The Charge of the Light Brigade

• 'Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward,'

  • Repetition and adverb: the cavalry are always edging forwards towards the enemy.
  • We are immediately told of their willingness, perseverance and patriotism.
• 'All in the valley of Death'

  Pronoun: signals to the camaraderie and team spirit that the men have.
• 'Rode the six hundred' 

  • Verb + Juxtaposition: The soldiers are willingly and knowingly riding to their deaths.
  • From one perspective, this could be incredibly noble and the ultimate show of patriotism; on the other hand, it could be seen as senseless sacrifice.
• 'Forward, the Light Brigade! Charge for the guns!” he said'

  • Speech (Imperative Sentence): highlights the obedience of the soldiers, which can be viewed positively (loyalty) or negatively(blind/ignorant).
  • It also reveals that the soldiers were being commanded and therefore their actions are somewhat distanced from their own emotions/thoughts: they were merely following instructions.
  • Despite moving into the next stanza, the order persists, portraying the hesitance of the soldiers.
• 'Into the valley of Death'

  • Biblical Allusion: Psalm 23 – “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me”.
  • This portrays how the 600 felt armed with the defence of God and therefore were devoid of fear.
• 'Rode the six hundred.

  “Forward, the Light Brigade!” Was there a man dismay’d? Not though the soldier knew Someone had blunder’d.'
• 'Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die'

  • Anaphora: emphasises how the soldiers have no right to question orders or to contradicts commands.
  • Ironically, “their” only claim is to certain death.
  • End Rhymes: The quick succession mimics the fast pace of the soldiers in riding into the ‘valley of death’, highlighting their valiance and courageousness.
• 'Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred' 

  Repetition: it is a harsh reminder that the solders knowingly and willingly went to their deaths.
• 'Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them'

  Anaphora & Nouns: gives the impression that the soldiers were surrounded and cornered; in every direction the soldiers are bombarded by weapons.
• 'Volleyed and thundered;'

  Verbs: connote the relentlessness of the cannons. The sound imagery also paints a scene of chaos and pandemonium.
• 'Boldly they rode and well' 

  Juxtaposition: Despite the previous lines that explain the peril, the soldiers are steadfast and staunch in their commitment to the war effort.
• 'Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of hell Rode the six hundred'

  • Personification: It is like death and hell are ready and waiting to consume the soldiers; to devour them whole and to digest them mercilessly.
  • Similarly, the soldiers are ready and willing to go to this destiny.
• 'Flashed all their sabres bare, Flashed as they turned in air'

  • Character Actions: The soldiers unsheathe their swords, symbolic of their readiness to both fight and die for their country.
  • They were also swiveling around in an attempt to battle enemies from all directions.
• 'Sabring the gunners there'

  Juxtaposition: The line conveys the unfair advantage of the enemies and the hopeless of the situation, as the soldiers could only defend themselves with swords against firearms.
• 'Charging an army, while All the world wondered'

  Contrast: The ‘six hundred’ are up against an ‘army’, therefore alluding to the unfair advantage yet again.
• 'Plunged in the battery-smoke Right through the line they broke'

  Verbs: implies a lack of control, whereby the men were thrust into a murky battle, where things are unclear, chaotic and confusing, making them vulnerable.
• 'Cossack and Russian Reeled from the sabre stroke'

  Verb: against all odds, the Light Brigade are able to affect some damage and seem to be ruthless warriors, wielding their swords.
• 'Shattered and sundered'

  Verbs: violent imagery is created of the enemy bodies being split and ripped apart by the sabre strokes, demonstrating the valiance and skill of the soldiers.
• 'Then they rode back, but not Not the six hundred.'

  Contrast: The repetition from the previous 3 stanzas has suddenly broken, despite the description of the battle that alluded to the Brigades victory .
• 'Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon behind them Volleyed and thundered; Stormed at with shot and shell'

  • The change from “front” to “behind” portrays how the soldiers were encircled.
  • Repetition: despite moving on two stanzas, the issue persists and the soldiers are still being surrounded and shot at.
  • This emphasises the relentlessness of the assault and alludes to a prolonged battle, from which the soldiers will soon tire.
• 'While horse and hero fell. They that had fought so well '

  Contrast: the tragic consequence of the cannons are revealed and it becomes clear that the Brigade has been overpowered.
• 'Came through the jaws of Death, Back from the mouth of hell,'

  Contrast: the determined and willing band of 600 are no more; they are returning severely depleted and sorely defeated.
• 'All that was left of them, Left of six hundred.'


  Contrast: The repetition from the first 3 stanzas has completely faded and the Brigade has now significantly reduced in numbers and only the remains return. This line is particularly poignant.
• 'When can their glory fade?'

  Rhetorical Question: After the five previous stanzas, the answer is clear - their glory should not be forgotten because their sacrifice is symbolic of all those who lay down their lives for their country.
• 'O the wild charge they made! All the world wondered'


  Exclamatory Sentence: The speaker praises and celebrates the sacrifice the soldiers made. He applauds their charge and glorifies their attempts in battle.
• 'Honour the charge they made! Honour the Light Brigade, Noble six hundred!'


  Imperative Sentences: the speaker commands us to show respect to the soldiers, revealing his attitude towards their efforts

  in the war.