Language

• “Theirs not to”

  • Microcosm emphasises the soldiers lack of individualism
  • juxtaposes the glorifying tone as here the soldiers are dehumanised- aids Tennyson‘s propaganda
  • soldiers are obliged to follow orders and cannot contradict their officers
  • they must patriotically fight for their country
• “Do or die”

  • Soldiers are slaves the government- this is the only thing their meant for.
  • Tennyson criticises the way governments use soldiers as political puppets for war, without even a bit of care for their well-being
  • the readers sympathises with the soldiers and are made to respect them
• “Cannon to the left of them” “cannon to the right of them” “cannon in front of them“

  • Creates a sense of imminent danger and entrapment- now way out
  • similar to how the soldiers felt trapped to do what the officers said
  • people felt trapped to obliviously obey the government- inscription.
  • repetition of cannon creates a fast chaotic pace- emphasises the sense of banco and confusion
  • cannon is fire imagery- further foreshadows that the soldiers are going to die
• “Valley of death”

  • psalm 23 which refers to the protection provided from God- ironic as the soldiers die
  • criticism of the authority should have protected the soldiers
  • Biblical allusions
  • implies that the soldiers sacrificing their lives for their country is like sacrificing their lives for God- honouring God - he will reward them in heaven
  • Back in 1800s disobeying authority was like disobeying God
  • aids Tennyson‘s propaganda- poet laureate