THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE BY LORD TENNYSON FROM MISS NATRA

LITERATURE FORM 4: ‘THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE’ POEM (AN EXTRACT) BY ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON

THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE

Half a league, half a league Cannon to right of them,
Half a league onward, Cannon to left of them,
All in the valley of Death Cannon in front of them
Rode the six hundred. Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
“Forward, the Light Brigade! Boldly they rode and well,
Charge for the guns!’ he said. Into the jaws of Death,
Into the valley of Death Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred. Rode the six hundred.

‘’Forward, the Light Brigade! Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Charge for the guns!” he said.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred
‘’Forward, the Light Brigade!”
Was there a man dismayed?
Not through the soldier knew
Some one had blundered
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.

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A GIFT FOR MY BELOVED STUDENTS MISS NATRA @SMKPJI 2019

LITERATURE FORM 4: ‘THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE’ POEM (AN EXTRACT) BY ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON

The meaning of each stanza

Stanza 1 (line 1-3)

Stanza 1 Literal meaning
Half a league, half a league The word ‘league’ refers to a certain distance and it is
Half a league onward, repeated three times for emphasis. This can be seen
All in the valley of Death like a marching chant as the soldiers trudge on to what
would be the gruesome uncertainty of their fates.

Stanza 1 (line 4-6) Literal meaning
It reveals the number of soldiers marching to their
Stanza 1 destination and they were called the Light Brigade. The
Rode the six hundred. identity of the person shouting these orders to the
“Forward, the Light Brigade! men was unknown. We can only assume he was the
Charge for the guns!’ he said. leader of the troop, giving his men their final orders.

Stanza 1 & 2 (line 7-9) Literal meaning
These orders were repeated again but in a much
Stanza 1 & 2 sombre mood compared to the spirited, harsh riling
Into the Valley of Death before. It indicates a mood of doom because the
Rode the six hundred. soldiers were marching to the valley of Death.

“Forward, the Light Brigade!”

Figurative meaning of Stanza 1 (line 1-8).

Sometimes in life, we have to face very difficult situations that require a great deal of
sacrifice. Sometimes these situations appear as though the outcome would be hopeless
and pointless but we still have to endure it because giving up is not an option.

Stanza 2 (line 10-12) Literal meaning
Being dismayed could mean; being afraid, discouraged,
Stanza 2 terrified or sorrowful. But line 11 shows that the men
Was there a man dismayed? were not at all afraid. The ‘blunder’ here refers to the
Not through the soldier knew ridiculous battle plan. Despite little success, the men
Some one had blundered went forward loyally without question and without
fear.
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A GIFT FOR MY BELOVED STUDENTS MISS NATRA @SMKPJI 2019

LITERATURE FORM 4: ‘THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE’ POEM (AN EXTRACT) BY ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON

Stanza 2 (line 13-17) Literal meaning
The first three lines focus on the sole duties of the
Stanza 2 soldiers. It is not their place to question their
Theirs not to make reply, commanders, nor is it their place to question the logic
Theirs not to reason why, behind this plan. They were soldiers just there to fight
Theirs but to do and die, and possibly die while facing the enemy.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

Figurative meaning of Stanza 2 (line 9-17).

We have to be careful with the choices we make because sometimes it might affect
others extensively. Those who are blindly loyal would not question such choices, even
they know they are going to suffer for it.

Stanza 3 (line 18-21) Literal meaning
These lines describe the battle scenes with weapons of
Stanza 3 cannons at every angle; the left, right and in front. All
Cannon to right of them, firing intensely that it sounded like thunders echoing
Cannon to left of them, non-stop in the valley of Death.
Cannon in front of them
Volleyed and thundered;

Stanza 3 (line 22-26) Literal meaning
The soldiers were being fired at with bullets and
Stanza 3 cannonballs, even then, they faced it bravely to what
Stormed at with shot and shell, seems like the perfect setting to hell and Death.
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.

Figurative meaning of Stanza 3 (line 18-26). Page3

Life may seem like a battlefield because we’re constantly fighting with a lot of
circumstances to survive or to be the best person we can be. While the situation may
seem bleak and dire, courage and bravery will motivate you to persevere.

A GIFT FOR MY BELOVED STUDENTS MISS NATRA @SMKPJI 2019

LITERATURE FORM 4: ‘THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE’ POEM (AN EXTRACT) BY ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON

A) SYNOPSIS
At the time this poem was written, the British were fighting the Russian Empire in the

Crimean War. Tennyson read about a story that took place in the Battle of Balaclava. He was so
moved by the story, he sat down and wrote this poem. The poem focused on the heroism of soldiers
who were facing an almost certain death in the battle field.

B) ABOUT THE POEM

The poem highlights only the first three stanzas of its original six stanzas. It has a rhyming
pattern of some sort. It is not consistent between stanzas and might appear unpredictable. From
the beginning of the poem, the tone is intense and set for a build-up of events. It gets more exciting
and charged up. The poem was an inspired version of something Tennyson read, on events that
happened in real life.

Setting Tone & Mood

War Heroism & bravery Battlefield Patriotic

Themes Point of view Full of doom

Third person Intense &
point of view dramatic
Loyalty Atrocities of war Third person
omniscient

Moral values & messages
We have to make sacrifices
We must have determination
Sometimes we have to be brave

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A GIFT FOR MY BELOVED STUDENTS MISS NATRA @SMKPJI 2019

LITERATURE FORM 4: ‘THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE’ POEM (AN EXTRACT) BY ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON

Structure & Style
Stanzas = 3 stanzas (original version has 6 stanzas)
Lines= Stanza 1: 8 lines, Stanza 2: 9 lines, Stanza 3: 9 lines
Words per line= 3 to 6 words
All three stanzas end with the same conclusion, the six hundred rode to the valley of Death

It has a rhyming pattern of a peculiar sort.
Every stanza has a different rhyming pattern.
At first glance, the rhyming pattern might look random.

Stanza 1 rhyming pattern: a-b-c-b-d-d-c-b
Stanza 2 rhyming pattern: a-a-b-c-d-d-d-e-c
Stanza 3 rhyming pattern: a-a-a-b-c-c-d-c-b

LITERARY DEVICES

Imagery Cannon to right of them,
(using words to create vivid images to Cannon to left of them,
readers) Cannon in front of them
Volleyed and thundered;
Rhyme (Stanza 3, lines 18-21)

Repetition Theirs not to make reply,
(poet emphasises these words to create Theirs not to reason why,
impact towards readers) Theirs but to do and die
Symbolism
(Stanza 2, lines 13-15)

Half a league, half a league
Half a league onward

(Stanza 1, lines 1-2)

…..Jaws of Death…

(Stanza 3, lines 24)

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A GIFT FOR MY BELOVED STUDENTS MISS NATRA @SMKPJI 2019