The Charge of the Light Brigade

• What is the rhythm of the lines "Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward"?

  Dactylic rhythm
• What does the repetition of the first line in the form of a triplet signify?


  It sets up a military rhythm, mimicking the pounding hooves of horses
• What does the capitalized "D" in "valley of Death" signify?


  It creates a proper noun, representing an abstract and personal idea of death
• How does the phrase "jaws of Death" contribute to the poem's theme?


  It reinforces the sense of fear and doom surrounding the battlefield
• What effect does the dactylic metre create in the poem?


  It imitates the thudding movement of galloping horses
• What does the command "Forward the Light Brigade! Charge for the guns!" suggest about the soldiers' situation?


  It suggests they are being sent to their deaths
• What is Tennyson's stance on the war as reflected in the poem?


  He critiques the officers for sending soldiers to their deaths
• Who is unnamed in the command "he said:"?


  The man shouting the orders
• What does the enjambment in "Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred" suggest?


  It suggests the speed and unhesitating progress of the men
• What does the repetition of "valley of Death" function as in the poem?


  It serves as a refrain, emphasizing horror
• What is the significance of the rhetorical question "Was there a man dismay'd?"


  It explores the soldiers' feelings as they charge toward death
• What does "Some one had blunder'd" imply about the charge?


  It suggests that the soldiers recognize a mistake was made
• What do the lines "Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die:" emphasize?


  They highlight the heroism and obedience of the soldiers
• How does the repetition of "Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred" change in meaning throughout the poem?


  It shifts from a simple charge to an acknowledgment of the soldiers' awareness of their fate
• What effect does the phrase "Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them" create?


  It intensifies the feeling of being surrounded
• What does "Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of Hell" symbolize?

  It represents the brutal terror of battle
• How does the phrase "Charging an army, while All the world wonder'd" convey a dual meaning?


  It reflects both awe at the bravery and futility of the charge
• What does the phrase "Plunged in the battery-smoke" suggest about the soldiers' experience?


  It symbolizes uncertainty and blurring of vision
• What do the lines "Volley'd and thunder'd; Storm'd at with shot and shell, While horse and hero fell," convey about the battle?

  They depict the chaos and violence of the fight
• What does "All that was left of them Left of six hundred" imply about the outcome of the charge?


  It indicates that very few soldiers survived
• How does the phrase "All the world wonder'd" reflect societal views on the battle?


  It shows admiration for the soldiers' bravery amidst ignorance of war's realities
• What is the effect of the repetition of "Honour" in "Honour the charge they made! Honour the Light Brigade Noble six hundred!"?


  It emphasizes the imperative to credit the soldiers with respect
• What does the term "noble" signify in the context of the soldiers?


  It reflects the poet's admiration for their bravery
• How does the poem's structure reflect the theme of the soldiers' experience?


  The shorter stanza about hand-to-hand combat emphasizes the shortening of life
• What does the tone shift from confidence to sadness indicate in the poem?


  It reflects the transition from the bravery of the charge to the reality of loss
• What is the significance of the rhetorical question "When can their glory fade?"?


  It prompts the reader to reflect on the soldiers' bravery and legacy
• What is the only line that does not follow dactylic dimeter in the poem?


  "Someone had blunder'd"
• How does biblical language function in the poem?


  It evokes a sense of foreboding and highlights the inevitability of death
• What does the anaphora in "Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die" suggest about Victorian society?


  It reflects the values of obedience to authority
• What literary devices are used in "Into the jaws of death, Into the mouth of hell"?


  Metaphor and personification
• What does the repetition of the imperative verb "Honour" command us to do?


  It commands us to remember the soldiers' sacrifice
• How does the poet's voice reflect a positive view of the soldiers?


  By describing them as "Noble"
• What does the ambiguous language in "wondered" suggest about the world's reaction to the charge?


  It indicates awe at the bravery but questions the decision to send them
• How does the structure of the poem contribute to its overall impact?


  It contrasts the brutality of combat with the heroism of the soldiers
• What does the tone in the final lines of the poem evoke?


  Sadness and admiration for those who were lost
• How does the poem reflect on the nature of war?

  It highlights both the bravery and the tragic consequences of war
• What does the phrase "jaws of Death" symbolize in the poem?


  It reinforces the sense of fear and doom associated with death.
• How does the metre of the poem contribute to its overall effect?


  The dactylic metre creates a heavy galloping effect that imitates the movement of horses.
• What does the command "Charge for the guns!" imply about the soldiers' situation?


  It suggests they are being sent to their deaths despite the dangerous circumstances.
• Who is the author of the poem discussed?

  Alfred, Lord Tennyson