The Charge of the Light Brigade :: Free Essays

The Charge of the Light Brigade October 1854, the attention of the world's most powerful empire was fixed on the territories of modern-day Ukraine. It was by no means a benevolent gaze the British Empire cast eastward. For it was the Crimean War, and at Balaclava, Britain took a beating which has been immortalized in Lord Alfred Tennyson's poem, The Charge of the Light Brigade. Half a league, half a league, half a league onward - repetition is used. There is a sense of movement distance and rhythm. All in the valley of Death rode the six hundred - valley of death is a metaphorical language. 600 hundred becomes important later on. "Forward, the Light Brigade! "Charge for the guns!" he said: - this is direct speech, very adventurous. Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred - slowly building up, repetition. "Forward, the Light Brigade! " - more repetition Was there a man dismayed? - Was there a man not looking into it, all doing there duty, sense of doubt. Their's not to make reply, Their's not to reason why, Their's but to do and die: - rhythm, only concentrating on the duty. Don't reason why just do it. Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred - repetition Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them Volley'd and thunder'd; - sense of awareness, repetition, surroundings, danger and movement, sound and excitement. Into the jaws of Death, into the mouth of hell - jaws of death is a metaphor. Speaking as if they're going into a mouth, nearly there. Excitement but much danger. Sense of hesitation. Rode the six hundred - repetition Flash'd all their sabres bare, Flash'd as they turn'd in air, - the waving of their swords. Sabring the gunners there, Charging an army, while all the world wonder'd: - the waving of their swords. Fighting against guns. 'ALL the world wondered', how honourable.