Charge of the light brigade Flashcards
Who wrote The charge of the light brigade?
Alfred Lord Tennyson
Summary of The charge of the light brigade
a large brigade of soldiers are commanded to march to their deaths
they charge heroically but few remain as they retreat
How does the speaker feel in the poem The charge of the light brigade?
- patriotic
- vulnerable
- doubtful
- intention of glorifying the soldiers
The charge of the light brigade:
“In the . . . of . . . // rode the . . . hundred”
“In the valley of death // rode the six hundred”
“In the valley of death // rode the six hundred”
- in media res
- biblical allusion from Paslm 23
- protection provided by god is highly ironic
- repetition
- lack of identity
- highlights loss
The charge of the light brigade:
“theirs not to make . . . /reason why”
“theirs but to . . . and . . . ”
“theirs not to make reply/reason why”
“theirs but to do and die”
“theirs not to make reply/reason why”
“theirs but to do and die”
- repetition
- anaphora
- reiterates soldiers obedience (desirable trait)
The charge of the light brigade:
“. . . and . . . fell”
“horse and hero fell”
“horse and hero fell”
- euphemisms instead of directly referring to death
- alliteration
- dactylic diameter (falling rhythm)
The charge of the light brigade:
“. . . of death” “. . . of hell”
“Jaws of death” “mouth of hell”
“Jaws of death” “mouth of hell”
- metaphors
- negative connotation
- claustrophobic connotation
- eaten or shredded by bullets
- no escape
- sacrifice
The charge of the light brigade:
“all the world . . . ”
“all the world wondered”
“all the world wondered”
- ambiguity
- listeners question denotes admiration or doubt
What does the poem The charge of the light brigade symbolise?
traditional ideas of patriotism
What other poems link to The Charge of the light brigade?
- Bayonet Charge
- Exposure
- Remains
