The charge of the light brigade

• 'Cannon to right of them, cannon to left of them,' - Tennyson
• 'Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred.' - Tennyson
• Who wrote "The Charge of the Light Brigade"?

  Alfred, Lord Tennyson
• What is the main theme of "The Charge of the Light Brigade"?

  • Heroism in the face of death
  • The consequences of military blunders
  • The glorification of war
• What happens to the soldiers in the poem?

  They charge heroically but many die
• What is described as a "blunder" in the poem?


  A mistake in the order given
• How does Tennyson instruct the reader to view the "noble six hundred"?

  To remember, honour, and glorify them
• What was Tennyson's role as poet laureate?

  To glorify war to the public
• What was the Crimean War initially about?

  A conflict between Russia and the Ottoman Empire
• Why was the Crimean War unpopular with the British public?

  They saw it as unnecessary
• What does the repetition of "half a league" emphasize?

  The distance and vulnerability of soldiers
• What does the phrase "valley of Death" symbolize?

  The danger and inevitability of death
• How does Tennyson use euphemisms in the poem?

  To soften the impact of death
• What does the metaphor "jaws of death" imply?

  Imminent danger for the soldiers
• What does the phrase "mouth of hell" suggest?

  No escape from the battle
• What does the biblical allusion in "valley of death" imply?

  Irony regarding divine protection
• How does Tennyson create ambiguity in "all the world wondered"?

  It questions admiration or doubt
• What is the structure and form of "The Charge of the Light Brigade"?

  • Ballad form to commemorate events
  • Dactylic dimeter mimics horse rhythm
  • Irregular rhyme scheme creates chaos
• What does the repetition of "Cannon to right of them" emphasize?

  The harsh military machinery surrounding them
• What does the use of sibilance create in the poem?

  A sinister tone of violence
• How does Tennyson's use of dactylic dimeter affect the poem's rhythm?

  It mirrors the rhythm of horses running
• What is the significance of the phrase "honour the Light Brigade"?

  It glorifies the soldiers' sacrifice
• What does the term "ballad" refer to in poetry?

  A historic form to tell stories
• How does the poem reflect the power imbalance in the battle?

  Light brigade charged against stationary cavalry
• What does the phrase "Came thro' the jaws of Death" imply about the soldiers' return?

  They survived but faced great danger
• What does the term "euphemism" mean in the context of the poem?

  A mild expression for harsh realities
• How does Tennyson's background influence the poem?

  His duty to glorify war shapes the narrative
• What is the effect of the irregular rhyme scheme in the poem?

  It introduces chaos and unpredictability
• What does the phrase "O the wild charge they made!" express?

  Admiration for the soldiers' bravery
• What literary device is used in "theirs not to make reply"?

  Anaphora
• What does the phrase "storm'd at with shot and shell" convey?

  The intensity of the battle they faced
• How does Tennyson's use of alliteration affect the poem?

  It emphasizes the brutality of the battle
• What does the phrase "honour the charge they made" suggest about the poem's purpose?

  It aims to glorify the soldiers' actions
• What does the term "dactylic dimeter" refer to?

  A metrical pattern in poetry
• How does the poem reflect the concept of duty?

  Soldiers obey orders without question
• What is the significance of the phrase "all that was left of them"?

  It highlights the loss of life
• What does the phrase "theirs but to do and die" imply about the soldiers' mindset?

  They accept their fate without question
• What does the term "symbolism" refer to in the poem?

  Using symbols to represent ideas
• How does Tennyson portray the soldiers' bravery?

  Through heroic imagery and language
• What does the phrase "Cossack and Russian reel'd from the sabre-stroke" suggest?

  They were affected by the soldiers' charge