charge of the light brigade

who wrote it

Alfred Lord Tennyson

what is it about

large brigade of soldiers are mistakenly commanded to march to their deaths

purpose of poem

wants to glorify war

show how brave the soldiers were during the Crimean war

soundbites

glorifies loss of life during war

celebrates patriotism and unity of people

poems to compare to

remains- effects of war on soldiers

poppies- effects of war on civilians

war photographer- effects of war on civilians

dichotomy meaning

contrast between two things which are opposed

ivory tower meaning

state of privileged seclusion from facts of the real world

stoic meaning

without showing feelings

‘valley of..’

‘valley of death’

repetition of ‘c…’

‘cannon’

‘mouth of…’

‘mouth of hell’

‘stormed at with…’

‘stormed at with shot and shell’

‘v…’ ‘th…’ ‘pl…’ - motif of violence

‘volleyed’ ‘thundered’ ‘plunged’

‘when can their…’

‘when can their glory fade?’

repetition of ‘h…’

‘honour’

last line

‘noble six hundred’

repetition of ‘s…h…’

‘six hundred’

structure

dactylic dimeter- mirror rhythm of horses running into battle, unrelenting, soldiers have no choice but to follow orders

enjambment- lack of, controlled, doesn’t want us to realise mistake