Bayonet Charge 1 2 Objectives To explore the

Bayonet Charge 1) 2) Objectives: To explore the poem Bayonet Charge focusing on how Hughes has used poetic devices to portray theme of power and conflict To use MITSL to develop a response to the poem

• bayonet’ • ‘clod’ • ‘patriotic’ • ‘bewilderment’ • ‘statuary’ • ‘furrows’ • ‘threshing’

The 5 minute story • • • • Alarm Bayonet Suddenly Raw Dazzled Smacking Numb Running Molten Smashed Patriotic tear Threshing Yellow Using as many of these words as you can, write your own story.

As you listen to the poem fill the soldier with words he might be feeling. • scared • frightened • nervous

Now find 2 or 3 quotations to put around/ underneath/ next to the outline that demonstrate these feelings. • ‘stumbling across’ • ‘his terror’

Suddenly he awoke and was running - raw In raw-seamed hot khaki, his sweat heavy, Stumbling across a field of clods towards a green hedge That dazzled with rifle fire, hearing Bullets smacking the belly out of the air He lugged a rifle numb as a smashed arm; The patriotic tear that had brimmed in his eye Sweating like molten iron from the centre of his chest, In bewilderment then he almost stopped In what cold clockwork of the stars and the nations Was he the hand pointing that second? He was running Like a man who has jumped up in the dark and runs Listening between his footfalls for the reason Of his still running, and his foot hung like Statuary in mid-stride. Then the shot-slashed furrows Threw up a yellow hare that rolled like a flame And crawled in a threshing circle, its mouth wide Open silent, its eyes standing out. He plunged past with his bayonet toward the green hedge, King, honour, human dignity, etcetera Dropped like luxuries in a yelling alarm To get out of that blue crackling air His terror’s touchy dynamite. Write do wn ONE thing yo u underst and ONE thi ng whic h puzzles you.

Suddenly he awoke and was running - raw In raw-seamed hot khaki, his sweat heavy, Stumbling across a field of clods towards a green hedge That dazzled with rifle fire, hearing Bullets smacking the belly out of the air He lugged a rifle numb as a smashed arm; The patriotic tear that had brimmed in his eye Sweating like molten iron from the centre of his chest, In bewilderment then he almost stopped In what cold clockwork of the stars and the nations Was he the hand pointing that second? He was running Like a man who has jumped up in the dark and runs Listening between his footfalls for the reason Of his still running, and his foot hung like Statuary in mid-stride. Then the shot-slashed furrows Threw up a yellow hare that rolled like a flame And crawled in a threshing circle, its mouth wide Open silent, its eyes standing out. He plunged past with his bayonet toward the green hedge, King, honour, human dignity, etcetera Dropped like luxuries in a yelling alarm To get out of that blue crackling air His terror’s touchy dynamite. Watch t he clip – ca video n you answer yo questio ur n now?

What do you notice about the structure of the start of the poem? Why does Hughes use third person pronouns throughout? What are the connotations of the adjectives ‘raw’, ‘hot’ and ‘heavy’ Suddenly he awoke and was running - raw In raw-seamed hot khaki, his sweat heavy, Stumbling across a field of clods towards a green hedge That dazzled with rifle fire, hearing Bullets smacking the belly out of the air He lugged a rifle numb as a smashed arm; The patriotic tear that had brimmed in his eye Sweating like molten iron from the centre of his chest, - Look at the verbs (present and past) in orange. What do they add to the action/tone of the poem? What do you think about his choice in similes? What is happening in this verse?

Why is he bewildered? Why does the verse begin this way? What's the significance of the adverb ‘almost’? In bewilderment then he almost stopped In what cold clockwork of the stars and the nations Was he the hand pointing that second? He was running Like a man who has jumped up in the dark and runs Listening between his footfalls for the reason Of his still running, and his foot hung like Statuary in mid-stride. Then the shot-slashed furrows What is happening in this verse? This poem uses lots of similes – what do you notice in this verse?

What sort of imagery is Hughes using? Is this real? Threw up a yellow hare that rolled like a flame And crawled in a threshing circle, its mouth wide Open silent, its eyes standing out. He plunged past with his bayonet toward the green hedge, King, honour, human dignity, etcetera Dropped like luxuries in a yelling alarm Similes again! What do you To get out of that blue crackling air notice? His terror’s touchy dynamite. What is happening in this verse?

Compare the ways poets present ideas about power in ‘Bayonet Charge ’ and in one other poem from the collection Bayonet Charge Meaning (title) Imagery Tone Structure Language

Compare the ways poets present ideas about conflict in ‘Bayonet Charge’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and Conflict’

30 min response Using your information from your table or venn diagram write a response to the question: Compare the ways poets present ideas about power in ‘Bayonet Charge ’ and in one other poem from the collection

Success criteria Is there: 1. An introduction which includes both poems outlining their meaning and their titles? 2. A section on imagery which compares both poems in relation to power using quotes? 3. A section on tone which compares both poems in relation to power using quotes? 4. A section on structure which compares both poems in relation to power using quotes? 5. A section on language which compares both poems in relation to power using quotes?