The Charge Of The Light Brigade

Question 1

What are the main themes in COTLB?

Answer 1

• Power
• Leadership
• War
• Honour and Bravery

Question 2

What is the form, rhyme and structure like in COTLB?

Answer 2

• Generally chronological but cyclical in parts -> Creates a sense of endlessness and not giving up
• Dactylic diameter (H, S, S) -> Mimics battle sounds + creates frenzied pace

Question 3

What are some good quotes from COTLB?

Answer 3

• “Half a league, half a league, half a league onward” -> Dactylic diameter
• “Valley of Death” -> Metaphor + Repetition
• “Jaws of death” + “Mouth of hell” -> Coupling of personification
• “Plunged” -> Precise verb
• “Volley’d and thunder’d; Storm’d at” -> Precise verbs
• “Horse and hero fell” -> Alliteration
• “Noble six hundred!” -> Statement

Question 4

What effect does “half a league, half a league, half a league onwards” have?

Answer 4

• Emphasis on determination

* Endlessness

Question 5

What effect does “valley of death” have?

Answer 5

• Hopelessness + danger

* Determination

Question 6

What effect do “jaws of death” and “mouth of hell” have?

Answer 6

• Danger and hopelessness

* Combined effect of two quotes

Question 7

What effect does “plunged” have?

Answer 7

• Decisiveness

* Out of control

Question 8

What effect does “volley’d and thunder’d; storm’d at” have?

Answer 8

• Onslaught

Question 9

What effect does “horse and hero fell” have?

Answer 9

• Noble death

* Sacrifice for country

Question 10

What effect does “noble six hundred!” have?

Answer 10

• Remembering the soldiers -> Cyclical structure

* Nobility