Bayonet Charge

Question 1

Context

Answer 1

Never fought in the war
Father fought in Gallipoli
Inspired by Wilfred Owen

Question 2

Form

Answer 2

Free verse
Third person singular - Isolates the soldier not his experience

Question 3

Key Points

Answer 3

Hughes questions War
Shows the reality of War - Show that you only understand when you experience it
Realises soldiers are insignificant
Personal Perspective of fellow soldiers

Question 4

Key Quote 1

Answer 4

Suddenly he awoke and was running - raw
In raw seamed hot khaki his sweat heavy

Question 5

Key Quote 1 Analysis

Answer 5

In media res
authors POV - War is an unnatural opening
experience of war is raw
Structural repetition of raw also enjambment gives us the idea of how painful war is emotionally and physically
No full stop for a while- gives the poem a breathless feeling mimicking the breathlessness of the soldier
The contrast of khaki is meant to be helping him however it is against him

Question 6

Key Quote 2

Answer 6

Bullets smacking the belly out of the air-
He lugged a rifle numb as a smashed arm

Question 7

Key Quote 2 Analysis

Answer 7

Comedic - soldiers feeling of amusement
Simile to the rifle as a smashed arm

Question 8

Key Quote 3

Answer 8

In what cold clockwork of the stars and the nations / Was he the hand pointing the second

Question 9

Key Quote 3 Analysis

Answer 9

The semantic field of clock- time is running out
Behind the scenes - the government does not work properly. The futility of the individual
Soldiers’ realisation is a question, asking readers to ask themselves the same question and come to the same conclusion.
Significant adjective cold in particular symbolizes the futility of war contrasting with soldier’s passion