Bayonet Charge - Ted Hughes

"Suddenly he awoke"
1. Which is the dream world?
2. He is waking into another nightmare
3. Reader is put straight into the action
"King, honour, human dignity, ecetera
1. Heard it all before
2. Dismissive of all of these things - They are no longer important
3. Suggests he is recalling all of the things that he was bombarded with by propaganda
"Lugged a rifle as numb as an arm"
1. Weapons are now part of his body
  1. Shows the dehumanization of war - turning him in to a killing machine
  2. Simile
Repetition of "h" sound
1. Reflects his heavy breathing
The poem tries to step inside the body and mind of a soldier experiencing one of the most horrific acts of war.
1. The soldier is going "over the top" and is using a Bayonet - (a long knife attached to the end of a rifle.
2. At the end of the poem he realises that all the moral justifications are ultimately unimportant. He is no longer a person but a weapon and a playing piece in the game of war.
Comparison
1. Futility
  1. Uses the contrast between war and nature, to express their feelings
  2. BC is about dying whereas F is about mourning.
2. Belfast Confetti
  1. Both use form and structure to show energy and chaos of conflict.
  2. Presents feelings of fear and confusion.

Resource summary

	Created by rosannazolna about 10 years ago