Analysing the poem 'Bayonet Charge'

English

In 'AQA Power and Conflict Poetry', pupils compared the language, form and structure of a variety of poems connected by the themes of power and conflict. In 'AQA Power and Conflict Poetry continued', pupils work on making more nuanced comparisons between poems.

In 'A World at War: Poetry', pupils explore how poets presents the atrocities of World War One through their poetry. In 'AQA Power and Conflict Poetry', pupils analyse how a variety of different wars have been presented through poetry.

Poetry anthology: first study

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Depiction or discussion of violence or fighting, including threats of violence or the aftermath of violence.

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

When including context in your answer it should...

to reveal the vulnerability of the soldiers

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

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

Contextually, nature was important to Hughes

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

The term {{}} means 'opening in the midst of the plot'.

Hughes subverts {{}} imagery to show that warfare destroys the environment, peace and innocence


'Bayonet Charge' is about a soldier during which war?

exemplify the qualities that make someone human

supply someone with the qualities that make them human

the poem depicts harrowing the nature of war

the poem depicts the nature of harrowing war

the poem depicts the harrowing nature of war

What is the best use of harrowing in a sentence?

The soldier runs across a field towards a hedge. 

The soldier contemplates what he is doing and his role in the war.

The solider runs across a field and sees a hare.

Starting with the first, put the events of Hughes' 'Bayonet Charge' in chronological order.

In 'Bayonet Charge' Hughes not only shows the devastating effect of war on humans but also on...

He read about the war in the newspaper and was inspired to write about it

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Adult supervision recommended

Starter Quiz