The Charge Of The Light Brigade Flashcards
Context of the poem…
Battle between the British cavalry and Russian forces during the Crimean war ( 1853-1856)
The light brigade were never ordered to advance into the valley, that’s just a misconception
The light brigade were only armed with swords, Russians has guns
What does the repetition of “rode the six hundred” do
Reminds us of the number of the soldiers
They’re presented almost as if they’re puppets
Repetition reinforces sense of impending doom
In the 3 rd stanza, it says “ not the six hundred” what does this do? And finally “ left of”
Lets the reader know that some of the six hundred are dead
Creates a broken, stuttering affect, as if the reader is upset
“Left of “” makes the poem sound sad and lets the reader understand that they’re broken and battered
What is the form of the charge of the light brigade
Narrated in 3 rd person, making it seem like a story.
Regular relentless rythm creates a faster pace, almost imitating the cavalriesadvance
Rhyming couplets and triplets drive the poem forwards, then dramatically broken by unrhymed lines
Overall lack of ryhme scheme hints the chaos and lack of order in war
What could” all the world wondered “mean
Could have a double meaning.
The people marvelled their bravery
Or the people wondered why they got sent on the charge.
Focusing on the bravery of the soldiers rather than the mistakes of the military leaders
What does “ was there a man dismayd? Not tho the soldier knew someone had blundered” Mean
The poet respects the soldiers for following orders even though they knew it was a mistake
Highlights their extreme patriotism, acceptance of fait
3 key quotations from charge of the light brigade
“Was there a man dismayd? Not tho the soldier knew someone had blundered”
“Rode the six hundred” turned into “ what was left of the six hundred”
“ all the world wondered”
Who wrote the charge of the light brigade ?
Alfred Tennyson
