The Charge Of The Light Brigade

Question 1

Analysis of “half a league, half a league / half a league onwards”

Answer 1

Rhythm sounds like galloping, gives the impression that the horses are unstoppable. Also emphasises the distance they are riding.

Question 2

Analysis of “valley of death”

Answer 2

“Death” is very sinister, warns the reader early on that something bad is going to happen. Makes the men brave for riding so powerfully into the “valley of death”

Question 3

Analysis of “rode the six hundred”

Answer 3

Presents the soldiers as a unit with one purpose. Also repeated at the end of the first three stanzas which highlighted the number of soldiers and adds to the sense of foreboding.

Question 4

Analysis of “the soldier knew someone had blunder’d”

Answer 4

The soldiers knew the order was a mistake but carry it out anyway even if it does mean they are likely to die as it’s their duty to obey orders and fight for their country, the poet respects them for this

Question 5

Analysis of “there’s not to make reply/ there’s not to reason why/ there’s but to do and die”

Answer 5

Rhyme and repetition emphasise the obedience of the soldiers, they know they will almost certainly die but carry out their duty. “There’s but to do and die” shows that the soldiers are there to fight and die for their country selflessly without asking questions

Question 6

“Valley of death” analalise

Answer 6

Répétion from the first stanza emphasises the danger the men are riding into. It’s also a biblical reference which makes the poem seem solemn and significant

Question 7

Analysis of “cannon to right of them / cannon to left of them / cannon in front of them”

Answer 7

Repetition of the cannons creates an image of the men being surrounded by the enemies guns, also sounds a bit like their gun fire

Question 8

Analysis of “shot and shelled”

Answer 8

The sibilance creates the sound of bullets flying past them

Question 9

Analysis of “jaws of death…mouth of hell”

Answer 9

These images personify the death and hell, making it seem like a monster the soldiers can’t escape from. Also helps make the image more dramatic and réal

Question 10

Analysis of “Sabrina the gunners there”

Answer 10

Reminds us these are men with only sabres charging into cannon fire, reminds us how brave and loyal the soldiers are

Question 11

Analysis of “charging”, “plunged” and “reel’d”

Answer 11

These are verbs that start the sentences of stanza 4, this emphasises the action and increasing pace of the poem.

Question 12

Analysis of “sabre stroke shatter’d and sunder’d”

Answer 12

The sibilance creates viscous sounds, also shows how much action is happening

Question 13

Analysis of “but not the six hundred”

Answer 13

The soldiers captured one of the canon batteries but didn’t know what to do after to just went back. “not Not the six hundred”, repetion of not emphasises the fact a lot of the soldiers have been killed, also creates a stuttering effect making it seem as if the speaker may be upset

Question 14

Analysis of “volley’ and thunder’d”

Answer 14

Powerful onomatopoeic verbs shows the noise of the cannons, making it more frightening

Question 15

Analysis of “all the world wonder’d”

Answer 15

Could mean the world is in awe of the soldiers bravery or they’re wondering why the soldiers were made to do this. At the time, the newspapers were very much against the Crimean war but this poem focuses on the bravery of the soldiers more rather than the mistakes of the generals

Question 16

Analysis of “horse and hero fell, they that had fought so well”

Answer 16

Sense of sadness and admiration for the fallen soldiers create, reminds listener that these were real men who died for the benefit of us

Question 17

“All that was left of them, left of six hundred” analyse

Answer 17

Reminds us of the lost lives and how many died for no reason. Adds to the sadness of the last few stanzas

Question 18

“Honour the charge they made, honour the light brigade, noble six hundred!” Analyse

Answer 18

Repetition of imperative “honour” demands that the reader respects the soldiers, noble goes back to the soldiers loyalty and bravery

Question 19

What is charge of the light brigade about

Answer 19

It describes a disastrous battle between British cavalry and Russian forces in the Crimean war. A miscommunication meant the light brigade were ordered to advance into the valley surrounded by Russian cannons. The light brigade only had sabres whilst the Russians had cannons and guns, they were virtually defenceless so many of them died.

Question 20

Form of the poem

Answer 20

It’s narrated in third person, making it seem like a story. The réguler relentless rhythm çreates a fast pace, imitation the cavalrys advance and the energy of the battle. Rhyming couplets and triplets drive the poem forwards but they are often broken by non rhyming lines, this could mimic the stumbling horses and soldiers. The lack of a rhyme scheme hints at the chaos of the war.

Question 21

Structure of the poem

Answer 21

The story is told in chronological order, the first three is the men riding towards the enemy, the fourth is the battle and the fifth is the retreat. The final stanza summarises the heroism of the brigade. Each stanza is also numbered which shows the order and control the military liked people to see, however, the rhyme of the poem is very broken which shows what the military was really like, dis organised and uncoordinated