COTLB

Question 1

COTLB quotation “Cannons to the _______”

Answer 1

“Cannons to the right of them, cannons to the left of them”
- Repetition
- Highlights the violence
- Highlights how helpless the soldiers are to defend themselves against the onslaught of enemy fire
- Shows how their fate is inescapable

Question 2

COTLB quotation “Theirs not ___”

Answer 2

“Theirs not to make reply”
- Anaphora
- Suggests the soldiers lack control over their fate
- Repetition of ‘theirs’ emphasises the true heroes of the story - Highlights the heroism of the soldiers

Question 3

COTLB quotation “Volley’d ____”

Answer 3

“Volley’d and thunder’d;”
- Onomatopoeia
- Thudding/echoing quality like distant guns or cannon fire

Question 4

COTLB quotation “When can ____”

Answer 4

“When can their glory fade?”
- Challenges the reader to think for themselves about how to honour the men that lost their lives

Question 5

COTLB quotation “Honour the ___”

Answer 5

“Honour the charge they made! Honour the light brigade”
- Repetition of imperative verbs cements the poets message that these men deserve admiration and respect
- Leaves the reader with the feeling of honouring the cavalry (army of soldiers)

Question 6

COTLB Themes

Answer 6

Honour
Violence and the chaos of war
Helplessness

Question 7

COTLB Structure

Answer 7

6 stanzas
- Each stanza acts like a memorial for 100 soldiers
Rhythmic dactylic meter (a stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables)
- Mimics the galloping of the horses
- Gives the poem an unstoppable feeling and driving beat