The Charge of the Light Brigade - A. Tennyson Flashcards
Briefly explain what the poem is about.
The poem is about the Light Brigade of the British cavalry who made am ill-advised charge towards Russian troops. The charge was disastrous and many of the soldiers involved died.
What does the second stanza tell the reader about the soldiers?
It shows that they were obedient and didn’t question the decision, even if it meant death
— they didn’t “make reply” as it was their duty to carry put any orders they were given.
Who do you think Tennyson blames for the soldiers’ deaths?
The narrator says that “Some one had blundere’d”, which probably refers to the senior officer who gave the Light Brigade the wrong orders due to a misunderstanding.
How does the rhythm of “Halfa league, half a league, / Half a league onward” (lines 1-2) impact the reader?
The phrase “Half a league” has a strong dactylic rhythm, with one stressed then two unstressed syllables. This rhythm mimics the speed and power of the cavalry charge, and makes the reader think the Light Brigade was a brave and formidable force.
The “valley of Death” (line 16) could be an allusion to Psalm 23 in the Bible. Why do you think Tennyson might have included Biblical references in the poem?
Referencing the Bible heightens the importance of the event — by alluding to a religious text, Tennyson adds wight to the poem and its message.
How does Tennyson’s use of third-person narration affect his portrayal of the battle?
The third-person perspective increases the scale of the battle, putting emphasis on the huge loss of life rather than individual experiences. It allows the narrator to present a broad overview of the battle, whereas a first person narrator might only be able to detail the experience of themselves and those around them.
Briefly compare the weaponry the Light Brigade had to the weaponry the Russians had.
The Light Brigade was on horseback and armed only with “sabres” , whereas the Russians had cannons and rifles.
What mood is crested in the lines “Cannon to right of them, / Cannon to left of them, / Cannon in front of them” in the third stanza?
A mood of dread is created as it gives the impression that the Light Brigade is surrounded and has nowhere to escape.
What does the presentation of the “six hundred” suggest about the narrator’s feelings towards them?
Presenting the Light Brigade as the “six hundred” shows how the narrator thinks of the soldiers as one group who all have the same motivation — go carry out their duty regardless of the outcome.
What is the effect of splitting the poem into numbered stanzas?
Splitting the poem into numbered stanzas makes it looks like a hymn. This gives the poem a more solemn tone and encourages the reader to mourn the lost lives. The six stanzas could also serve as a reminder of the “six hundred” soldiers to the reader.
Do you think the poem glorifies or criticises war? Explain your answer.
- Tennyson can be seen as glorifying war as
he describes each soldier who died as
“Noble” and a “hero”. This could promote
the idea that dying in war is heroic rather
than tragic . - Tennyson arguably criticises war when he
highlights when many people died
because of an avoidable mistake when
“Some one had blunder’d”.
How does the opening of “The Charge of the Light Brigade” set the scene for the rest of the poem?
It establishes a galloping rhythm, which evokes an unstoppable cavalry charge. The mention of the “Valley of Death” sets a sinister tone.
Find a quote from “The Charge of Light Brigade” that mimics the sound of battle. What poetic technique has been used to create this effect?
“Volley’d and thunder’d” (line 21) uses onomatopoeia to recreate the noise of battle.
Which of these best describe the metre?
A. Iambic
B. dactylic
C. Trochaic
D. There is no metre
Each stressed syllable is usually followed by two unstressed syllables.
