The Charge of the Light Brigade

1. The Charge of the Light Brigade

5. Context The Crimean War 1854-1856 Britain and France against Russia Began after the Turkish Empire collapsed and Russia wanted to extend power south. Allies landed in Crimea and took control of Sebastopol. War in Crimea, southern Russia. British cavalry (men on horseback) called the Light Brigade

7. Heroic and Stupid Charge of the Light Brigade The British cavalry commander mistook his orders to retake some guns held by the Russians. Instead he told his men to charge the main Russian position, which was at the head of a valley bristling with artillery. The 600 horsemen obeyed but two thirds were killed or wounded. The Charge is the best known example of heroism and stupidity of war.

8. Poem based on newspaper report Journalist W.H.Russell reported on the Charge in The Times:

9. Rhythm There is a regular fast-paced rhythm to the poem created by: Regular number of syllables in the lines (5-7); End rhymes Repetition of line structures and words Repetition of variation of last line.

10. Order and Obey �Forward the Light Brigade!� Was there a man dismayed? Not though the soldier knew Some one had blundered: Their�s not to make reply, Their�s not to reason why, Their�s but to do and die: Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. The commander had made a disastrous mistake. Why didn�t the men question the order to charge at the Russian guns?

11. Sounds of war Cannon to the right of them, Cannon to the 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 Sabring the gunners there, Charging the 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.

14. Sounds of war Cannon to the right of them, Cannon to the 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 Sabring the gunners there, Charging the 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.

15. Imagery �Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred.� �Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of Hell Rode the six hundred.� How does Tennyson use metaphor and personification to capture the horror of the Charge?

16. Imagery �Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred.� �Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of Hell Rode the six hundred.� How does Tennyson use metaphor and personification to capture the horror of the Charge?

17. Pride, splendour, glamour W.H. Russell They swept proudly past, glittering in the morning sun in all the pride and splendour of war�with a halo of steel above their heads, and with a cheer which was many a noble fellow�s death cry, they flew into the smoke of the batteries�breaking through a column of Russians and scattering them like chaff Tennyson 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. 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 the six hundred.

18. Tennyson�s voice � stanza six 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! What does Tennyson think of the soldiers? What do you think that he felt about the Charge?