Ted Hughes Bayonet Charge Suddenly he awoke and

Ted Hughes ‘Bayonet Charge’ 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.

The poem begins in medias res, highlighting the unpredictable, chaotic and dangerous nature of war. The ‘he’ pronou this sugges n ts cou ld b any you e sold ng ier. Suddenly he awoke and was running – raw In raw-seamed hot khaki, his sweat heavy, The repetition of the word ‘raw’ could reinforce the soldier’s pain, or it could emphasise the soldier’s inexperience and lack of preparation.

The verb choices create a sense of action and confusion. The soldier’s confusion is emphasised by the use of enjambment. Stumbling across a field of clods towards a green hedge That dazzled with rifle fire, hearing Bullets smacking the belly out of the air – is y m d e n an , e e en sed h T se ni This metaphor highlights th un uma them e violence of war. The bulle h ing e ts are hitting this air, implying tha d ak re g. t war disrupts nature as we o ll as humans. m m nin The use of onomatopoeia e e mphasises the sound of the t h bullets frig being fired.

The verb ‘lugged’ implies it is an effort for the soldier to carry his rifle. This simile suggests that the soldier’s rifle seems useless in battle. 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eye Sweating like molten iron from the centre of his chest, – This simile suggests that the soldier’s patriotism has been replaced by pain and fear now he has seen the reality of war.

In bewilderment then he almost stopped – In what cold clockwork of the stars and the nations Was he the hand pointing that second? cts e l f e r s e h s a ty d n f i o a t e r s e The u ldier’s unc ing and the so hat he’s do the w on about confusion ld. e the i f e l batt This rhetorical question emphasises the soldier’s insignificance. He doesn’t feel like he is in control of his destiny. The phrase ‘cold clockwork’ suggests he is part of a machine that is uncaring.

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. t a h t s t es g g u s w e l o i n m k i s t ’ sn e This o d r e H die l. o g s n i e nn th u r s lly ’ a e c i h r y o ph wh a t e m is he t h u s o l fee ’ ab k r a ar. d w e f h o t or ‘in r r o h a e d d n i a e y h t st e reali s a d. h e p r a m p e re p n This u s a w e h t tha

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. This simile reflects the danger the hare is in, and it re inforces the impact conflict ha s on nature. The hare’s movement imply it is terrified and helple ss – like the soldier. The hare crawls in a ‘circle’ which gives the impression it is trapped.

the h t i w d ace f n e h are r w a t a w h t o t sts ng i e g o g g u r s o f e ns l s i o s n m a o i s s e r a s i e e r Th th he g t n , i l e l l a t c a y o b t B f. d t o e n s c r a u v o red ele r horr e r i r a d s n r a e ant oldi c s i al. f v i s i e n v i l r g i p u s s m in : i hes attle g b u n H i , ’ e s c en t s i x e ‘luxurie f o el v e l c i s a b Th is l i pe st ou Ho ople tlin es we m the v a e y ‘ un etce r, th go rea de t rm tera’ e ad o wa sons ine at dit r s th the ion. ese en of rea d son s. He plunged past with his bayonet toward the green hedge, King, honour, human dignity, etcetera Dropped like luxuries in a yelling alarm The ‘green hedge’ is repeated, suggesting the soldier is determined to complete his task.

To get out of that blue crackling air His terror’s touchy dynamite. e h t s e i l imp m e is o h p f e o h l t o of ntr e a o n i c l e e t m s s o a o l l c to be t The e u v o a b h o d t is a n s r a e , m ’ d e i r l so rro r se e a t ‘ e f s i h e y. H h b t s n o e d i r v t i a ow s dr emo i t e m h i ; h n g weapo hat is drivin. w enemy this is

Compare how poets present the experience of soldiers in ‘Bayonet Charge’ and one other poem from ‘Power and conflict’. S ‘Suddenly he awoke’ The poem begins in medias res to show the chaos of war. The word ‘awoke’ reminds the reader that this is reality. P ‘raw’ The word ‘raw’ is repeated to emphasise the soldier’s inexperience. Another interpretation is that the word ‘raw’ reinforces the pain the soldier is in. L ‘terror’s touchy dynamite’ The soldier’s fear is driving him forward. Fear has become a weapon as it could make him act at any moment. I ‘Sweating like molten iron from the centre of his chest’ This simile suggests that the strength he felt from his patriotism is leaving him and being replaced by pain and fear. T ‘King, honour, human dignity etcetera’ This list shows the reasons why people go to war. ‘King’ (or patriotism is first), suggesting it’s the most important. However, these are undermined by the ‘etcetera’.

Which poem would you choose to compare to ‘Bayonet Charge’? KEY THEMES: • Effects of conflict • Reality of conflict • Fear • Individual’s experience of conflict Which poem would make a good comparison? ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ ‘Exposure’ ‘Remains’