Poetry Analysis
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.
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.
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.
Flashed all their sabres bare,
Flashed as they turned in air
Sab’ring the gunners there,
Charging an army while
All the world wondered.
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right thro’ 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.
Summary:
The poem “The Charge of the Light Brigade” describes the bravery and sacrifice of six hundred soldiers who rode into the “valley of Death” during the Battle of Balaclava. Despite knowing that there was a mistake made in the orders, the soldiers obeyed without question and charged into the face of enemy fire. The poem highlights the courage and loyalty of the soldiers who fought in this battle, and the tragic loss of life that resulted from the ill-fated charge.
Questions:
Reading Comprehension Questions:
- Who are the “six hundred” mentioned in the poem?
- What is the “valley of Death” referred to in the first stanza?
- How do the soldiers feel about the orders they are given?
- What happens to the soldiers as they charge towards the enemy?
- What is the final fate of the six hundred?
Poetic Analysis Questions:
- What is the genre of the poem?
- What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
- What is the effect of the repetition of “into the valley of Death”?
- How does the use of imagery contribute to the theme of the poem?
- What is the theme of the poem?
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Answer Key
Reading Comprehension Questions:
1. Who are the “six hundred” mentioned in the poem?
Answer: The “six hundred” are the British soldiers who took part in the Charge of the Light Brigade.
2. What is the “valley of Death” referred to in the first stanza?
Answer: The “valley of Death” is the location of the battle where the Charge of the Light Brigade took place.
3. How do the soldiers feel about the orders they are given?
Answer: The soldiers are obedient and do not question the orders they are given, even though they know that someone has made a mistake.
4. What happens to the soldiers as they charge towards the enemy?
Answer: The soldiers face heavy artillery fire and are attacked from all sides, resulting in many casualties.
5. What is the final fate of the six hundred?
Answer: Many of the soldiers are killed or wounded, but some are able to make it back to their lines.
Poetic Analysis Questions:
1. What is the genre of the poem?
Answer: The genre of the poem “The Charge of the Light Brigade” by Lord Tennyson is a narrative poem. It tells the story of a historical event, the disastrous Charge of the Light Brigade during the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War. The poem presents a dramatic account of the events, focusing on the bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers, while also critiquing the leadership that led to the tragic outcome. The poem is characterized by its use of vivid imagery, repetition, and dactylic meter to create a sense of urgency and danger.
2. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
Answer: The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABCBDEFE.
3. What is the effect of the repetition of “into the valley of Death”?
Answer: The repetition of this phrase emphasizes the danger and inevitability of the soldiers’ situation, creating a sense of impending doom.
4. How does the use of imagery contribute to the theme of the poem?
Answer: The use of vivid and violent imagery reinforces the theme of the brutality of war and the sacrifices made by soldiers.
5. What is the theme of the poem?
Answer: The theme of the poem is the bravery and sacrifice of soldiers in the face of impossible odds. It also explores the idea of duty and loyalty, and the tragic consequences that can result from poor leadership and decision-making.
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