The Charge of the Light Brigade
Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) is probably the most famous of all English poets, and during the time he lived he was one of the most famous people in England. After overcoming family problems and setbacks Tennyson became official poetic spokesman for the reign of Victoria. This is one of his most famous poems.
I
Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in 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.
II
“Forward, the Light Brigade!”
Was there a man dismayed?
Not though the soldier knew
Someone 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.
III
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of hell
Rode the six hundred.
IV
Flashed all their sabres bare,
Flashed as they turned in air
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army, while
All the world wondered.
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right through the line they broke;
Cossack and Russian
Reeled from the sabre stroke
Shattered and sundered.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.
V
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
While horse and hero fell.
They that had fought so well
Came through the jaws of Death,
Back from the mouth of hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.
VI
When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wondered.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred!
Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem does not have a set meter, though it contains iambic trimeter and dactylic trimeter. A set meter in this poem is very appropriate considering the context of the poem. The audience can picture the six hundred marching to their deaths as they read it. The speaker seems as though he is apart from the action, only observing from afar. In the first stanza, the speaker mentions the valley of Death, and I get the impression the speaker is watching from the top of the valley as he hears the six hundred members of the light brigade march, charge, and eventually die. The vivid imagery and repetition used in the poem may have been what made this poem so famous and well-received. It is also quite motivational and relatable to the audience as well. At times we all face adversity that seems unable to be overcome. "When can their glory fade?... Honour the charge they made... Noble six hundred!" The speaker here recognizes the bravery with which the six hundred fought and the sacrifice they made. And like the six hundred, we will not be judged or remember based on the adversity we faced, but how we reacted, resisted, and overcame it. The meter adds to the affect of a set rhythm, whether of the marching of the soldiers or the beating of their hearts as they marched toward their deaths. The tone of praise toward the men makes it seem that maybe what they did was worth something to someone, which may be all they ever wanted.
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