The charge of the light brigade

Question 1

What is Tennyson’s attitude to the noble 6 hundred?

Answer 1

‘Someone had blunder’d’

Question 2

How does Tennyson describe the inescapliabity of the mission?

Answer 2

‘Valley of death’

Question 3

What are all the words used to communicate message of the poem?

Answer 3

‘Wondered
Thrundered
Slundered
blundered

Question 4

What does the Quote ‘Someone had blunder’d suggest?

Answer 4

This line doesn’t follow the Dactylic diameter, there is one syllable after blun there should be two. This is clearly an important line, Tennyson is emphasizing the blunder, criticizing the leadership error which lead to a practically suicidal mission, taking place, drawing our attention to the mistake. It also has a Horsing beat and the line is shortened, which mirrors the dramatic stop of the soldiers life who are about to die.

Question 5

What does the ‘Valley of death’ Suggest?

Answer 5

This is a biblical reference, this biblical imagery in the first verse shows how Tennyson is immediately shows the inspiring nature of the soldiers, the bravery of them, it is almost biblical and should be respected. However the valley becomes death, suggesting the men are running into death, this is emphasizes to show the horror the soldiers are feeling.

Question 6

What does the Words suggests ‘‘Wondered
Thrundered
Slundered
blundered’

Answer 6

Woundered in the postive interpretation means to admire and be amazed, but it also has a second meaning, which suggests the whole world is questioning how stupid the mistake was by leadership. All these words contain the phonetic ered which is similar to error suggesting throughout the poem their is a subtle reminder that a mistake has been made.

Question 7

What is the Form and structure of the Poem?

Answer 7

This is written in the ballad form, the refrain is repeated’Rode the 6 hundred’ the use of the ballad form suggests that the mission was an inspiring act of bravery, that should be passed on to Future generations. However you could say Tennyson wanted the public not just rememeber the bravery of soliders, but also the stupidity of the leadership and the blunder (error) that ultimately causes this. Tennyson uses Datatylic diameter in a postive way to apperitacte the soliders on the battle, the dum de de dumb de de’ mirrors the galloping horse. However the Dactylic diameter could be used as sacrism critising what took place.