Bayonet Charge Flashcards

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1
Q

Content and meaning

A

Describe terrifying experience of going over top/ fixing bayonets to end of rifle and charging to enemy

Steps inside body and mind of speaker show how act transforms soldier from a living thinking person into dangerous weapon of war

Hughes dramatised struggle between a mans thoughts and actions

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2
Q

Language

A

Patriotic tear that brimmed in his eye, sweating like molten iron: sense of duty (tear) now turned into the hot sweat of fear and pain

Cold clockwork of stars and nations: the soldiers are part of a cold uncaring machine of war

His foot hung like statuary in mid-stride: he froze with fear/bewilderment. Caesura jolts back to reality

A yellow hare that rolled like a flame and crawled in threshing circle: impact of war on nature- hare distressed just like soldier

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3
Q

Structure

A

Poet starts in medias res: convey shock and pace

Enjambment maintains momentum of charge

Time stands still in second stanza to convey soldiers bewilderment and reflective thoughts

Contrasts the visual and aural imagery of battle with internal thoughts of soldiers = adds to confusion. Smacking the belly out of the air. In bewilderment

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