The charge of the light brigade

• Who wrote the poem 'Charge of the Light Brigade'?

  Alfred, Lord Tennyson
• What battle does Tennyson describe in the poem?

  The Battle of Balaclava
• What was the condition of the British Light Brigade during the battle?

  They were grossly outnumbered
• What caused the British Light Brigade to be cornered?

  A miscommunication of orders
• What is the main message of the poem?

  To honour the soldiers and their duty
• How does Tennyson feel about the soldiers' sacrifice?

  He remembers it but does not glorify it
• What does Tennyson mourn in the poem?

  The mistake that led to unnecessary deaths
• In which war did the Battle of Balaclava take place?

  The Crimean War
• What inspired Tennyson to write the poem?

  The work of a war correspondent
• How does the poem's structure begin?

  With action as soldiers rush down the valley
• What does the middle section of the poem focus on?

  The horror of the battle
• What is the poet's final urging message?

  We should remember the soldiers and their sacrifice
• What emotional response does Tennyson want from the readers?

  To celebrate and pity the soldiers
• What does the imperative verb "Honour" signify in the poem?

  A command to remember their sacrifice
• What does the repetition of 'cannons' highlight?

  How outnumbered and out-weaponed they are
• What rhetorical question does Tennyson use in the poem?

  “When can their glory fade?”
• What does the rhetorical question imply?

  That their glory should never fade
• What does Tennyson express anger about in the poem?

  That they died because “someone had blundered”
• What key images are used in the poem?

  Metaphors like “valley of death”
• What do the metaphors “valley of death” and “jaws of death” depict?

  A death trap for the soldiers
• How do the metaphors contribute to the poem's imagery?

  They depict a monster devouring innocent lives
• What does the phrase “mouth of Hell” suggest?

  A terrifying and deadly environment
• What are the main themes of 'Charge of the Light Brigade'?

  • Honour and duty of soldiers
  • The tragedy of war
  • The consequences of miscommunication
  • The need to remember sacrifices
• What literary devices are prominent in Tennyson's poem?

  • Metaphors (e.g., "valley of death")
  • Repetition (e.g., "cannons")
  • Rhetorical questions (e.g., "When can their glory fade?")
  • Imperative verbs (e.g., "Honour")
• “Half a league , half a league , Half a league onward”

  Dactylic dimeter - echoes horses galloping - enables us the readers to feel part of it - emotionally connect with it

  1 stress - 2 onstress syllable

  Catchy easy to remember - child like rhythm - soldiers are innocent - war is futile - symbolises the blunder
• “into the valley of Death “

  Repetition - fate to die in battle

  Biblical imagery - shouldn’t fear . One way journey - feels entrapped - no escape . Protection provided by God
• “Some one had. blunder’d”

  subtle criticism - not open - stands out
• “Theirs not to make reply , Theirs not to reason why , Theirs but to do and die “

  They have no power , no voice , duty .

  Anaphora (theirs) - patriotic duty - soldiers are obedient
• “cannon to the right of them, cannon to the right of them , cannon in front of them”

  Anaphora - surrounded , no escape

  enemy = beast

  death is inevitable
• “Into the jaws of Death , Into the mouth of Hell “

  claustrophobic - consumed by sense of duty

  pain and agony , they are the prey

  metaphor - entrapment , swallowed , eaten up by war

  soldiers are being ripped up , torn ,shredded - painful
• “All the world wonder’d”

  Admire in awe of the bravery of the soldiers.

  ambiguous language choice “wonder’d”

  questioning the mistake that was made

  ”won” - positive

  ”ered” - (err)to make an error
• “when can their glory fade?”

  rhetorical question , never be forgotten
• “wild charge”


  chaotic atmosphere at war
• “Honour the charge they made! Honour the Light Brigade, Noble six hundred”


  imperatives - commanding us to remember their sacrifice

  remember the blunder

  Noble - looking up - respecting them
• big ideas


  futile , hideous blunder

  praises bravery and honour of soldiers

  questions the blunder of leadership (the upper class )

  patriotic duty - the poem needs to be patriotic . however , there is a subtle criticism of this
• structure 


  6 stanzas - 1 for each hundred soldier (600)
• poem by

  Alfred lord tennyson (1809-1892)