Charge of the Light Brigade Flashcards
Give a brief summary of the poem.
A large brigade of soldiers are commanded to march to their deaths. They charge heroically but few remain as they retreat
Context of the poem?
Explores the traditional idea of patriotism and honour through the voice of the poet laureate.
How is structure used throughout the poem?
Enjambment and caesura are used frequently to quicken the pace of the poem and mirror the intensity of war.
How is language used throughout the poem?
Metaphors and euphemisms are used to show how the brutality of the situation remains unacknowledged.
What does ‘Half a league, half a league, half a league onwards’ do?
Repetition of distance emphasises how far they have to go and creates a sense of their vulnerability and exposure.
What is the purpose of ‘Rode the six hundred’?
This number is repeated throughout the poem to emphasise the number of lives lost.
What can we infer from ‘Storm’d at with shot and shell’?
The use of sibilance creates a sinister tone, increasing the aggressive tone of the violence being described.
