Bayonet Charge Flashcards
In Bayonet Charge,
“He lugged a rifle numb as a smashed arm”
What technique is used here and what does the image present?
This is a simile that suggests the uselessness of the rifle, emphasising his vulnerabilities and foreshadowing the injuries to come
In Bayonet Charge,
“Bullets smacking the belly out of the air”
What does this highlight?
This violent imagery highlights the danger of the battlefield
In Bayonet Charge, it starts with “Suddenly he awoke and he was as running”. What is this technique of starting in the middle of the action called and what does this do?
This is called media res and creates a sense of urgency and highlights the chaos of war
In Bayonet Charge,
“In what cold clockwork of the stars…”
What is this and what is this a reference to?
This is harsh alliteration that is potentially a reference to fate governing the soldier and, by proxy his powerlessness
In Bayonet Charge,
“The patriotic tear that had brimmed in his eye / Sweating like molten iron from the centre of his chest.”
What is this and what does it mean?
This is a simile that suggests the soldier’s patriotic ideals are useless now he is faced with the reality of conflict
In Bayonet Charge, the soldier’s tears are compared to “iron”. What does this do?
Dehumanise the soldiers and likens him to something mechanical
In Bayonet Charge,
“King, honour, human dignity, etcetera / Dropped like luxuries in a yelling alarm / To get out of that blue crackling air”
What is this doing?
Listing things that seemed important to the soldier before the war but now seem futile when faced with death. The pointlessness is emphasised with the word “etcetera”
In Bayonet Charge,
“Stumbling across a field of clods towards a green hedge / That dazzled with rifle fire”
What does the word “stumbling” indicate?
His lack of control as he is caught up in the chaos of war
In Bayonet Charge,
“The shot-slashed furrows / Threw up a yellow hare that rolled like a flame…it’s mouth wide / Open silent, it’s eyes standing out”
What does this highlight?
This gruesome imagery highlights the brutality of war
In what poems can you compare the conflict between man and nature in Bayonet Charge to?
Storm on the Island, The Prelude and Exposure
In what poems can you compare the reality of conflict in Bayonet Charge to?
War Photographer, Charge of the Light Brigade, Remains and Exposure
In what poems can you compare the internal conflict in Bayonet Charge to?
Kamikaze and Poppies
