bayonet charge Flashcards
what does “in media’s res” mean
in middle of action
“suddenly he awoke”
sounds as if he is in a confused vulnerable state almost like a nightmare
what does the word “raw” suggest?
has a double meaning, suggests discomfort but also inexperience
what is the effect of reappeared “h” in “hot” “khaki” “his” “heavy” on line 2?
imitates the soldiers heavy breathing as he runs
what technique is “billets smacking the belly out of the air” and what is it describing?
vivid imagery and onomatopoeia, describes sounds and impact of the shots
“he lugged a rifle as numb as a smashed arm”
shows the rifle is useless, foreshadows inevitable injuries
give a quote that shows that patriotism has been replaced by fear and pain
“the patriotic tear that has brimmed in his eye”
“in what cold clockwork of the stars and the nations”
emphasises soldiers insignificance and lack of control
“cold” suggests that the people in charge don’t care about individual soldiers
“like a man who has jumped up in the dark and runs”
simile, has images of someone who is blind and irrational suggestion war is irrational
what is the effect of enjambment on line 15?
ends his process of thought as he returns to reality
“threw up a yellow hare that rolled like a flame and crawled in a thrashing circle”
simile, emphasises the gates frantic movements and danger the soldier is in
remind the reader that the natural world is also damaged by war
“open silent”
pain and fear beyond expression
what is the effect of natural imagery such as “green hedge” and “field”?
contrasts violence of war, shows the setting of the war
“king, honour, human dignity, ecetera”
these are reason that persuade people to go to war, the use of “etcetera” shows they are not even worth listing and the soldier now finds them irrelevant
“his terrors touchy dynamite”
alliteration, metaphor, suggests his terror is like dynamite, he has become a weapon and could explode, he has been pushed so far he could break
