the charge of the light brigade questions

The rod was a weapon of protection, and the walking stick or staff, a means of guidance and direction. Both these instruments were essential for the shepherds trade and served as symbols of his authority. The presence of the shepherd with his rod and walking stick brings reassurance to the sheep for these instruments picture the Lord's watchful care over His people. King David sang this song when he was a shepherd boy to the Lord when he was seeking comfort in the time of loneliness. Tennyson references Psalm 23: 'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.' This allusion is possibly used to describe the dark and dangerous surroundings of the battlefield. The effect on the reader is to create a feeling of sadness and yet spiritual uplift at the men's bravery and sacrifice. The waste of war, and sadness at the loss of life. Themes include: Courage and nobility of fighting men. The lines have a hypnotic, rhythmic quality, with the dactylic metrical emphasis on the first syllable. He uses sharp, percussive consonants and masculine endings. Most are monosyllabic, the rest two syllable, to suggest military abruptness. As will be seen in the analysis, Tennyson is skilled in his use of language and in manipulating words. He also uses assonant rhyme, as in 'hundred' and 'blunder'd'. For example, stanza two is AABCDDDCF the others are variations on this. The rhyme is highly complex, each stanza with a different pattern. The poem comprises six stanzas, from eight lines to twelve lines long. Wilfred Owen and the other poets describe the feelings of the men and those who loved them in a more personal way, dealing with their fear, grief and comradeship. Tennyson's focus is more distant, as if watching the charge and admiring the bravery and nobility of the men and their sacrifice. For example, Wilfred Owen's 'Futility' also deals with the waste and tragedy of war.

It is interesting to study poems of the First World War and to compare them with Tennyson's. At the Battle of Balaclava on October 25, 1854, the 607 cavalrymen of the Light Brigade, acting on a misinterpreted order, directly charged the Russian artillery-a costly mistake. This poem was written several weeks after a disastrous engagement during the Crimean War. Honour the charge they made! Honour the Light Brigade Noble six hundred! When can their glory fade? O the wild charge they made! All the world wonder'd. Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon behind them Volley'd and thunder'd Storm'd at with shot and shell, While horse and hero fell, They that had fought so well Came thro' the jaws of Death Back from the mouth of Hell, All that was left of them Left of six hundred. Then they rode back, but not Not the six hundred.

Flash'd all their sabres bare, Flash'd as they turn'd in air, Sabring the gunners there, Charging an army, while All the world wonder'd: Plunged in the battery-smoke Right thro' the line they broke Cossack and Russian Reel'd from the sabre-stroke Shatter'd and sunder'd. Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them Volley'd and thunder'd Storm'd at with shot and shell, Boldly they rode and well, Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of Hell Rode the six hundred. 'Forward, the Light Brigade!' Was there a man dismay'd? Not tho' the soldier knew Some one had blunder'd: Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die: Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. 'Forward the Light Brigade! Charge for the guns!' he said: Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred.

The charge of the light brigade questions