Overview
This lecture analyzes "Bayonet Charge" by Ted Hughes, focusing on its context, structure, language techniques, and how it explores the impact of war on soldiers.
Context & Background
- "Bayonet Charge" describes WWI soldiers going "over the top" with bayonets—knives attached to rifles.
- Ted Hughes wrote the poem after WWI, inspired by his father's memories, not personal experience.
- The poem is anti-war, critiquing the senseless loss of life in WWI.
- "Over the top" attacks were known for their high casualties and terror.
Structure & Form
- The poem has three regular stanzas with no strict rhyme scheme.
- It begins in media res (in the middle of action), creating immediacy.
- Slow motion and pauses (caesura, enjambment) reflect the soldier's confusion and fear.
Imagery & Language Techniques
- Uses violent imagery and personification (e.g., "bullets smacking the belly out of the air").
- Alliteration and onomatopoeia mimic the sound and rhythm of running and heavy breathing.
- Similes and metaphors (e.g., "sweating like molten iron", "cold clockwork of stars and nations") show transformation from patriotism to pain and insignificance of the individual.
- Nature imagery (mud/clods, green hedge, yellow hare) contrasts with war’s violence.
- The yellow hare symbolizes terror and cowardice, reflecting the soldier’s fear.
Themes & Analysis
- The poem explores confusion, fear, and dehumanization in battle.
- Patriotism and ideals ("King, honour, human dignity") are abandoned in the panic of survival.
- The soldier becomes a human weapon, driven by fear ("his terror's touchy dynamite").
- Highlights the futility and trauma of war, with soldiers reduced to mere instruments.
Comparisons with Other Poems
- Best compared with "Exposure" for WWI context and anti-war message.
- Similarities with "Remains" (slow motion, psychological trauma) and "Kamikaze" (internal conflict, pressure to conform).
- Works well with other war poems, especially those focusing on nature and dehumanization.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Bayonet — a knife attached to the end of a rifle.
- In media res — starting in the middle of the action.
- Caesura — a pause within a line of poetry.
- Enjambment — continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond a line.
- Alliteration — repetition of initial consonant sounds.
- Onomatopoeia — word that imitates a sound (e.g., "smack").
- Personification — giving human qualities to non-human things.
- Simile — comparison using "like" or "as".
- Metaphor — direct comparison without "like" or "as".
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review comparisons between "Bayonet Charge" and "Exposure", "Remains", "Kamikaze".
- Analyze examples of language techniques in the poem.
- Read or re-read "Bayonet Charge" and annotate for imagery and structure.