The Charge Of The Light Brigade

Question 1

What is TCOTLB about?

Answer 1

Soldiers are trapped in the Battle of Balaclava which determines certain death.
This is as a result of generals being to embarrassed to admit they had made a mistake. Instead they made them attack and die in ambush.

Question 2

What is the structure of TCOTLB?

Answer 2

Dactylic dimetre - mimics the galloping of the horses. Falling rhythm symbolises the fallen men.
6 stanzas - 600 men went into the battle.
First three stanzas are about the men approaching. Last three stanzas are about them men retreating.
Form is a ballad - ballad’s often have tragic endings.

Question 3

Key quotes in TCOTLB?

Answer 3

“Valley of death”
“Some one had blunder’d”
“Theirs not” (anaphora)
“Cannon to the right of them, Cannon to the left of them, Cannon in front of them” 
“Hero”
“Glory”
“All the world wonder’d”
“Honour” repeated 
“Noble”

Question 4

Who wrote TCOTLB?

Answer 4

Alfred Lord Tennyson.

Question 5

What form is TCOTLB?

Answer 5

Ballad - often have a tragic ending.

Question 6

“someone had blundered”

Answer 6

TCOTLB
The focus on the error is only on one line.
In an article about the battle “it was a hideous blunder”.

Question 7

What is the anaphora in TCPTLB?

Answer 7

Theirs not

Must follow orders.

Question 8

What is the semantic field of respect for the soldiers in TCOTLB?

Answer 8

hero
glory
honour
noble.

Question 9

Quotes for imagery in TCOTLB?

Answer 9

valley of Death.
jaws of Death - doesn’t fit the rhyme scheme, death stands out.
mouth of Hell.