Charge Of The Light Brigade

Question 1

What was the war

Answer 1

Britain joined the war against Russia because their ally france. This was upopular with british public and seen as unnecessary

Question 2

What does the times say about the war

Answer 2

“He is the victim of some hideous blunders”
“The british soldier will do his duty,even to certain death”

Question 3

Why couldn’t Tennyson directly criticise the government

Answer 3

Tennyson had to write this poem as propoganda to build public support for the war.

Question 4

Christianity in the charge of the light brigade

Answer 4

Uses biblical verses to suit and convince the victorian audience “ valley of death”
Comes from “ thou i walk through the valley of the shadow of death, i will fear no evil for thou art with me”

Tennyson wants readers to see the war as with god on their side and the blunder is a consequence rather than incompetence. God will welcome souls who died

Question 5

Rhymng shcme

Answer 5

Near rhyme of blundered, hundred . Blunder is emphasies by the fact that the rhyme doesn’t properly work, blunder itself

“Knew” and “death” dont rhyme with anything. Audience know officers sent them to their death. Pattern is dirupted. First two lines rhyme, last 2 lines dont. Dont give a nice ending as their death was wrong immoral

Question 6

“Theirs but to do and die”

Answer 6

“And” makes clear death is inevitable, but duty and patriotism is important.

Question 7

Overwhelming force of the russians

Answer 7

Anaphora-inescabale
Cannon to right of them” not “to the right”
“Cannon to left of them Completely surrounded
“Cannon in front of them” relentless rhythm six syllables each syllable stressed like hoofbeats
Ends with “ all that was left of them”“left of six hundred” the war is not right

Question 8

Dactyls

Answer 8

First syllable stressed, last two unstressed. Feels like a lighthearted rhythm ( celebration) doesn’t feel right as the charge is a condemnation. It feels that syllables should be stressed on last syllable and first. Celebrating bravoury.

Question 9

Alliteration of “ all the world wonder’d”

Answer 9

Filled with awe and admiration as World wonders becuase of soldiers coursge and loyalty.
Question”why” reader should question “why”. On surface it is patriotic poem that doesnt want to criticise military

Question 10

Dactyls anaphora of theirs

Answer 10

“Theirs not to make reply, theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die” we are supposed to question

Question 11

Euphamism

Answer 11

“Horse and hero fell” softening the emotion death can cause but also softening the responsibility of the officers