Charge of the Light Brigade

Question 1

Context

Answer 1

Lord Alfred Tennyson wrote this poem in response to the atrocities the British troops faced during the Crimean war. In October 1854, Lord Cardigan led a troop of 670 soldiers. During the Battle of Balaclava, 110 soldiers were killed and 160 were wounded

Question 2

Plot

Answer 2

The poem is about the miscommunication of Lord Cardigan. He told his light brigade to charge towards the guns of the Russians when they were actually encouraged to retreat. This mistake led to a huge catastrophe for the light brigade and many soldiers lost their lives unneccesarily

Question 3

Form

Answer 3

Repetition
Repeated phrases and stanzas, reflecting the different stages of the battle
Controlled rhythm and rhyme which has connotations of the military : beating drums, marching soldiers and galloping hooves

Question 4

Structure

Answer 4

Stanza
Rhyming couplets

Question 5

Tone

Answer 5

Pride
Patriotic
Respect

Question 6

Theme

Answer 6

Power of humans
War
Death
Religion

Question 7

Key quote-“Theirs nor to make reply, Theirs not reason why, Theirs but to do and die”

Answer 7

This quote sums up army life. Even when death is inevitable, they must obey orders. Also anaphora is used to solidify that they did not think it was their place to respond or reason why they were marching to their deaths. Victorian society also values obedience to authority

Question 8

Key Quote-“Someone had Blundered”

Answer 8

The only line that doesn’t follow dactylic dimeter which may be in reference to criticising the leadership that led this suicide mission. Also shows themes of courage and patriotism as though they knew someone had a made a mistake that would cost them their lives, they still pressed onward anyway, to do the duty they came to do.

Question 9

Key Quote-“When can their glory fade?”

Answer 9

Rhetorical question which involves the reader and makes them think about the soldiers bravery. The rhetorical question could also suggest that they would be forever remembered for their honour in marching so bravely into the valley of Death. This also has Biblical connotations as a Victorian society would have referenced this biblical imagery but also has a foreboding sense of inevitable death.

Question 10

Can compare to…

Answer 10

Bayonet charge- Differences in certainty
Exposure- The loss of war
War photographer- Realities of War