Summary

Summary of Charge of the Light Brigade

Alfred Tennyson wrote Charge of the Light Brigade to commemorate those who died in the Battle of Balaclava (1854) in the Crimean War.

Summary

This poem describes one of the battles of the Crimean War (1853-1856), in which Britain and France fought Imperial Russia.
The poem describes a brigade that's instructed to charge forward into a valley surrounded by enemy soldiers.
The soldiers were armed with cannons and guns.
Most soldiers were killed.

Alfred Tennyson

Tennyson was one of the most famous poets of the Victorian era and was Poet Laureate from 1850 to 1892.

Meaning of poem

The poem was written in honour of the “noble six hundred”. These men bravely sacrificed themselves in the battle. They continued to follow orders if it meant riding towards certain death.
The speaker encourages the reader to honour and respect them.

The Structure and Form of Charge of the Light Brigade

Charge of the Light Brigade is a narrative poem of six stanzas. Here's why the poet chose these techniques:

Narrative poem

This is a narrative poem. Events are described in chronological (time) order.
This helps the reader remember the events and the sacrifices the men made.

6 stanzas

The 6 stanzas could commemorate the 600 men who died.

Rhythm and Rhyme in Charge of the Light Brigade

Tennyson chooses a regular rhythm to quicken the pace of the poem. The rhyming is inconsistent for different effects. Here's an explanation of these techniques:

Regular rhythm

Regular rhythm creates a fast pace and mimics the movement of the horses galloping towards the enemy.
The fast-paced rhythm reflects their relentless drive forwards.
It also hints at the inevitability of their death.

Regular and broken rhyming

The rhymes quicken the pace of the poem.
But unrhymed lines break up the regularity. They perhaps mirror the chaos and confusion of the battle as soldiers and men fall.

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1.1Ozymandias Analysis

1.1.1Summary

1.1.2Key Ideas

1.1.3Themes

1.1.4Irony & Rhythm

1.1.5Key Quotes & Comparisons

1.1.6End of Topic Test - Ozymandias

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2.1London Analysis

2.1.1Summary

2.1.2Themes & Structure

2.1.3Themes & Structure 2

2.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons

2.1.5Exam-Style Questions - London

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3.1Storm on the Island Analysis

3.1.1Summary & Structure

3.1.2Themes

3.1.3Themes 2

3.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons

3.1.5End of Topic Test - Blake & Heaney

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4.1Exposure Analysis

4.1.1Summary

4.1.2Personification

4.1.3Themes

4.1.4Structure, Key Quotes & Comparisons

4.1.5End of Topic Test - Exposure

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5.1War Photographer Analysis

5.1.1Summary

5.1.2Themes

5.1.3Imagery

5.1.4Comparisons & Key Quotes

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6.1My Last Duchess Analysis

6.1.1Summary

6.1.2Characterisation & Themes

6.1.3Structure, Key Quotes & Comparisons

6.1.4End of Topic Test - Duffy & Browning

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7.1Extract from The Prelude Analysis

7.1.1Summary

7.1.2Personification & Imagery

7.1.3Themes

7.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons

7.1.5End of Topic Test - The Prelude

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8.1Charge of the Light Brigade Analysis

8.1.1Summary

8.1.2Themes

8.1.3Rhetorical Techniques, Key Quotes & Comparisons

8.1.4End of Topic Test - Charge of the Light Brigade

8.1.5Exam-Style Questions - Charge of the Light Brigade

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9.1Bayonet Charge Analysis

9.1.1Summary

9.1.2Themes

9.1.3Themes 2

9.1.4Structure & Key Comparisons

9.1.5End of Topic Test - Bayonet Charge

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10.1Poppies Analysis

10.1.1Summary

10.1.2Theme of Motherhood

10.1.3Imagery

10.1.4Form, Structure & Key Comparisons

10.1.5End of Topic Test - Poppies

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11.1Tissue Analysis

11.1.1Summary

11.1.2Themes & Symbolism

11.1.3Religion & Conflict

11.1.4Form, Structure & Key Comparisons

11.1.5End of Topic Test - Tissue

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12.1The Emigree Analysis

12.1.1Summary & Structure

12.1.2Themes

12.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

12.1.4End of Topic Test - The Emigree

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13.1Kamikaze Analysis

13.1.1Summary & Structure

13.1.2Themes

13.1.3Themes 2

13.1.4Structure, Quotes & Comparisons

13.1.5End of Topic Test - Kamikaze

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14.1Checking Out Me History Analysis

14.1.1Summary

14.1.2Themes

14.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

14.1.4End of Topic Test - Checking Out Me History

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15.1Remains Analysis

15.1.1Summary

15.1.2Themes: Desensitisation &Trauma

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15.1.5Structure

15.1.6Key Quotes & Comparisons

15.1.7End of Topic Test - Remains

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16.1Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

16.1.1Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

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