The Charge of the light brigade key quotes (copy)

Themes

Themes

Effects of conflict.Reality of conflict .Identity

Context

This poem was written by Alfred Tennyson who was the Poet Laureate at the time. It is an occasional poem following the administrative failures that led to the death of 600 English soldiers. Tennyson honours them by dehumanising the enemy and glorifies their charge, celebrating the soldiers as martyrs but also condemning the administration for causing the problem. Hopes to prevent another event like this. There was actually a miscommunication to the soldiers as they weren't actually supposed to be commanded to go as most of them only had swords whereas the Russians had horses which was a strong advantage point and would mean slim chances of winning against them.

Form and structure

The poem is written in a dactyl, which is stress on the first of the three syllables which will help to create it as a song to show it is a celebration of the soldiers.

The Charge of the Light Brigade

Written by Tennyson, a heroic poem about a British defeat in Crimean War.

'Half a league, half a league, half a league onward, All into the valley of death'

The use of anaphora here is used to create a sense of rhythm and mimics the sound of the horses and the charge. The idea of a 'valley of death' is a biblical reference (Allusion psalm 23) which is used to convey that although they are going to kill people it is not wrong as god is on their side. This also brings a sense of peace to Christians with the idea that it is justified as they will get into heaven. The 'half a league' repetition is to slow down time and build up tension allowing the reader to understand the inevitable fate of death.

'Theirs not to make reply, theirs but to question why, theirs but to do and die'

The alliteration here puts emphasis on the inevitable death. The 'do' and 'die' here is used to show their is no escape and shows the great heroism of the soldiers, and they would do anything for country and duty. This highlights the honour the soldiers should feel as they would do anything for their country, which would be important to console people back home. This further emphasises the heroism as these soldiers could have known that the order was a mistake bu they still followed their duty to protect their country and the parallel structure which these lines follow show how all the soldiers are in it together.

'Cannon to the left of them, cannon to the right of them, cannon in front of them'

The repetition of the noun cannon is a language technique know as anaphora, which creates the idea of the soldiers being surrounded but as one unit, they were all together. This is also used for the same repetition at the end to show even though some died they are still together. The rhyme scheme also mimics their obedience, it also creates vivid imagery and allows the reader to feel as the soldiers would, like they were being closed in on.

'Honour the light brigade, honour the charge they made, noble six hundred'

The use of the verb 'honour' here is being used as a command, as many people were more outraged by the acts of the government, Tennyson focuses more on the admiration and nobility of the soldiers. The noun 'noble' here is used to break the pattern of the repetitive anaphora, previously used which would make the reader focus more and process the message better. Lastly Tennyson focuses on the six hundred soldiers as one unit, dead or alive.