charge of the light brigade

Question 1

“the six hundred”

Answer 1

inclusion of “the” before “six hundred” emphasises the soldier’s unity and collective heroism. They all have the same purpose.

Question 2

“Into the valley of death”

Answer 2

biblical reference to Psalm 23 ,

Question 3

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil”

Answer 3

conveys trust in divine protection, while in Tennyson’s poem, the soldiers demonstrate blind obedience to military leaders even without questioning their leaders’ fatal orders rooted in the feeling of duty. The soldiers’ unwavering advance despite the certainty of death parallels the Psalmist’s faith and fearlessness in the face of evil.

Question 4

“Cannon to the right of them, Cannon to the left of them, Cannon in front of them”

Answer 4

Repetition at the start and end of the lines reflects the way the light brigade is surrounded by the enemy’s weapons trapping them and leaving them defenceless.

Question 5

“the soldier knew someone had blundered”

Answer 5

• soldiers have realised that the order was a mistake
• they decide to obey orders because it’s their duty and charge instead
  -This evokes sympathy from the readers as we imagine the mental challenge to stay brave they had to face and the pain they had to endure while sacrificing themselves due to the mistake of a person who was meant to give them the best advantages in battle and take their position seriously to avoid suffering but had failed them miserably.
  -The writer shows the reader that the cost of mistakes can be immense especially if it comes from people of power.

Question 6

” sabring the gunners there”

Answer 6

they only had swords against the Russian guns

Question 7

“plunged” and “reel’d from the sabre stroke”

Answer 7

powerful verbs and adjectives to give a strong sense of violence.

Question 8

“Shatter’d and sunder’d”

Answer 8

sibilance uses sounds to create a vivid, noisy, hellish setting

Question 9

“They that had fought so well”

Answer 9

admiration for the bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers from the writer with a tone of melancholy

Question 10

“stormed at with shot and shell”

Answer 10

reflecting the intensely violent, relentless, aggressive, and overwhelming force

Question 11

“while horse and hero fell”

Answer 11

the death of many soldiers

Question 12

“Honour the charge they made” and “Honour the Light Brigade”

Answer 12

Lines 53 and 54 ,a repeated command to honour meaning respect the sacrifice and bravery of the soldiers.

Question 13

stanza one to three

Answer 13

charge

Question 14

stanza 4

Answer 14

battle

Question 15

stanza 5

Answer 15

retreat

Question 16

stanza 6

Answer 16

writers commands/intentions