Analysing the poem 'Bayonet Charge' | Exit Quiz | Oak National Academy

What word would you use to describe the atmosphere at the start of 'Bayonet Charge'?

• contemplative

• panicked

• determined

Answer explanation

Hughes starts the poem in a very abrupt manner to show the panic and shock of the soldier as he's running across no-man's land.

When including context in your answer it should...

• be relevant to your paragraph

• be specific to the point you've made

• present in every paragraph

• contain powerful verbs

Answer explanation

Ensuring your contextual link is relevant, specific and contains powerful verbs means you will be using context effectively.

In 'Bayonet Charge' why may Hughes have combined images of weapons and the soldier's body parts?

• to reveal the vulnerability of the soldiers

• to expose the dehumanisation of soldiers

• to mock the destructive power of nature

Answer explanation

By combining the images of weapons with the body parts of the soldier Hughes may be commenting on how dehumanising war is.

Why might Hughes have chosen to focus heavily on nature in the poem 'Bayonet Charge'?

• To show that not only mankind was effected by the harrowing nature of war

• Contextually, nature was important to Hughes

• To emphasise the power of nature.

Answer explanation

The distressing image at the end of the poem highlights that destructive nature of war on everything it comes into contact with.

The term (a)   means 'opening in the midst of the plot'.

Answer explanation

'Bayonet Charge' starts in media res which reflects the shock of being launched into the battle with no warning

Hughes subverts (a)   imagery to show that warfare destroys the environment, peace and innocence

Answer explanation

The pastoral world described in the poem is juxtaposed by the violence around it.