Throughout history, we have heard of countless battles that ended in gruesome slaughter. “The Charge of the Light Brigade” is one of these battles. Based on real events during the Crimean War, Alfred Lord Tennyson poetically describes the event, the bravery shown, patriotism, and nationalism. He calls on the reader to remember these soldiers and their sacrifice as they charged face-on into known death. As Tennyson intended, this poem serves as a tribute to those who gave up their lives for their country.
The Charge of the Light Brigade
Summary of “The Charge of the Light Brigade”, Alfred Lord Tennyson
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. 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. As soldiers, they followed orders and didn’t question the command. Their commander’s mistake was realized as all 600 soldiers were assaulted with fire, yet the soldiers charged forward. Equipped with only swords, they broke the enemy line before heading back. The assault continued with backs turned, and very few soldiers made it back alive. 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 poem consists of 55 lines, disproportionately divided into six stanzas. The poem’s meter-dactylic dimeter sounds like galloping horses when several metrical substitutions conveying chaos. There is some rhyme in the poem, although it is unpredictable with no particular rhyme scheme. 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. Through a line-by-line analysis, we can better appreciate the heroic story being told.
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.
The first four lines establish the form and theme of the poem. A league is a term for measurement, roughly 3 miles; therefore, half a league is about 1.5 miles. The author describes how 600 soldiers rode for 1.5 miles into known death. They charged forward into gunfire. The “valley of death” is an allusion to a real event during the Crimean War. Most men were killed, causing an outcry in England; the order was given in error. 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.
“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.
In the second stanza, Tennyson reveals the soldiers’ thoughts as they wonder if the command is a mistake. The soldiers thought this must be a mistake, and yet we must not question the command and must follow it as directed. As a soldier, their job is to follow commands, and that is just what they did.
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.
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.”
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.
Tennyson reveals that the Light Brigade did put up a fight. They used their swords to fight an unmatched enemy. This stanza reveals the outcry of England; as these soldiers charged to their death, the world wonders why they were commanded to do so. The only people who didn’t question were those soldiers who felt it was their duty to follow the command and not question. The last few lines reveal that some soldiers did survive and made it back. Some “rode back,” but not all of them.
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.
Again, the author stresses the cannons and chaos and addresses the inevitable; both the soldier and the horse were killed. 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.
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!
In this final stanza, Tennyson calls for the readers to honor these soldiers. He repeats, “the world wondered” to reinforce the danger for generations of readers to come. It was apparent to the world that these men walked directly into death. These men should not die in vain; their honor and glory must be remembered. They gave up their life for their country because it was their duty to follow commands, even the commands that led them straight to death.
Themes in The Charge of the Light Brigade”, Alfred Lord Tennyson
The themes of patriotism, nationalism, and war were very prominent at the time and are found in “The Charge of the Light Brigade.” The first theme, patriotism, is the most prominent. The act of charging into certain death for your country, and because you were commanded to, shows the love and dedication these soldiers all had. They were willing to give up their life for their country. The second theme, war, is reflected throughout the poem with the use of metaphors. He glorifies it and the brave act of these soldiers. The third theme is nationalism and is clear in the last stanza as Tennyson tells readers to “honour the Light Brigade.” The poem was meant to inspire the country and soldiers still fighting.
Background of The Charge of the Light Brigade”, Alfred Lord Tennyson
Alfred Tennyson was a British poet born in 1809. He was appointed the Poet Laureate by Queen Victoria and held this position for much of her reign. One of the greatest tragedies experienced by the British military occurred on October 25, 1854, with the British Light Cavalry Brigade in the Battle of Balaclava. The brigade consisted of 670 men who were commanded to charge 25,000 Russian soldiers armed with guns and cannons. The Times had written about the event, and Tennyson wrote this poem in response a week later. The poem was published on December 9, 1854.
It is hard to imagine the sense of patriotism to ride into gunfire and cannons, knowing you would die. To face the “valley of death” in this act of loyalty to one’s country and position is an act of bravery that should be remembered. Alfred Lord Tennyson’s “The Charge of the Light Brigade” is a tribute to these brave 600 soldiers. He wanted them to be remembered for generations, and thanks to his poem that continues to be admired today, they are.
If you enjoyed “The Charge of the Light Brigade”, Alfred Lord Tennyson you should read “Dulce et Decorum est” by Wilfred Owen.