Bayonet Charge - Ted Hughes Flashcards
What themes are shown in bayonet charge?
- conflict / war
- contrast of fear and bravery
How is conflict / war shown?
The poem is about a charge in the war and the conflict of this war.
What quotes show conflict / war?
“bullets smacking the belly out the air”
“he plunged past with his bayonet”
How do these quotes show conflict / war?
There is graphic imagery of the bullets killing people though the use of a metaphor. “he plunged past” is the charge with the bayonets.
How is the contrast of fear and bravery shown?
There is fear because the soldiers are scared to fight because they know there is a big chance of them dying, however there is also bravery because they carried on fighting for their people anyway.
What quotes show fear?
“statuary in mid-stride”
“in bewilderment then he almost stopped”
“sweating like molten iron”
How do these quotes show fear?
They stop because they don’t know if they feel brave enough to keep going and fighting because they are scared. They are sweating because they have a lot of fear.
What quotes show bravery?
“he plunged past”
“king, honour, human dignity, etcetera”
How do these quotes show bravery?
Because even though they are scared, the soldiers decide to fight anyway for their country and all the reasons they are fighting for.
