The charge of the light brigade

• Q1 - TCOTB?


  ”Into the valley of death rose the six hundred”.
• Q1 - What does the predominant metaphor show?

  The predominant metaphor used throughout the poem, compares the battle ground to the “valley of death” and as an extension “jaws of death”
• Q1 - what does the predominant metaphor create?

  The ominous certainty that the men will perish as soon as they enter.
• Q1 - What does the predominant metaphor create?

  The ominous cetainity that the men will perish as soon as they enter.
• Q1 - What does this make the return of them?


  This makes the return of a number of them seem all the more remarkable.
• Q1 - what does the “ valley of death” relate to?

  Relates to Psalms in the bible. By using a biblical allusion - which would have been very familiar to his audience at the time would elevate this event to great importance.
• CONTEXT - What did many people think / believe about war at the time?

  Many at the time felt was was worthwhile and glorious, and that it was the greatest honour to die fighting for your country.
• CONTEXT - What did Tennyson believe about war?

  Tennyson believed war was pointless and a waste of time.
• CONTEXT - What does this poem show?

  Shows disgust for the way soldiers are treated.
• Q2 - From TCOTLB?

  ”Reel’d from the sabre - stroke shatter’d and sunder’d”
• Q2 - What may the sibilante mimic?

  The sibilante mimics the sound of the sabres swooshing through the air.
• Q2 - What else may the sibilance mimic?

  The sharp intakes of breath of men in pain and shock.
• Q2 - What does the adjective mean?

  the adjective “shatter’d” means broken and destroyed.
• Q2 - What does the transitive verb mean?

  The transitive verb “sunder’d” means to break into parts.
• Q2 - What may this refer to?

  The men as individuals or as a group.
• STRUCTURE - How many stanzas is this poem composed of?

  6 stanzas, 1 stanza to represent 100 soldiers.
• STRUCTURE- What happens in stanza 2?


  The light brigade has encountered the enemy so the longer stanza may represent the struggle.
• STRUCTURE - What is stanza 6?

  It is short, and a sharp conclusion, these are the lines to remember the light brigade by.
• Q3 - of TCOTLB?

  ”All the world wonder’d”
• Q3 - What is the positive analysis of this?

  The positive analysis may be to admire or to be amazed by the bravery of the soldiers. As the went into battle knowing they wouldn’t made it out.
• Q3 - Negative analysis of the quotation?

  The negative side may be that people didn’t appreciate their bravery and instead wondered why they would go into such a battle with such a large chance of death.