The charge of the light brigade.

Question 1

About the poem.

Answer 1

-Written by Alfred Lord Tennyson in 1854.
-Based on the Crimean war.
-At the end of the poem Alfred calls for the cavalrymen to be remembered for their courage.

Question 2

Form, structure and language.

Answer 2

-Written in 3rd person.
-Rhythm of the poem evokes the sound of hoof-beats. 2 stressed syllables then 2 unstressed syllables.
-Repetition. Strong feature which emphasises the forward motion of the cavalry and how they follow orders without questioning.

Question 3

What technique is employed by the phrase “into the valley of Death?”

Answer 3

Metaphor.

Question 4

Into the “Jaws of Death” is an example of which technique?

Answer 4

Personification.

Question 5

What is different about the phrase “left of six hundred” to other references to the brigade?

Answer 5

In the other references it has ‘the’ six hundred, this shows the loss of their original identity.
It also shows how now they’re just a number

Question 6

What is a ‘light brigade’?

Answer 6

Soldiers who do not have much armour or weapons

Question 7

All in the valley of Death.

Answer 7

Valley of Death is a biblical allusion to show the horror of what they now face, connotation of hell.

Question 8

Flashed all their sabres bare.

Answer 8

Sabres: swords, the flash is the sun shining off the metal but also a metaphor for the glory they showed in their bravery which, like a flash, is short.