The Charge of the Light Brigade

• AO3:

  • Tennyson wrote 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' in a few minutes on 2nd December 1854.
  • It is based on the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War which lasted from 1853-1856.
  • On 25th October 1854, Lord Ragland decided to attack the Russians. He sent an order out but it was fatally misinterpreted and 673 Light Brigade cavalrymen were sent charging down the valley with Russian guns all around. Betweem 100 and 200 soldiers died.
• Overview:

  This poem follows the journey of a light brigade of around 600 British soldiers as they charge head-first into the cannons and gunfire of a much larger Russian army. The tone of the poem is one of pride; the poet does not mourn the loss of these soldiers nor does he show anger to the men who gave the wrong orders. Instead, their bravery is celebrated. The poet uses repetition, imagery, and a strong rhythm to highlight the army's gallant charge into battle.
• "Into the jaws of Death, into the mouth of Hell".

  • Metaphor

  The reader pictures the death and destruction that awaits the soldiers as they ride towards the Russian army. It is as if they are being swallowed by Hell and Death itself. 'Jaws' connotates predators and engulfing and devouring. Zoomorphism, makes death seem vicious, painful, brutal.
• "Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon behind them".

  • Repetition
  • Rhythm
  • Anaphora

  The repetition of the cannons gives the feeling of being surrounded on all sides. The rhythm created by the repetition and beats of the syllables mimics the rhythm of the horses' feet as they ride towards the Russians. Anaphora emphasises how many cannons there were.
• "Reel'd from the sabre-stroke Shatter'd and sunder'd".

  • Alliteration (silibance)
  • Effective language

  The alliterative 's' sounds mimic the sound of the sabres swooshing through the air. Could also be sharp intakes od breath of men in pain an shock. 'Shattered' means broken and destroyed. 'Sundered' means to break into parts. This could refer to the army as a group or to men as individuals.
• Aspects of Power and Conflict:

  • Conflict between social classes as upper class generals dont value the lower class soldiers.
  • Power of war to injure and kill.
  • Conflict of war and the horror of the battlefield.
  • Ordinary soldiers are powerless and can't disobey orders.
• Poems that can be linked:

  • Bayonet Charge
  • Exposure