Charge Of The Light Brigade Flashcards
(3 cards)
Half a league, half a league, / Half a league onward”
The repeated phrase creates a relentless rhythm that echoes the pounding gallop of horses charging into battle. This anaphora builds unstoppable momentum, reflecting the soldiers’ urgent, forward drive. The hard “l” sounds add a sharp, biting edge that heightens tension. The short, clipped phrases create a staccato pace, capturing the disciplined yet frantic energy of the charge. Tennyson uses this rhythm and sound to immerse the reader in the chaos and adrenaline of war, highlighting both the soldiers’ bravery and the tragic futility of blindly following orders. Written after the Crimean War, the poem reflects Victorian concerns about courage and the costs of war.
Theirs not to make reply, / Theirs not to reason why, / Theirs but to do and die”
The repetition of “Theirs not” functions as an anaphora, emphasizing the soldiers’ total loss of agency and individual voice, portraying them as mere instruments within a vast, impersonal military machine. The stark, unforgiving phrase “do and die” reduces their tragic fate to two brutal, unavoidable actions, stripping away any romantic notions and confronting the reader with the harsh reality of sacrifice. The use of a tripartite structure reinforces the inevitability and finality of their duty, creating a rhythmic, almost chant-like quality that mirrors the unquestioning obedience demanded of them. Tennyson both venerates the soldiers’ loyalty and subtly critiques the dangerous consequences of blind obedience, prompting readers to reflect critically on the human cost of war and the moral complexities of duty in Victorian society.
“Into the valley of Death / Rode the six hundred”
The metaphor “valley of Death” alludes to Psalm 23, giving the line a biblical resonance that elevates the soldiers’ charge to an almost spiritual sacrifice. By personifying Death as a looming, inescapable presence, Tennyson creates a sense of fatal inevitability, as if the soldiers are willingly riding into the jaws of doom. The capitalization of “Death” further mythologises this force, suggesting it holds divine or epic significance. Meanwhile, the phrase “rode the six hundred” uses synecdoche to represent the soldiers as a united, almost legendary collective, stripping them of individuality to emphasise their shared, noble purpose. The line’s solemn, steady rhythm mirrors the measured advance of the cavalry and forces the reader to absorb the weight of their sacrifice. Composed during the Crimean War, Tennyson’s poem honours their bravery while also reflecting Victorian ideals of duty, patriotism, and stoicism in the face of senseless loss.
