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The Charge of the Light Brigade (1854)
Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)
Story
• The poem describes a disastrous battle between British cavalry and Russian forces during the Crimean War (1853-
1856).
• A misunderstanding meant that the Light Brigade was ordered to advance into a valley surrounded by enemy
soldiers.
• The cavalry were only armed with swords, whereas the Russian soldiers had guns.
• The Light Brigade was virtually defenceless against their enemies and many of them were killed.
Structure
• The poem tells the story of the battle in chronological order, from the charge of the men in the first three stanzas,
to the battle in the fourth and the retreat in the fifth.
• The final stanza is shorter and summarises the heroism of the brigade.
Quotations
• “All in the valley of Death” – L3: Sinister language at start of poem.
• “ ‘Forward, the Light Brigade! / Charge for the guns!’ he [Lord Cardigan] said” – L5-6: Upcoming death is
commanding officer’s fault.
• “Was there a man dismay’d? / Not tho’ the soldier knew / Some one had blunder’d:” – L10-12: Soldiers
know order was mistake, but obey orders; Tennyson respects them for this; ‘the soldier’ = they have no identity.
• “Theirs not to make reply, / Theirs not to reason why, / Theirs but to do and die” – L13-15: Rhyme +
repetition emphasise soldier’s obedience; criticism of the military – soldiers were expendable to officers.
• “Cannon to right of them, / Cannon to left of them, / Cannon in front of them” – L18-20: Repetition reflects
how soldiers were surrounded by enemy guns; replicates sound of gunfire.
• “Into the jaws of Death, / Into the mouth of Hell” – L24-25: Imagery personifies death and hell; seems like
inescapable monsters.
• “Flash’d all their sabres bare, / Flash’d as they turn’d in air” – L27-28: Repetition + rhyme create powerful
image of cavalry with swords.
• “All the world wonder’d:” – L31: Either (1) Whole world marvelled at bravery (2) They wondered why they had
been sent on the charge.
• “but not / Not the six hundred.” – L37-38: Repetition emphasis that some are killed; broken, stuttering effect;
speaker almost upset.
• “Volley’d and thunder’d;” – L42: Powerful, onomatopoeic.
• “When can their glory fade? / O the wild charge they made!” – L50-51: Rhetorical question challenges
reader; dramatic and daring.
• “Honour the charge they made! / Honour the Light Brigade,” – L53-54: Imperative repeated at end so reader
remembers to honour.
The Charge of the Light Brigade (1854)
Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)
Story
• The poem describes a disastrous battle between British cavalry and Russian forces during the Crimean War (1853-
1856).
• A misunderstanding meant that the Light Brigade was ordered to advance into a valley surrounded by enemy
soldiers.
• The cavalry were only armed with swords, whereas the Russian soldiers had guns.
• The Light Brigade was virtually defenceless against their enemies and many of them were killed.
Structure
• The poem tells the story of the battle in chronological order, from the charge of the men in the first three stanzas,
to the battle in the fourth and the retreat in the fifth.
• The final stanza is shorter and summarises the heroism of the brigade.
Quotations
• “All in the valley of Death” – L3: Sinister language at start of poem.
• “ ‘Forward, the Light Brigade! / Charge for the guns!’ he [Lord Cardigan] said” – L5-6: Upcoming death is
commanding officer’s fault.
• “Was there a man dismay’d? / Not tho’ the soldier knew / Some one had blunder’d:” – L10-12: Soldiers
know order was mistake, but obey orders; Tennyson respects them for this; ‘the soldier’ = they have no identity.
• “Theirs not to make reply, / Theirs not to reason why, / Theirs but to do and die” – L13-15: Rhyme +
repetition emphasise soldier’s obedience; criticism of the military – soldiers were expendable to officers.
• “Cannon to right of them, / Cannon to left of them, / Cannon in front of them” – L18-20: Repetition reflects
how soldiers were surrounded by enemy guns; replicates sound of gunfire.
• “Into the jaws of Death, / Into the mouth of Hell” – L24-25: Imagery personifies death and hell; seems like
inescapable monsters.
• “Flash’d all their sabres bare, / Flash’d as they turn’d in air” – L27-28: Repetition + rhyme create powerful
image of cavalry with swords.
• “All the world wonder’d:” – L31: Either (1) Whole world marvelled at bravery (2) They wondered why they had
been sent on the charge.
• “but not / Not the six hundred.” – L37-38: Repetition emphasis that some are killed; broken, stuttering effect;
speaker almost upset.
• “Volley’d and thunder’d;” – L42: Powerful, onomatopoeic.
• “When can their glory fade? / O the wild charge they made!” – L50-51: Rhetorical question challenges
reader; dramatic and daring.
• “Honour the charge they made! / Honour the Light Brigade,” – L53-54: Imperative repeated at end so reader
remembers to honour.
