The Charge of the Light Brigade Flashcards
Who wrote Charge?
Alfred Tennyson
What did Tennyson become in 1850?
Poet Laurette
What was Charge of the Light Brigade based on?
An event during the Crimean war
What caused the soldiers to advance into the valley?
An error in communication
What are the 3 main themes in the poem?
- Admiration
- Patriotism
- Horror
“Theirs not to make reply…”
“Theirs not to make reply, theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die”
What does the rhyme in “Theirs not to make reply, theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die” emphasise?
The soldiers’ obedience and sense of duty
What is “valley of death” a reference from?
The Bible (Psalm 23)
As “valley of death” is a reference from the Bible, how does it make the poem seem?
Significant, emphasising the poet’s respect for the soldiers
“Into the jaws…”
“Into the jaws of death, into the mouth of hell”
What does “Into the jaws of death, into the mouth of hell” personify?
It personifies death and hell and makes them seem like monsters the soldiers can’t escape from
“But not…”
“But not not the six hundred”
In the line “But not not the six hundred” what does the repetition of “not” emphasise?
- That some of the Brigade have been killed
- It creates a broken, stuttering effect, suggesting that the speaker is upset
“Cannon to the right of them…”
“Cannon to the right of them, cannon to the left of them, cannon behind them”
What does “Cannon to the right of them, cannon to the left of them, cannon behind them” emphasise?
Repetition at the start and end of lines reflects how the soldiers are surrounded
