Bayonet Charge

Question 1

What is the big idea regarding ‘Bayonet Charge’?

Answer 1

It is a journey of a single soldier

Question 2

What is the significance of ‘Bullets smacking the belly…as a smashed rm’?

Answer 2

• The bullets [puncture the air and the image of smacking refers to the soldiers being winded
• ‘Numb’ and ‘smashed arm’ can have a dual meaning he could feel numb because of the pain to cause with the rifle or he could have literally smashed his rifle into his arm in panic. Both highlight the soldiers inexperience

Question 3

What is the significance of the reference to hands and clockwork?’

Answer 3

• The 2 rhetorical questions represents the soldier questioning his purpose
• Reference to clockwork shows these battles happen regularly.
• The fact he refers to himself as ‘the hand’ makes him feel like he is part of the machine

Question 4

What is the significance of ‘shot slashed’ and the ‘yellow hare’?

Answer 4

• The sibilance mimics the sound of the bullets
• Represents the fragile of nature however yellow is cowardly
• Enjambment throughout shows the speed and panic of the situation

Question 5

What is the context?

Answer 5

• His farther was a soldier an the was in the RAF for 2 years

Question 6

What poems could you link it to?

Answer 6

Exposure - Both us esibalnce to create sound highlighting the violence
- COTLB - Use strong imagery to highlight horrific conditions