Curated set · answers marked
In "Bayonet Charge," what makes the soldier abandon his patriotic beliefs and rely solely on instinct?
Rationale
In the poem, the soldier's lofty ideals — "King, honour, human dignity, etcetera" — are portrayed as "luxuries" that he discards while charging into battle. The harsh, immediate reality of combat (bullets, noise, and the act of running under fire) strips away his ideology, reducing him to pure survival instinct.
Quiz Question: "Bayonet Charge" by Ted Hughes
Question: In "Bayonet Charge," what prompts the soldier to wake up abruptly and start running across the field?
A) He is ordered forward by his commanding officer B) He is startled awake by the sound of distant artillery C) He finds himself in the middle of a charge, driven by instinct and panic rather than patriotic ideals D) He is wounded and stumbles forward in a daze
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Hughes portrays the soldier as having lost all conscious thought and patriotic purpose—what drove him to war has become a distant memory. Instead, he is driven solely by instinct and fear, which implies that war strips soldiers of their humanity and beliefs, leaving only the instinct to survive.
Quiz Question: "Bayonet Charge" by Ted Hughes
Question: In Ted Hughes's poem "Bayonet Charge," what prompts the soldier to set aside his patriotic beliefs and rely solely on instinct?
A) He gets a direct order from his commanding officer B) He sees a fellow soldier get killed next to him C) He comes under sudden enemy fire and has to charge across open ground D) He is filled with fear after reading a letter from home
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The poem starts in medias res — the soldier "suddenly" finds himself charging across a field under fire. The shock and chaos of battle strip away all abstract motivations (king, honour, human dignity) and reduce him to basic survival instinct. Hughes uses this moment to highlight the disparity between romanticized views of war and its harsh, dehumanizing reality.