Charge Of The Light Brigade Flashcards
“Half a league, half a league, half a league onward”
Beginning 2 lines
Sets the poem in a dactylic rhythm
“Into the Jaws of death”
Personification
The horrific image highlights the danger of the situation and the brutal fate that awaited the men.
“Mouth of hell”
Metaphor
Context
- during Crimean War
- patriotism
- honour
- bravery of the light brigade
- lauding the light brigade
“Not the six hundred”
- creates a somber tone
- the reader is encouraged to think about the extent of the loss here.
“Theirs not to make reply/ Theirs not to reason why/ Theirs but to do and die”
Repetition of “theirs” suggests the soldiers lack of control over their fate. In an almost robotic way they have been conditioned to follow instructions no matter what they might be
“When can their glory fade?”
Rhetorical question
Encourages the reader to think for themselves about how to honour the men that lost their lives.
“Cannon to right of them/ Cannon to left of them/ Cannon in front of them”
- The repetition highlights the violence
- Also highlights how helpless the soldiers are to defend themselves against the onslaught of enemy fire.
- also highlights how their fate is inescapable.
“Honour the charge they made!/ Honour the Light Brigade/ Noble six hundred.”
Repetition of the imperative verb “honour” cements the poet’s message that these men are worthy of the readers admiration and respect.
