Bayonet ChargeTed Hughes

Ted Hughes (193O-1998) served as the British Poet Laureate from 1984 until he died, for which he received the Order of Merit from Queen Elizabeth II. Born in West Yorkshire, he studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge, later spending most of his life in Devon.

This poem seems to be heavily influenced by the fact that

Hughes’ father was a veteran of the First World War (having

survived his regiment’s massacre at Gallipoli), as well as by the poetry of Wilfred Owen. Ted

Hughes served in the RAF, but he did not see combat. He spent

much of his time in the services reading.

It is based on a soldier making difficult decisions in a battle situation during a war. Hughes constructs the poem with

interesting varieties of imagery which create vivid pictures in your mind. His word choice also describes how the soldier is feeling in each stanza. Bayonet Charge is a remarkable poem

because both the physical and mental sides of an individual are mentioned frequently throughout the poem. Bayonet Charge is about a patriotic soldier fighting in a battle for his country. The patriotism soon disappears when the first sights of death and

war occur and is replaced with fear.

You should compare this poem with other poems about the same themes: effects of conflict: 'The

Charge of the Light Brigade', 'Poppies'; reality of battles: 'Belfast Confetti'; nature:

'Mametz Wood'.

Bayonet Charge Suddenly he awoke and was running – rawIn raw-seamed hot khaki, his sweat heavy,Stumbling across a field of clods towards a green hedgeThat dazzled with rifle fire, hearingBullets smacking the belly out of the air –He lugged a rifle numb as a smashed arm;The patriotic tear that had brimmed in his eyeSweating like molten iron from the centre of his chest, – In bewilderment then he almost stopped –In what cold clockwork of the stars and the nationsWas he the hand pointing that second? He was runningLike a man who has jumped up in the dark and runsListening between his footfalls for the reasonOf his still running, and his foot hung likeStatuary in mid-stride. Then the shot-slashed furrows Threw up a yellow hare that rolled like a flameAnd crawled in a threshing circle, its mouth wideOpen silent, its eyes standing out.He plunged past with his bayonet toward the green hedge,King, honour, human dignity, etceteraDropped like luxuries in a yelling alarmTo get out of that blue crackling airHis terror’s touchy dynamite.

Suddenly he awoke and was running – raw

In raw-seamed hot khaki, his sweat heavy,

Stumbling across a field of clods towards a green hedge

That dazzled with rifle fire, hearing

Bullets smacking the belly out of the air –

He lugged a rifle numb as a smashed arm;

The patriotic tear that had brimmed in his eye

Sweating like molten iron from the centre of his chest, –

The poem is about a soldier's experience of a

violent battle. It describes his thoughts

and actions as he desperately tries to

avoid being shot. The opening words of the poem sounds like he's

in a vulnerable confused state. It also

proves this is real,even though it seems like a nightmare. The opening suggests he was trying to escape

from the reality he is in.

He's in uniform we can picture him as a soldier. The poet uses the pronoun "he" rather than naming the soldier to keep

him anonymous. It suggests that he is a universal figure who could represent any

young soldier.

The word raw suggests his fear. This word can have several connotations such as pain/discomfort or inexperience, as if

he had been taken out of his peaceful life and thrown into war.

On the fourth line we are shows that he's

confused while facing gunfire. The word ‘dazzled’ creates

imagery of the sparks of the bullets

ricocheting around him. The violent

imagery on the fifth line further describes the sound and impact

of the shots.

His rifle seems useless further emphasising the

horror and physical pain of the battle.

The contrast between patriotic ideals and reality is seen

through a powerful image – the reason he went to war. The soldier's overriding emotion and motivation is fear, which

has replaced the more patriotic ideals that he held before the

violence began.

The end of the stanza highlights the instinctive reaction of a soldier to firing from the enemy. Dying for your country seems irrational and

therefore Hughes forces the reader to question patriotism.

In bewilderment then he almost stopped –

In what cold clockwork of the stars and the nations

Was he the hand pointing that second? He was running

Like a man who has jumped up in the dark and runs

Listening between his footfalls for the reason

Of his still running, and his foot hung like

Statuary in mid-stride. Then the shot-slashed furrows

The second stanza pauses the action and the soldier wonders why he is there.

Bewilderment results from the run for life and the patriotic awareness sweats from

his chest like molten iron.

Emphasises the soldier's

insignificance. The word ‘clockwork’

suggests he is a cog a in a machine. The words ‘size’ and ‘nations’ further

emphasise his insignificance.

Alliteration is also used in the words ‘cold clockwork’.

The soldier wonders whether he is a pointing

second in the cold clockwork of stars and the nations. This refers to the

destinies of the people and nations and the element of

cold clockwork that goes into all that. Here the soldier could also be

referring to the government. They all

disappear because they don’t matter anymore.

His awareness in the second stanza is that he was running like a man who has jumped in the dark all the time wondering why he was running. He listens for the reason of his still

running. Using someone blind

suggests there is no rational reason for

war.

The word ‘statuary’

suggests the soldier has

turned to stone.

The poet uses a lot of enjambment rather than neat line endings. This creates a haphazard effect which represents the soldier's urgency and desperation as he stumbles

forward.

Threw up a yellow hare that rolled like a flame

And crawled in a threshing circle, its mouth wide

Open silent, its eyes standing out.

He plunged past with his bayonet toward the green hedge,

King, honour, human dignity, etcetera

Dropped like luxuries in a yelling alarm

To get out of that blue crackling air

His terror’s touchy dynamite.

The mood in stanza three is of extreme

terror. In the beginning, the soldier believes patriotism is the most important

reason for joining the war, but in reality he

soon realises the most important issue is staying alive. The soldier's overriding

emotion and motivation is fear, which has replacedthe more patriotic ideals that he held before the violence

began.

The poem has been written by Hughes to portray the soldier

as being alone so you can focus on the protagonist. The

soldiers’ dilemma is emphasised throughout the poem. After hesitation the

soldier decides to fight persuaded by a kill or be killed

scenario.

The word ‘etcetera’ suggests Men join up for

patriotic reasons but none of that matters

when in a battle. Hughes lists the reasons that

people have for fighting and possibly dying for their country. By using

‘etcetera’, Hughes suggests they are not

even worth listing.

Some alliteration of the letter ‘c’ and the word ‘threshing’ (a machine used for harvesting)

suggests pain and fear beyond expression. There is some use of shocking imagery to bring home

the sights and sounds of war. This helps to convey the sense of confusion and fear to the

reader more strongly.

The structure of the poem makes the fourth sentence the longest and therefore

emphases the ‘green hedge’, a natural image that sits away from and contrasts

with the violence and terror of war.

The impression of determination is

given, with the word "plunged".

He's been reduced to a basic level of existence.

He's attacking out of desperation, not moral

principle. Kill or be killed.

The last line suggests that the soldier's about to lose control

of his emotions which is a consistent theme throughout

the poem.