The charge of the light brigade

• context

  crimean war - 1853-1854 against Russia

  -cavalry = highest status, posh soldiers, often bought their way into it

  -british cavalry were ordered to protect heavy guns but miscommunication lead to them charging towards large russian army-they were outnumbered

  -instead of retreating they continued to charge

  -over 150 killed
• why did alfred lord tennyson write it

  -to highlight positivity, praise the bravery of soldiers

  -to criticise upper class
• dactylic diameter

  -use of dactylic diameter (stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables)

  - mirrors galloping hoof beat of horses which makes readers feel as if they’re there which allows them to appreciate fully

  - anomaly: “someone had / blundered” - ‘blundered’ criticising leadership error and careless mistakes
• ballad

  -tells a story , contains refrains which are choruses or repeated lines (‘600’)

  -used to remember important history

  -Tennyson believes act of bravery should be passed on to future generations to remember

  OR

  -he wants them to remember stupidity of upper class
• form and structure

  ballad

  dactylic diameter

  6 verses - 600 soldiers

  continuous rhyme and rhythm reflects predictable tragedy but also continued discipline and bravery
• religion context

  “ into the valley of death”

  • psalm 23: ‘the valley of the shadow of death’

  ” into the mouth of Hell”

  • psalm 23: ’ fear no evil ‘
  • highlights inspiring nature of soldiers
• quotes/language

  -semantic field of death throughout poem highlights the idea of inevitable doom

  -‘ someone had blundered ‘

  -‘ canon to the right of them / canon the the left of them / canon behind them ‘

  • anaphora emphasises strength
  • even when overwhelmed they commit to discipline