Bayonet Charge

Question 1

‘Was he the hand pointing that second?’

Answer 1

employs a caesura in stanza 2 forcing the reader to stop and think just like the soldier almost stopped to think.

Question 2

‘running - raw/ In raw-seamed hot khaki’

Answer 2

.shows difficulty in expressing the moment
.the repetition reflects the shock the soldier has, experiencing this sudden charge.

Question 3

‘Bullets smacking the belly of the air’

Answer 3

.Effect of war on nature
.shows the ‘air’ is also a victim of war but is unhinged.

Question 4

‘a yellow hare’

Answer 4

.another reference to nature
.Hughes love for animals
.yellow could link to cowardice

Question 5

‘in what cold clockwork of the stars and the nations’

Answer 5

.Hughes passion for astrology
.’nations’ - government
.destined by the stars
.’cold clockwork’ indicates the soldier’s likeness to a cog and that no one cares what happens to him.

Question 6

‘the patriotic tear’

Answer 6

.original patriotism pushed aside for sheer panic
.emotive language makes reader emotional