Alfred, Lord Tennyson Flashcards
a display of feathers
plume
determined; resolved
resolute
an army division; a military squadron
brigade
the cup-bearer and most trusty supporter of King Arthur
Sir Bedivere
made a careless mistake
blundered
conquered
prevailed
the legendary island where King Arthur’s sword, Excalibur, was made and where Arthur desires to return
Avilion
to begin a journey, especially aboard a ship
embark
black; very dark
swarth
a stream that flows seasonally
bourne
a shady, leafy shelter; an arbor
bowery
a particular kind of foot that has a stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables
dactylic
discouraged; worried
dismayed
heavy, curled cavalry swords
sabres
citizens from Ukraine and Russia known for their great military skills
Cossacks
“Storm’d at with shot and shell”
alliteration
“crossing the bar”
a metaphor for death
“Ah! my Lord Arthur, whither shall I go?”
Sir Bedivere’s distress
“Cannon to the right of them,
Cannon to the left of them,
Cannon in front of them”
sound imagery
the speaker’s stillborn son
warrior and victim
symbolizes heaven
Avilion
“Sunset and evening star”; “one clear call for me!”; “And may there be no moaning of the bar”
indications in the first stanza that the poem is more metaphorical than literal
commemorates the heroism of a group of British soldiers at the Battle of Balaklava in the Crimea in 1854
“The Charge of the Light Brigade”
King Arthur’s request
“Pray for my soul. More thangs are wrought by prayer/ Than this world dreams of. Wherefore, let they voice/ Rise like a fountain for me night and day.”
“I hope to see my Pilot face to face …”
“When I have crost the bar.”
