The Charge Of The Light Brigade Flashcards
Who wrote ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’?
Alfred Lord Tennyson
What historical event inspired ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’?
The Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War
What is the primary theme of ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’?
The valor and heroism of soldiers in the face of certain death
True or False: ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ celebrates the military leadership of the British army.
False
Fill in the blank: The poem begins with the famous line, ‘Half a league, half a league, _____’.
Half a league onward
What literary device is predominantly used in ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’?
Imagery
How many soldiers were involved in the charge according to the poem?
Six hundred
What was the outcome of the charge described in the poem?
Many soldiers were killed or wounded
What line in the poem reflects the idea of duty despite danger?
‘Theirs not to make reply, / Theirs not to reason why’
Multiple Choice: What is the tone of ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’? A) Celebratory B) Somber C) Indifferent
B) Somber
What does the repeated phrase ‘Into the valley of Death’ symbolize?
The inevitability of death in battle
True or False: The poem critiques the decisions made by military leaders.
True
What year was ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ published?
1854
Short Answer: What effect did the poem have on public perception of the Crimean War?
It raised awareness and sympathy for the soldiers’ plight.
Fill in the blank: The poem ends with the line, ‘When can their glory _____’.
fade?
“Half a league, half a league,/Half a league onwards”
What are the structural points
And analysis
Structure: Anaphora and dactylic rhythm
The repeated “half a league” at the start of the poem creates a driving, relentless beat, mimicking both the galloping horses and the inexorable advance of the brigade.
Tennyson use of dactylic metre (stressed-unstressed-stressed0 here evokes the sound of hoofbeats.
“Into the valley of Death/Rode the six hundred.”
What are the structural points
And analysis
Structure: Caesura and allusion
The capitalised ‘Death” personifies the valley as a living menace, while the inverted word order (rode the six hundred) places the men front and centre, emphasising their collective heroism.
A strong caesura after “death” forces a dramatic pause, heightening the sense of doom before revealing who enters it.
“Cannon to the right of them,/Cannon to the left of them,/Cannon in front of them”
What are the structural points
And analysis
Structure: Parallelism and tripartite listing
The threefold repetition of “cannon” with slight variation creates a claustrophobic effect; the enemy is literally all around.
By placing these lines in iambic dimeter, Tennyson speeds up the rhythm, reflecting the furious intensity of artillery fire.
“Stormed at with shot and shell,/Boldly they rode and well”
What are the structural points
And analysis
Structure: Contrast and internal Rhyme
The harsh consonants in “Stormed..shot and shell” mimic the sounds of battle, while the mother “Boldly..rode and well” shifts to celebrate the men’s courage.
An internal rhyme between “rode” and “boldly” links action and valour, underscoring that their bravery persists even under bombardment.
“When can their glory fade?/ O the wild charge they made!”
What are the structural points
And analysis
Structure: rhetorical question and refrain-like echo
The rhetorical question “when can their glory fade?” Invites the reader to affirm that such heroism is timeless.
The exclamatory “O the wild charge they made!” Serves as a mini- refrain, bookending the poems celebration of sacrifice and ensuring the memory of “the six hundred” endures.
Analyse the title
From the very first word, “The” asserts this poem’s claim on public memory, while “Charge” pulses with forward-thrust energy that Tennyson then mirrors in his meter. The modifier “Light” both describes the brigade’s intended tactical role and injects tragic irony—these nimble cavalrymen were never meant to withstand such fire.
Finally, “Brigade” transforms personal heroism into collective sacrifice, reflecting Victorian values of duty and national identity. Together, the title’s economy of language and loaded military terms frame a poem that memorialises courage even as it subtly mourns the cost of obedience.
