In this final stanza, Tennyson calls for the readers to honor these soldiers. He also addresses the incredible feat that all 600 were not killed and that some of these men escaped the “jaws of death” and made it out of this battle alive. Some “rode back,” but not all of them.Īgain, the author stresses the cannons and chaos and addresses the inevitable both the soldier and the horse were killed. The last few lines reveal that some soldiers did survive and made it back.
The only people who didn’t question were those soldiers who felt it was their duty to follow the command and not question. This stanza reveals the outcry of England as these soldiers charged to their death, the world wonders why they were commanded to do so. They used their swords to fight an unmatched enemy. Tennyson reveals that the Light Brigade did put up a fight. The poet describes the event, using a great deal of imagery with “Cannon to right of them,/ Cannon to left of them, / Cannon in front of them.” It’s chaotic and deadly, yet the soldiers road “well.” Tennyson again describes how the soldiers charged forward into “the jaws of death.” As a soldier, their job is to follow commands, and that is just what they did. The soldiers thought this must be a mistake, and yet we must not question the command and must follow it as directed. In the second stanza, Tennyson reveals the soldiers’ thoughts as they wonder if the command is a mistake. The “valley of death” becomes a refrain and is a nod to a passage in the Bible that states, “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” The soldiers acted without fear and bravely charged ahead. Most men were killed, causing an outcry in England the order was given in error. The “valley of death” is an allusion to a real event during the Crimean War. The author describes how 600 soldiers rode for 1.5 miles into known death. A league is a term for measurement, roughly 3 miles therefore, half a league is about 1.5 miles. The first four lines establish the form and theme of the poem. Through a line-by-line analysis, we can better appreciate the heroic story being told. Several literary devices were used in “The Charge of the Light Brigade.” ” Tennyson uses a metaphor when describing the battlefield as “the valley of death.” He also uses metonymy with the refrain “Rode the six hundred.” With “… the world wondered, “we see the “w” sound repeated and use of alliteration. There is some rhyme in the poem, although it is unpredictable with no particular rhyme scheme. The poem’s meter-dactylic dimeter sounds like galloping horses when several metrical substitutions conveying chaos. The poem consists of 55 lines, disproportionately divided into six stanzas. This poem is a tribute to these men’s bravery and their ability to face death head-on as they charged into the “valley of death.” Analysis of The Charge of the Light Brigade”, Alfred Lord Tennyson The assault continued with backs turned, and very few soldiers made it back alive. Equipped with only swords, they broke the enemy line before heading back. Their commander’s mistake was realized as all 600 soldiers were assaulted with fire, yet the soldiers charged forward.
As soldiers, they followed orders and didn’t question the command. These 600 soldiers belonged to a British cavalry unit, called the “Light Brigade.” For one and a half miles, these soldiers charged forward to face enemy forces, a Russian artillery unit with their cannons and guns. The poem “ The Charge of the Light Brigade“ tells a story about 600 soldiers who rode into the “valley of death” as he describes a battle during the Crimean War. Noble six hundred! Summary of “The Charge of the Light Brigade”, Alfred Lord Tennyson
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