Bayonet Charge Flashcards

All 9 cards in this deck

Who wrote ‘Bayonet Charge’?

Ted Hughes, in The Hawk in the Rain (1957), his first collection.

In which war did Ted Hughes’ father fight, including at Gallipoli?

The First World War.

When was Ted Hughes Poet Laureate?

From 1984 to 1998.

What is the form of ‘Bayonet Charge’?

Three stanzas of free verse, with heavy enjambment.

Who is the subject of ‘Bayonet Charge’?

A First World War soldier charging across a field, described in the third person.

How does ‘Bayonet Charge’ begin?

In medias res: “Suddenly he awoke and was running”.

Which animal does the soldier see in ‘Bayonet Charge’?

A yellow hare, injured and thrashing.

Which ideals does the soldier drop as he runs in ‘Bayonet Charge’?

“King, honour, human dignity, etcetera”

What are the main themes of ‘Bayonet Charge’?

The reality of war, fear, and doubts about patriotism.