The Charge of the Light Brigade

Question 1

Structure

Answer 1

Title - “Charge of the Light Brigade”: Represents literal charge reflected in the title, but also could be interpreted as Tennyson charging the leaders of his country with the deaths of so many people
Rhyming couplets - sense of inevitability and chaos in irregular rhyme scheme

Question 2

Form

Answer 2

Ballad form - commemorates story for future generations to hear
Dactylic dimeter(a long syllable followed by two short syllables)-Mirrors
Unrelenting rhythm of horse running into battle, implies the soldiers have no choice but to run into battle and they’re blindly following orders

Question 3

Language

Answer 3

Anaphora used in “theirs not to make reply/reason why” and “theirs but to do and die” reiterates the soldier’s obedience, but also the soldier’s lack of individualism
Metaphors create negative connotations:
“Jaws of Death” gives the claustrophobic connotations that soldiers will be ‘eaten up’ by bullets and “Mouth of hell” creates the impression there’s no escape from the valley once entered

Question 4

Use of symbolism

Answer 4

“Valley of death”- biblical allusion referring to protection provided by God, could be criticism on how members of higher ranks should have protected those in the light brigade.
Soldiers returning from “