload that soldiers experience in the midst of battle, this combined with the word alarm further suggests an ongoing, never ending sound
- the word etcetera suggests that there are many other things that have been discarded and abandoned in the face of war. This serves to highlight the sense of loss and destruction that war can cause, not just in terms of physical damage, but also in terms of the loss of values and principles that are typically cherished in society
