9.1.4

Structure & Key Comparisons

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Form and Structure of Bayonet Charge

The irregular structure and form of Bayonet Charge reflect the unpredictable nature of war:

In medias res

In medias res

  • The poem begins in medias res (in the middle of the action). This creates a sense of urgency and highlights the chaos of war.
Three stanzas

Three stanzas

  • The poem is split into three stanzas:
    • 1: Describes the soldier going over the top, the danger of the moment and the fear he feels.
    • 2: Time slows down as the soldier begins to question why he is there.
    • 3: The soldier has no time to think. He seems to have lost his humanity and become a machine of war.
Irregular rhythm

Irregular rhythm

  • The poet uses different techniques to make sure the poem lacks uniformity. He does this to reflect the unpredictable nature of war. These are:
    • Free verse.
    • Irregular line length.
    • Enjambment (sentences flowing over the line).
    • Caesura (breaks in the line).
  • The use of enjambment also quickens the pace of the poem.

Key Quotations in Bayonet Charge

Here are key quotations to remember for your exam:

“Suddenly he awoke and was running”

“Suddenly he awoke and was running”

  • The poem begins in media res (in the middle of the action) – this creates a sense of urgency and highlights the chaos of war.
“Stumbling across a field of clods towards a green hedge..."

“Stumbling across a field of clods towards a green hedge..."

  • “Stumbling across a field of clods towards a green hedge / That dazzled with rifle fire”.
  • The verb "stumbling" indicates his lack of control as he is caught up in the chaos of war.
“Bullets smacking the belly out of the air"

“Bullets smacking the belly out of the air"

  • Violent imagery.
  • Highlights the danger of the battlefield.
“He lugged a rifle numb as a smashed arm”

“He lugged a rifle numb as a smashed arm”

  • Simile.
  • The image suggests the rifle is useless and therefore emphasises how vulnerable he is.
  • It could also foreshadow the injuries he might gain because of war.
“The patriotic tear that had brimmed in his eye..."

“The patriotic tear that had brimmed in his eye..."

  • “The patriotic tear that had brimmed in his eye / Sweating like molten iron from the centre of his chest”.
  • Simile.
  • The soldier’s patriotic ideals are useless now he is faced with the reality of conflict.
  • The contrast between “brimmed”, with its positive connotations of abundance and pride, and “sweating” highlights this contrast.
  • Comparing the tears to iron dehumanises the soldier and likens him to something mechanical.
“In what cold clockwork of the stars..."

“In what cold clockwork of the stars..."

  • Harsh alliteration.
  • Potentially a reference to fate governing the soldier and his powerlessness.
“The shot-slashed furrows..."

“The shot-slashed furrows..."

  • "the shot-slashed furrows / Threw up a yellow hare that rolled like a flame...its mouth wide / Open silent, its eyes standing out”.
  • Gruesome image.
  • Highlights the brutality of war.
“King, honour, human dignity, etcetera..."

“King, honour, human dignity, etcetera..."

  • “King, honour, human dignity, etcetera / Dropped like luxuries in a yelling alarm / To get out of that blue crackling air”.
  • Listing.
  • Things that seemed important to the soldier before the war now seem futile when faced with death.
  • The pointlessness of these things is reinforced through the choice of the word “etcetera”.

Key Comparisons: Bayonet Charge

Here are some themes that come up in Bayonet Charge and other texts:

Reality of conflict

Reality of conflict

  • On the theme of the reality of conflict, you may want to compare Bayonet Charge to:
    • War Photographer.
    • Charge of the Light Brigade.
    • Remains.
    • Exposure.
Internal conflict

Internal conflict

  • On the theme of the internal conflict, you may want to compare Bayonet Charge to:
    • Kamikaze.
    • Poppies.
Conflict between man and nature

Conflict between man and nature

  • On the theme of the conflict between man and nature, you may want to compare Bayonet Charge to:
    • Storm on the Island.
    • The Prelude.
    • Exposure.
Jump to other topics
1

Ozymandias - Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

1.1

Ozymandias Analysis

1.1.1Summary1.1.2Key Ideas1.1.3Themes1.1.4Irony & Rhythm1.1.5Key Quotes & Comparisons1.1.6End of Topic Test - Ozymandias1.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Defining Caesura1.1.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Identifying Caesura1.1.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - Analysing Caesura
2

London - William Blake (1757-1827)

2.1

London Analysis

2.1.1Summary2.1.2Themes & Structure2.1.3Themes & Structure 22.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons2.1.5Exam-Style Questions - London2.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Defining Repetition2.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Identifying Repetition2.1.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Analysing Repetition
3

Storm on the Island - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)

3.1

Storm on the Island Analysis

3.1.1Summary & Structure3.1.2Themes3.1.3Themes 23.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons3.1.5End of Topic Test - Blake & Heaney3.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Fear
4

Exposure - Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)

4.1

Exposure Analysis

4.1.1Summary4.1.2Personification4.1.3Themes4.1.4Structure, Key Quotes & Comparisons4.1.5End of Topic Test - Exposure4.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Define Personification4.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Ident. Personification
5

War Photographer - Carol Ann Duffy (born 1955)

5.1

War Photographer Analysis

5.1.1Summary5.1.2Themes5.1.3Imagery5.1.4Comparisons & Key Quotes5.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Defining Similes5.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Identifying Similes
6

My Last Duchess - Robert Browning (1812-1889)

6.1

My Last Duchess Analysis

6.1.1Summary6.1.2Characterisation & Themes6.1.3Structure, Key Quotes & Comparisons6.1.4End of Topic Test - Duffy & Browning6.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Cheating Wife
7

The Prelude - William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

7.1

Extract from The Prelude Analysis

7.1.1Summary7.1.2Personification & Imagery7.1.3Themes7.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons7.1.5End of Topic Test - The Prelude7.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - "Her"
8

Charge of the Light Brigade - Alfred Tennyson

8.1

Charge of the Light Brigade Analysis

8.1.1Summary8.1.2Themes8.1.3Rhetorical Techniques, Key Quotes & Comparisons8.1.4End of Topic Test - Charge of the Light Brigade8.1.5Exam-Style Questions - Charge of the Light Brigade8.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Tennyson a Soldier?
9

Bayonet Charge - Ted Hughes (1930-1998)

9.1

Bayonet Charge Analysis

9.1.1Summary9.1.2Themes9.1.3Themes 29.1.4Structure & Key Comparisons9.1.5End of Topic Test - Bayonet Charge9.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - NOT COTLB9.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Soldier Running Away
10

Poppies - Jane Weir (Born 1963)

10.1

Poppies Analysis

10.1.1Summary10.1.2Theme of Motherhood10.1.3Imagery10.1.4Form, Structure & Key Comparisons10.1.5End of Topic Test - Poppies10.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Defining Enjambment
11

Tissue - Imtiaz Dharker (Born 1954)

11.1

Tissue Analysis

11.1.1Summary11.1.2Themes & Symbolism11.1.3Religion & Conflict11.1.4Form, Structure & Key Comparisons11.1.5End of Topic Test - Tissue
12

The Emigree - Carol Rumens (Born 1944)

12.1

The Emigree Analysis

12.1.1Summary & Structure12.1.2Themes12.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons12.1.4End of Topic Test - The Emigree12.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Emigrant vs Immigrant
13

Kamikaze - Beatrice Garland (Born 1938)

13.1

Kamikaze Analysis

13.1.1Summary & Structure13.1.2Themes13.1.3Themes 213.1.4Structure, Quotes & Comparisons13.1.5End of Topic Test - Kamikaze13.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Defining NP13.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Identifying NP
14

Checking Out Me History - John Agard (Born 1949)

14.1

Checking Out Me History Analysis

14.1.1Summary14.1.2Themes14.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons14.1.4End of Topic Test - Checking Out Me History
15

Remains - Simon Armitage (Born 1963)

15.1

Remains Analysis

15.1.1Summary15.1.2Themes: Desensitisation &Trauma15.1.3Themes: Guilt15.1.4Themes: Nature of War15.1.5Structure15.1.6Key Quotes & Comparisons15.1.7End of Topic Test - Remains15.1.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Casual Tone
16

Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

16.1

Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

16.1.1Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons
17

Recap: Main Quotes

17.1

Recap: Main Quotes

17.1.1Ozymandias - Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)17.1.2London - William Blake (1757-1827)17.1.3Storm on the Island - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)17.1.4Exposure - Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)17.1.5War Photographer - Carol Ann Duffy (born 1955)17.1.6My Last Duchess - Robert Browning (1812-1889)17.1.7The Prelude - William Wordsworth (1770-1850)17.1.8Charge of the Light Brigade - Alfred Tennyson17.1.9Bayonet Charge - Ted Hughes (1930-1998)17.1.10Poppies - Jane Weir (Born 1963)17.1.11Tissue - Imtiaz Dharker (Born 1954)17.1.12The Emigree - Carol Rumens (Born 1944)17.1.13Kamikaze - Beatrice Garland (Born 1938)17.1.14Checking Out Me History - John Agard (Born 1949)17.1.15Remains - Simon Armitage (Born 1963)

Practice questions on Structure & Key Comparisons

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Stanzas in Bayonet ChargePut in order
  2. 2
    Techniques Hughes uses to create an irregular rhythm in Bayonet Charge:Fill in the list
  3. 3
    Bayonet Charge is split into three stanzas. Which of these is _not_ a summary of a stanza?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Complete the key quotes from Bayonet Charge:Fill in the list
  5. 5
    Complete the key quotes from Bayonet Charge:Fill in the list
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Themes 2

End of Topic Test - Bayonet Charge