How does the author convey meaning in the poem Bayonet Charge?
Your task is to create an improved and more sophisticated response than the example below. The candidate has used some direct reference to detail using quotations, but has failed to pick apart (unpick) the use of language in sufficient detail. They have also used some of the ideas behind the poem, but haven't really opened these out.
Would you consider this an A, B, C or D grade response?
Why do they keep saying 'it has an effect on the reader'? I want to know what the effect is, so stop wasting words and rephrase the response! This is what I feel like screaming into their brain guys. We can do better than this - they haven't exactly PEE'd it either. My heart weeps and a drowsy numbness pains my brain!
Leave your response in the comments box underneath this post.
Candidate response:
Bayonet charge is a poem about an unnamed soldier who is fighting in WW1. Even the first word in the poem (suddenly) draws the reader's attention because it shows that the events in the poem are unexpected and unusual. Hughes uses repetition of the word 'raw' to highlight that the soldier is new to the war and is therefore young and inexperienced. The fact that the soldier stumbles and is 'dazzled' also adds to the point that he is inexperienced.
As well as showing that youth played a big part in the war, Hughes shows the horrors of it. He uses the personification ' bullets smacking the belly out of the air' so as not to shock the reader by saying that a soldier has been shot, but to show how horrific the war was.
Hughes also shows the idea of idealism verses reality.
In the second verse, there is a lot of reference to time. For example, the word 'stopped' puts a halt to the time and the clockwork is mentioned in the next line. This has an effect of the reader as it, in a way has a sense of slow motion to it and adds to the tension of the poem.
Your task is to create an improved and more sophisticated response than the example below. The candidate has used some direct reference to detail using quotations, but has failed to pick apart (unpick) the use of language in sufficient detail. They have also used some of the ideas behind the poem, but haven't really opened these out.
Would you consider this an A, B, C or D grade response?
Why do they keep saying 'it has an effect on the reader'? I want to know what the effect is, so stop wasting words and rephrase the response! This is what I feel like screaming into their brain guys. We can do better than this - they haven't exactly PEE'd it either. My heart weeps and a drowsy numbness pains my brain!
Leave your response in the comments box underneath this post.
Candidate response:
Bayonet charge is a poem about an unnamed soldier who is fighting in WW1. Even the first word in the poem (suddenly) draws the reader's attention because it shows that the events in the poem are unexpected and unusual. Hughes uses repetition of the word 'raw' to highlight that the soldier is new to the war and is therefore young and inexperienced. The fact that the soldier stumbles and is 'dazzled' also adds to the point that he is inexperienced.
As well as showing that youth played a big part in the war, Hughes shows the horrors of it. He uses the personification ' bullets smacking the belly out of the air' so as not to shock the reader by saying that a soldier has been shot, but to show how horrific the war was.
Hughes also shows the idea of idealism verses reality.
In the second verse, there is a lot of reference to time. For example, the word 'stopped' puts a halt to the time and the clockwork is mentioned in the next line. This has an effect of the reader as it, in a way has a sense of slow motion to it and adds to the tension of the poem.
B grade?
ReplyDeleteAlso, my response:
DeleteHow does the author convey meaning in Bayonet Charge?
Ted Hughes conveys meaning using a number of devices. He portrays the horror and suddenness of war and life on the front lines using language such as “suddenly”. This word, being the first word of the poem, hauls the reader straight into action, just as the young unnamed soldier – the subject of the poem – is. The action is also mirrored by the punctuation Hughes decides to use. The lines “raw/ In raw-seamed hot khaki, his sweat heavy/ Stumbling across a field of clods towards a green hedge/ That dazzled with rifle fire.” The tone the reader must use is inconsistent and pauses are occasionally required. This mirrors the soldier “stumbling” across the battlefield.
Hughes also uses an interesting selection of language to describe the movements of the subject, such as the word “lugged” which displays the soldier’s struggle with his rifle as the pronunciation of the letter g arguably makes the word sound ‘heavy’, just as the soldier’s gun.
The disruption of nature is also used to convey the horror of warfare. For example, the metaphor “Bullets smacking the belly out of the air” personifies the air and gives it a human quality. This implies that Hughes is implying that war disrupts so much more than the lives of the men involved; it also disrupts nature itself.
Also, the “yellow hare” is described to be a colour that is associated with fear, and to be “[rolling] like a flame”. Flames are often out of control and part of something bigger, such as a larger fire. This arguably shows that this hare isn’t the only ‘hare’ that is distressed by what conflict has done; there are also others who are part of a bigger picture. This in mind, the ‘hares’ could represent the soldiers. The hare mentioned in the poem could be representative of the soldier described in the poem, and the other hares could represent the other soldiers just like him who are part of this ‘bigger fire’.
This is flippin' brilliant! You're on target for that A* with constant contribution of this calibre. You just made me so proud I changed my Facebook status! GReat ideas and well expressed - linking the hare and the way it jumps up, just as the soldier has jumped up is a good idea - is it yellow because it is in fear? It represents nature, so is Nature in fear of man? It is interesting that it ends up in a threshing circle, somewhere where corn and barley is removed from the stalk in, an arguably, unnatural process designed by man, much like war.
DeleteI think it would have been closer to a C rather than a B, but here's my awful response:
ReplyDeleteHow does the author convey meaning in the poem Bayonet Charge?
The author, Ted Hughes, conveys meaning in Bayonet Charge, a poem about unnamed soldiers, by using the layout and vocabulary. For example, the line ‘he awoke, and was running’ is back up by the long intervals between punctuation, which could tell us that the a soldier in question wasn’t slowing down, or stopping for anything; only ‘stumbling across a field’. This creates a meaning that the soldiers aren’t given time to think about what they are doing, and that he is just following the drills that have been implanted into his mind. ‘He lugged a riffle numb as a smashed arm’ indicates that he is carrying a heavy burden of some description, and also that the riffle is a disadvantage to him, not the advantage it should be after their training to use their rifles as another limb; creating the idea that Hughes believes that the rifles are useless in natures purpose for them, much like a broken arm is useless in everyday life.
‘The patriotic tear that had brimmed in his eye,’ presents us the idea that Hughes wants us to believe that patriotism traps the subject in this life and that he/they aren’t there by choice. This could show us a patriotic meaning to the poem; that patriotism changes the way that we act and makes our decisions for us. The use of the word ‘clockwork’ could also support this meaning, and possibly tell us that patriotism turns humanity into a mindless army.
Very good Georgia - your ideas around the rifle are extremely good and your movement into patriotism is excellent and an examiner would love to see this, especially as it is an original view! Well done. You have improved the response.
DeleteI have started to improve the response. I hope you like what I have done so far. Ben H.
ReplyDeleteBayonet charge is a poem about an unnamed soldier who is fighting in WW1. Even the first word in the poem (suddenly) draws the reader's attention, especially as it is immediately followed by the words ‘he awoke’. This anticipates that the events in the poem are unexpected and unusual; ‘dazzl(-ing)… rifle fire’, ‘stumbling’ (this shows that he did not expect to hit clods with his feet), . Hughes uses repetition of the word 'raw' to highlight that the soldier is new to the war and is therefore young, unprepared and inexperienced. This is shown by the fact that the soldier stumbles (as mentioned above) and is 'dazzled' (surprised beyond his vision).
As well as showing that youth played a big part in the war (as shown above), Hughes lays out the horrors of it. For example he uses the phrase ' bullets smacking the belly out of the air’ to show how horrific the war was (although the personification of the heart in this way show shock the reader by saying that a soldier has been shot, but to show how horrific the war was.
Hughes also shows the idea of idealism verses reality.
In the second verse, there is a lot of reference to time. For example, the word 'stopped' puts a halt to the time and the clockwork is mentioned in the next line. This has an effect of the reader as it, in a way has a sense of slow motion to it and adds to the tension of the poem.
Ben, did you have help writing this. It is very good and sounds just like you, but wanted to check that you had structured this. Can I also check that you mean 'heart' and not 'belly'?
DeleteThis is an extremely intersting response and you have re-engaged with some of the ideas you and others had last week! You talk about the methods in terms of effects, but you do name the technique of personification and you use the meanings of the language with 'dazzling' clarity to strengthen your response. I would say you have successfully improved the original response. Well done.
Ben H.
DeleteI meant Belly.
Thankyou.
The poem Bayonet Charge is about a WW1 soldier.From the beginning the poem entices the reader griping the from the fist word "Suddenly", the author could also use "Suddenly" to provoke anxiety highlight possibly the soldiers anxiety when fighting. Subconnsiously this makes the audience empathize with this nameless character.This could also help the author to prove his views on patriotism.
ReplyDeleteStructurally Hughes repeats the word "raw". This has several conitations attatched, the first one that comes to mind is a wound and the pain you feel around the area this could highlight the soldier we have been presented with's wound. The second one is emotionally when someone has passed away for family or close friends or collegues the feelings around the deceased are "raw". This could show the things that he has seen, how many friends he has lost.This in a way is questioning patriatism because the author is saying about pain and loss and anxiety and is asking why people are happy to send people away to war when they see all this sadness and have so many "raw" painful emotions. this is also shown by the personification of the bullets " ' bullets smacking the belly out of the air". Arguably this is showing that the bullets are killing any feeling of bravery, it could mean this because when talking about bravery we also associate men with strong stomach's so what this phrase is saying is that these bullets will kill any bravery.
When people go through traumatic experiences they often describe it as getting this feeling of time passing slowly and this peaceful silence this is shown in the poem by the word "Stopped" because this creates a physical pause in the poem when the audience read's it.
I think the original response is a D grade response, however my improved version may only be marginally better as i forgot all about it and jackpot 24/7 has just started on Gems TV and i need to feed my addiction so my mind may get distracted:
ReplyDeleteBayonet charge is a poem about an unnamed soldier who is fighting in WW1. The first word in the poem "suddenly" immediately draws the reader's attention, it shows that the events in the poem are prehaps unexpected or unusual. Hughes uses repetition of the word 'raw'to represent the pure brutality of war and the fact he is using is repetitively shows how he wants to emphasise on the fact that war is 'raw', Hughes also uses the word 'dazzled' perhaps trying to portray the the soldier is questioning his reason for being at war.
As well as showing the brutality of war, Hughes shows the horrors of it. He describes bullets 'smacking the belly out of the air' this personification may be suggesting that not only do bullets harm people, but the air which they breathe, making it almost an impossible escape for soldiers at war if both the air in which they breathe is being destroyed and their paths in which they run are also in danger.
In the second verse, there is a lot of reference to time, for example, the word 'stopped' creates an image of slow motion, with an almost dreamlike quality, the fact that he uses the word 'clockwork' on the following further suggests a pause in time and perhaps even a pause in thought.
Bayonet Charge, written by Ted Hughes, is about an unnamed soldier fighting in WW1. The first word in the poem 'suddenly' suggests that the poem will be about unexpected or unfortunate circumstances. It highlights anxiety in the poem which is continued throughout and captures the attention of the readers by them wanting to know what happens to the soldier. The use of the word 'raw' twice shows not only the brutality of war, but the open wounds that are left behind after war.
ReplyDeleteThe word 'dazzled' would usually show that it is nice, but in the context that it is set, implies that he is caught unaware of what is happening in his surroundings which is supported by the first word 'suddenly'.
The author includes 'bullets smacking the belly out of the air' using personification to imply that all the bravery that the soldier possibly once felt, has now gone, and that it is replaced by scared and nervousness as to what will happen to him.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteTed Hughes uses a range of devices to explore and convey meaning in the poem Bayonet Charge. He uses punctuation to mirror the soldiers movement in WW1 as the pauses that are used inconsistently may represent the soldier stumbling. The word ‘suddenly’ at the start of the poem suggests that something is missing as it is almost like an ellipsis.
ReplyDeleteHughes also uses personification to convey meaning, as the metaphor ‘bullets smacking the belly out of the air’ personifies the air as it has been given a human quality. This suggests that wars does not only effect people but nature as well, as nature has been disrupted and wounded.
In the second verse Hughes makes a lot of references to the time such as, ‘cold clockwork’. This could arguably suggest that war also disrupts the natural order of things, as the soldier has been described to be ‘raw’, suggesting that he is young and inexperienced, and because there is a higher probability that he will be facing death at an earlier age, it does not follow the natural order of things.
How does the author convey meaning in the poem Bayonet Charge?
ReplyDeleteBayonet charge is a poem that focuses on a nameless solder fighting in the First World War.
The author Ted Hughes conveys meaning in Bayonet charge through a number of devices such as structure and language choice. From the very beginning the author’s language choice outlines the reality and action of war. The use of the word ‘suddenly’ (the first word of the poem) attracts the reader’s attention and denotes a sense of surprise and unexpected events. This is carried on as the soldier ‘awakes’ and begins ‘running’. The fast flow and experience is then broken by the author’s use of dashes. Ted Hughes’s use of punctuation suggests how the soldier slowly begins to think about and understand the reality of his actions and surroundings. The author uses repetition to reinforce the importance of the word ‘raw’, which suggests the inexperience of the young soldier. It also highlights the brutality of war and helps to create strong imagery. The soldier stumbles and is ‘dazzled with rifle fire’; this also suggests that the soldier has not yet come to terms with the reality of his thoughts and actions. In the fifth line Hughes personifies the air ‘Bullets smacking the belly out of the air’, this suggests that the war not only affects the people involved; soldiers and families but creates a large impact on the surroundings which are also damaged and scarred. This use of personification is arguably used to subtly indicate the large impact that war can have on both people and surroundings.
How does the author convey meaning in the poem Bayonet Charge?
ReplyDeleteTed Hughes, author of ‘bayonet charge’ uses a variety of techniques to convey the meaning behind the poem. Before a more thorough analysis, we learn the poem is about an unnamed soldier’s experience in a battle situation in WW1. The poem begins with the adverb ‘suddenly’ which immediately strikes the reader into understanding the unexpected and unusual actions that may follow both in the poem and an insight into how Ted Hughes feels about the issues surrounding war. Hughes constructs the poem using imagery which creates dramatic pictures in your mind ‘Bullets smacking the belly out of the air’ the word ‘smacking’ being the angry and abrupt expression which helps you to formulate a clear idea of what the character is going through. His use of language also helps to convey meaning throughout the poem ‘raw’ ‘lugged’ ‘sweating’ etc. This language carries a sense of inexperience and discomfort, presenting his views on war being unpleasant and negative. The structure of the poem may also represent certain themes and ideas. For example, the lines alone vary in length and so portray the uncertainty of the soldier’s actions, whilst ‘stumbling’ across the field. Whilst, in the first verse, the tone of the poem suggests action and fast movement, ‘suddenly’ and ‘running’, the structure is broken by punctuation, the "–", which then breaks the flow of the poem showing how the soldier has been delayed in thought and is just beginning to think about what is happening. Hughes uses the idea of patriotism to give the readers a better understanding of the difference between the ideal and reality. Hughes choice of words changes the idea of patriotism into fear ‘The patriotic tear that had brimmed in his eyes, sweating like molten iron from the center of his chest’ this can be mirrored to the last line ‘his terrors touchy dynamite’ which suggests loss of control from fear and the unknown. In the second verse, Hughes makes reference to time a lot, for example ‘stopped’ and ‘clockwork’ are words that create tension by slowing the poem down, and making the reader imagine the soldier to be in slow motion.
In the poem 'Bayonet Charge', the author uses punctuation or the lack of it to convey meaning to the readers. Ted Hughes has used commas and full stops in the middle of the lines rather than at the end to show that the soldier is stumbling acroos the field and it is slowing him down. In some places Hughes also leaves out punctuation to create enjambment to emphasise the soldiers continuous running.
ReplyDeleteThe second verse implies that the soldier is just a machine, made to serve the army. "In what cold clockwork of the stars and nations was he the hand pointing that second?" shows that he and every soldier before him are just a small part (the second) of the bigger picture (the stars and nations). The enjambment over the next four lines show that he is continuously running but "the reason of his still running" shows that he is thinking why is he doing this and it is almost like he is a machine because he is not thinking about his movements, they are just happening anyway.
Ted Hughes’s poem Bayonet Charge is set between 1930 and 1998 and is based around the idea of World War one (WW1). It illustrates an unnamed solider who is fighting in the war, his poem creates a journey of this soldier, however the journey seems to rush past us as a reader. Hughes portrays this affect by using the word ‘suddenly’ to start his poem; the use of this word allows the reader to be attentive and intrigued, this is because it’s a dynamic word which means that an active movement or event must follow. This idea is supported by the quick pause in the first line created by the ‘-‘ that has been used, almost creating the exact image of the solider possibly rushing to his death which is indicated by the word ‘running’, meaning that he’s got to be somewhere. Throughout the poem Hughes uses repetition of the word ‘raw’ and supports this by using the word ‘dazzled’ also, this then gives us the impression that this soldier is inexperienced and out of his comfort zone as he is also ‘stumbling across [the] field’.
ReplyDeleteHughes not only shows that youth played a big part in war, but he shows the horrors, consequences and pointlessness of war too. He does this by using personification, enjambment, structure, language choice and through his use of punctuation. In line 5 Hughes writes ‘Bullets smacking the belly out of the air’, here he is using personification suggesting that the air has been shot which helps the reader come to terms with the horrors of the war. Furthermore Hughes uses a question mark in line 10 to create an abrupt stop; therefore this abrupt stop causes the soldier to be unsure as to why he’s fighting in the war and questioning his outcome. This allows us to see that he is starting to realise the reality of his actions and the consequences of these actions.
Moreover Ted Hughes refers a lot to time, he uses the word ‘lugged’ in line 6 and ‘stopped in verse 2, both these words suggest a slower action and image which overall adds a slow motion and tension to the poem. This is a total contrast to the beginning of the poem where the journey of the soldier isn’t shown ‘Suddenly he awoke and was running’, this could suggest that at the beginning of the soldiers time in the war he use to find it exciting however now he is realising the consequences and it tired of his job.
Ted Hughes war inspired poem 'Bayonet Charge' conveys, and illustrates meaning by using mainly the device of imagery. While reading through the poem it creates a very graphic and real image stream run through you mind, about the effects of war on the front line, while using a bayonet.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the poem the soldier is unnamed representing and symbolising all the soldiers fighting in the war, instead of individually addressing one soldier. It places each status of the soldiers on one level and doesn't portray a individual as more important.
Hughes creates a unnatural image in verse three 'yellow hare that rolled like a flame', this action isn't considered as a normal feature to everyday life, which portrays it as being unusual and out of the ordinary. It when gets discovered that the hare got caught up in the firing line and gets shot down by the blaze, this is described as being 'yellow' in the poem. This isn't the true colours of a hare, and isn't the characteristics of a hare either, when it 'rolled like a flame'. The quote in the poem reveals itself as a simile, which describes the hare's current actions within the poem. The wording of 'flame' used by Hughes portrays that it is uncontrollable, and that it only burns and dies out when it has run out of fuel (relating to a candle flame).
In the poem that author suggests that the unnamed soldier has lost belief in his own personal view of patriotism by illustrating patriotism as 'molten iron from the centre of his chest', this portrays that his heart is trapped by patriotism and even possibly suggests that he might as well not even have a heart any more as it is 'molten iron' and that his own view is not comprehended as worthy. The soldiers view of patriotism is trapped by his current status on the battle field.
Ted Hughes uses a wide range of methods to explore and convey meaning in the poem Bayonet Charge. He uses punctuation to illustrate the unnamed soldiers movement during battle. I feel this is a strong point as the pauses that are used are varied extremely and may represent the soldier stumbling.
ReplyDeleteHughes also uses personification to convey meaning, as the metaphor ‘bullets smacking the belly out of the air’ personifies the air as it has been given a human quality. This suggests that the War has not only effected people but nature as well, as nature has been disrupted and wounded. Giving an impression that War is not natural and should never occur.
In the second verse Ted Hughes makes a lot of references to the time such as, ‘cold clockwork’. This could perhaps suggest that Nature and time is disrupted by the act of War and that even nature shares an opinion that war is evil and cold. This could arguably suggest that war also disrupts the natural order of things, as the soldier has been described to be ‘raw', suggesting that he is young and lacks experience. Also taking into consideration that he probably wont live to die of natural causes or old age,he will be taken from nature disrupting natural order.
How does the author convey meaning in the poem Bayonet Charge?
ReplyDeleteThe author Ted Hughes uses lots of ways to convey meaning in 'Bayonet Charge' a poem about a young soldier in WW1. He uses punctuation to help convey meaning throughout the poem. The second verse is about the soldier running towards his enemy, from line 11 to line 14 there is no puntuation which helps to convey the idea that the solider is running with urgency and not pausing to think at all as he knows exactly what he should be doing. On line 11 the author poses a question as if the soldier is asking it to himself, the use of the question shows that he is thinking about why he is there and gives the impression that he has paused. The author also uses enjambement to help the pace of the poem as if the sentance is split over two lines there is no pause highlighting fast pace that he is running.
Personification and similes are used in the poem to help the reader understand meaning in verse one it says 'he lugged a rifle numb as a dead arm' which helps us understand how the soldier is feeling about the rifle that maybe its useless and damaged, it is another burden. The use of the opening word 'suddenly' implies that this all happened very quickly and the soldier had no time to think about it. It helps support the idea that the poem is dream like because he is thinking subconciously about what he has to do. A sense that something is missing in time i created in the first line when it says 'suddenly he awoke and was running' as there was no pause for him to think and get ready.
The author refers to nature alot during the poem 'slot slashed furrows' creates an image that war is fighting with nature which could be an implication that war is not in our nature (this links to other poems such as 'Futility'). The ground threw up a yellow hare which could sggest that war is unsettling nature however you could argue this isnt natural because the fact that the hare is 'yellow' which isn't a natural colour this is linked back to the idea that the poem is 'dream like'.
The idea of patriotism is used to help explain why the soldier is here although the poem suggests that the soldier is here although the poem suggest that the soldier himself doesn't really know why he is there as he questions himself about it in 'bewilderment'. As it says 'a patriotic tear that had brimmed in his eye' this implies that he used to be patriotic and this is why he came to war but now he is not because he questions himself, the use of 'molten iron' in the next line suggests that the soldier is now machine like in this war which is controlled by patriotism-the reason he came to war in the first place has trapped him and controls him, this could imply that all soldiers are like this as he is unnamed throughout the poem.
Annie Proudfoot
ReplyDeleteHow does the author convey meaning in the poem Bayonet Charge?
'Bayonet Charge' by the author Ted Hughes is about an unnamed solider in the first world war. The poem opens with the line 'Suddenly he awoke and was running', this conveys to us the reader that the poem is quite 'dream like' as the solider has not even had time to awake himself properly. The line also starts with the word 'Suddenly', this creates a sense of unexpectedness and urgency of this charge the solider is undertaking.
Ted Hughes also says 'He lugged a rifle numb as a smashed arm', the word 'lugged' suggests the tiredness of the solider as he had to 'lug' the rifle. He describes the rifle like 'a smashed arm' this suggests that the rifle is not working properly and is a burden like a smashed arm would be to a person. Later on in the poem, the solider questions himself by thinking 'In what cold clockwork of the stars and the nations Was he the hand pointing that second?' this shows us the reader that the solider has suddenly realised what he was doing suggesting that now he is actually fully awake. It also says 'cold clockwork' this could mean that Ted Hughes is portraying to us the coldness of war itself as many people die.
The solider has a 'patriotic tear that has brimmed in his eye', this implies that the solider may have thought he was fighting for his country because of patriotism but is now questioning himself as to why he is there.
Bayonet charge is a poem about anonymous an soldier who is involved in world war one.The first word in the poem (suddenly) draws the reader's attention because it shows that the events in the poem are unexpected and unusual. it also draws the reader in giving a sense of tension and suspense at the start at the poem. This helps with showing the reader what more is to come through the poem. Hughes uses repetition of the word 'raw' to highlight that the soldier is new to the war and is therefore young and inexperienced. As a lot of young people were killed and were fighting in the war, most people were inexperience and this is very realistic to why the people fighting didn't expect the horrors of the war. The fact that the soldier stumbles and is 'dazzled' also adds to the point that he is inexperienced.
ReplyDeleteAs well as showing that youth played a big part in the war, Hughes shows the horrors of it. He uses the personification ' bullets smacking the belly out of the air' so as not to shock the reader by saying that a soldier has been shot, but to show how horrific the war was.
Hughes also shows the idea of idealism verses reality. this line is very graphic for the reader and gives the reader a vivid feel for the actions that war caused.
How does the author convey meaning in the poem Bayonet Charge?
ReplyDeleteThe poem Bayonet Charge was written by Ted Hughes and is about an unnamed soldier fighting in World War one. Meaning is conveyed in this poem by using many stylistic devices such as punctuation which controls the movement throughout the piece. In the first line "Suddenly he awoke and was running" The lack of punctuation in this line keeps the action flowing and makes the action appear faster as well as the word "Suddenly" Implying a swift action. In most lines enjambment is used to convey the speed of the events and the fact that everything is rushed with little time to slow down. From the end of line eleven to the beginning of line fourteen there is no punctuation, this shows that the soldier has sped up and enters a state of reflection towards the question of why he was running, or why he was fighting, he almost becomes separated from his body as he subconsciously operates his body while pondering at his position and purpose. In line fourteen there is a comma, this slows down as "His foot hung like statuary in mid-stride" This reveals that he has slowed down upon rethinking his position and he almost stops when the events speed up again forcing him into action.
In the line "Bullets smacking the belly out of the air" personification has been shown from "Bullets smacking" as the bullets have been given a human quality, this is an unnatural quality because of the personification which maybe suggests that the whole thing is unnatural as well as war which should never have occurred or even existed in the first place.
How does the author convey meaning in the poem Bayonet Charge?
ReplyDeleteTed Hudges conveys meaning through a various techniques concluding of symbolism, layout and vocabulary. Through the grotesque simile "Threw up a yellow hare that rolled like a flame" arguably the reader can interpret the symbolism of the 'hare' representing fear, as from the vocabulary used describing the action 'rolled like a flame' we understand flames are uncontrollable suggesting that our inner fear is an action which can roll uncontrollably like a flame similar to the hare therefore it can be argued meaning is conveyed through Hudges symbolism linking to fear and the context of the war. Similarly nature's fear is arguably conveyed by the unnatural descriptive vocabulary of 'yellow hare' this is illustrated as out of the ordinary; unnatural therefore suggesting nature's fear of it's disruption to peace on the battle field through man made violence. Enjambment is used within the layout of the first verse to convey meaning to the description of action illustrating the sudden actions needed within the beginning of a 'bayonet charge' similarly this also links to the opening adverb of 'suddenly' creating tension and illustration of the sudden pace needed. Within verse 1, Line 1 into 2 is an illustration of enjambment which conveys meaning to the pressure of actions needed to be taken. However within Line 1 "was running - raw" the use of punctuation arguably suggests the solider stumbling linking to the readers understanding of the stumble through the sudden pressure and the urgency of the start of the bayonet charge.
Bayonet Charge is a poem written by Ted Hughes, the solider is believed to be fighting in WW1 and remains nameless throughout the poem, this could suggest that the subject of this poem could collectively represent the thoughts and feelings of other soldiers fighting in the war of this time or possibly still current wars.
ReplyDeleteThe poem has a repetitive use of 'suddenly' throughout it suggesting that the subject is rushed and unable to process thoughts, such as his actions. The overall tone of this poem is angry, panicked and rushed, his lack of punctuation throughout the poem also gives a sense of distress and inability to think to the reader.
In the poem Hughes states from the subjects point of view 'King, Honor, Human Dignity..' he writes this in a sarcastic tone which could be mocking the idea of patriotism, linking this poem with others that have been studied such as 'next to god american i', this statement has a slight element of humor to it suggesting the soldiers are tired, fed up and exhausted from the war they're trying to create reasoning in their head as to why they are there and what they are fighting for.
It also states in the poem that bullets are 'smacking the belly out of the air', personifying to bullet. This could represent the fear and panic the soldiers are experiencing at every moment, due to this sense of panic their breathing will be shallower and more restricted, creating a lack of air flow and sense of breathlessness which is what this phrase could be referring too.
Hughes conveys meaning in a very direct way. The first word, suddenly, shows the reader that the soldier was completely unprepared, he may be the best soldier, the most experienced soldier yet when an attack comes everyone is slightly stunned, it’s always very sudden. It’s showing the reader that war disrupts everything, where people most come out of sleep slowly, yawning and stretching before getting up to walk the soldier can’t do any of that yet he’s instantly running – running for his life? The use of the words ‘stumbling’ and ‘dazzled’ shows that no matter what he wouldn’t have been prepared for this, as he has to ‘lug’ his rifle around, like it’s a burden. The rifle that could save his life may be a burden because with patriotism it’s an honour to die for your country, not dying and running would be seen as a bad thing, therefore a burden when you return. We knopw it’s about patriotism because Hughes says ‘the patriotic tear that had brimmed in his eyes’, this could suggest he’s also in pain, like he’s been shot and is now crying out from the pain. The rifle’s compared to a smashed arm, like it’s an extra limb but it’s broken, useless against the impeding bullets.
ReplyDeleteIn the second stanza Hughes explores the idea of time, of realism and the fact that everything is planned, even in something as seemingly chaotic as war. Where he says ‘In what cold clockwork of the stars and the nations was he the hand pointing to at that second?’ The rhetorical question shows his own confusion, in all the time of fighting has he forgotten what it’s all over? The cold clockwork could represent the army, the whole army is planned, you know exactly what is going to follow what, and even though it may seem chaotic at times, when there’s not enough time to do things in, everything will always return to how it’s meant to be. ‘He the hand’ shows me that he is working for the army, he’s a soldier, of course he is, but he is turning as the army says so, as all the other soldiers, his ability to move on his own has been altered by the fact that he is now under the armys control, under the clocks control if he is the hand, and under times control. The clockwork could also show his life ticking away before him, he has a set amount of time left and he’s dying so the ‘cold’ clockwork is counting him to his death. The enjambment on lines 12-15 shows that he was running fast, he’s panicked because all of that is said in one breath, quickly with no pauses.
They also focus a lot on nature, there is imagry of farming throughout, on line 16 and line 3 and yet in the third stanza he portrays the idea that war is cutting apart nature. ‘Threw up a yellow hare’, hare’s aren’t normally yellow and aren’t normally flying through the air, the war has broken the natures normal way of doing this, the war has broken the steady clockwork of nature and replaced it with its own cold clockwork that bends and warps nature, making furrows and throwing animals around. His sarcasm is showing when he says ‘King, honour, human dignity, etcetera’. He’s fighting for all those things and so much more yet he can’t be bothered to name them, it’s repeated so many times to him and to everyone what they are fighting for that he doesn’t feel the need to finish.
Nice post, I came to know about such a interesting topic after reading this post so I liked it very much.Those students who are searching for Online Tutors in UK can contact with our experts. We are best services providers over the country. Our experts are available round the clock, students can contact them at any time.
ReplyDelete