Bayonet Charge - Ted Hughes

Question 1

_________ he awoke and was running - ___

Answer 1

Suddenly he awoke and was running - raw

Poem begins in the middle of the action, the soldier is confused and vulnerable

Question 2

Bullets _________ the ______ out of the air

Answer 2

Bullets smacking the belly out of the air

Violent imagery, onomatopoeia bullets sound very close to the soldier

Question 3

In what ____ ________ of the _____ and ______. Was he the hand pointing that _______?

Answer 3

In what cold clockwork of the stars and the nations was he the hand pointing that second?

Soldiers insignificance and lack of control. ‘Cold’ suggesting that the people in charge don’t care about the disposable soldiers

Question 4

______, honour _______ ______, etcetera dropped like _______

Answer 4

King, honour, human dignity, etcetera Dropped like luxuries

Reduced to the basics, fighting out of desperation not moral principle
‘Etcetera’ : dismissive of the positive reasons to fight as he has realised the harsh reality and pain of war.

Question 5

His ______ touchy ________.

Answer 5

His terrors touchy dynamite.

Soldier has become a weapon. He has lost control and is being driven by terror