Moon on the Tides, Conflict

1. Bayonet charge

2. Bayonet charge
it describes a military charge.
• 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.

3. Summary of events…
• a man charges at an enemy hedge
• he nearly stops
• he sees an injured hare
• he continues charging because he is
scared.

4. Stereotypical assumptions
Of soldier
Portrayal in the poems
Admirable
skilled
Dignified
Assured
Prepared
Willing King, honour, human dignity

5. imagery
• 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
• his foot hung like/ Statuary in mid-stride
• the shot-slashed furrows/ Threw up a
yellow hare that rolled like a flame
• King, honour, human dignity, etcetera/
Dropped like luxuries in a yelling alarm
Draw the soldier-one minute!

6. Consider:
• the use of verbs with an ‘ing’ ending (present
participle)
• the repetition of the word running
• the use of enjambment to place emphasis on the
verbs-his actions
• His anonymity

7. The hare
In the ‘fight or flight situation of war, the soldier is torn
between his obligation to fight and his need to
survive. However the poet moves away from the
soldier’s experience, describing an injured hare.
• What do you find interesting about the language that
Hughes has used to describe the hare?
• What do you think the hare represents to the
soldier?
• How important is the image of the hare to your
understanding of the poem? Would the poem be as
effective without it?

8. onomatopoeia
• How many examples can you find?
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

9. Comparisons
• Futility- depiction of soldiers and their role in
battle
• Charge-the verbs used to describe the soldiers
• Mametz wood- the imagery of war and its results
• Belfast confetti-onomatopoeia

10. punctuation
• Punctuation can affect and alter the pace
of a poem.

11. YouTube - Legends of the Fall - War Scene