The Charge of the Light Brigade Flashcards
what is the poem about?
describes a battle between British cavalry and Russian forces during the Crimean war, a misunderstanding meant that the light brigade were ordered to advance into a valley surrounded by enemy soldiers
‘Half a league, half a league, half a league onward’
the rhythm sounds like galloping horses’ hooves - it gives the impression that the horses are unstoppable, creates a breathiness makes the reader feel exhausted
‘death’
repetition - sounds sinister, the reader is warned right from the start and all the way through that something bag is going to happen
‘Rode the six hundred’
they’re presented as one group with one purpose
‘Was there a man dismay’d?’
rhetorical question - implies they have some doubt and are beginning to realise that the order was a mistake but they do as they are told because its their duty to obey orders, the poet respects them
‘Some one had blunder’d’
foreshadows the military mistake about to occur, turns our focus to this line as it doesn’t fit the meter
‘theirs not to make reply, theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die’
rhyme and repetition emphasise the soldiers’ obedience and sense of duty
‘shot and shell’
sibilance emphasises the idea of ammunition flying towards them
‘into the jaws of death, into the mouth of hell’
personification used to describe the dangerous battlefield
‘sabring the gunners there’
juxtaposes swords with the guns, highlighting Brigade’s vulnerability
‘volley’d and thunder’d’
powerful, onomatopoeic verbs suggest the noise from the cannons. used to heighten the reality of battle
‘noble six hundred’
final line of poem shows the poet’s appreciation for the bravery of the soldiers involved, despite the foolishness of military leaders
what are the themes in ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’?
effects of conflict, reality of conflict
effects of conflict in ‘the charge of the light brigade’?
death or serious injury is the ultimate result of the battle field, the speaker focuses on the extensive loss of life
reality of conflict in ‘the charge of the light brigade’?
the poem creates a noisy and frightening picture of the battle using onomatopoeia.
