8.1.3

Rhetorical Techniques, Key Quotes & Comparisons

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Rhetorical Techniques

Tennyson encourages his readers to think about the scale of losses in war. Here are the literary techniques he uses to do so:

Rhetorical questions

Rhetorical questions

  • The rhetorical questions (questions that don't expect an answer) at the end encourage the reader to think for themselves about how to honour the men that lost their lives.
    • E.g. “When can their glory fade?”
Sombre tone

Sombre tone

  • The poet creates a sombre tone with the phrase “not the six hundred” because the reader is encouraged to think about the extent of the loss.

Key Quotations in Charge of the Brigade

Here are key quotations to remember for your exam:

“Into the valley of Death”

“Into the valley of Death”

  • Metaphor.
  • This horrific image highlights the danger of the situation and the brutal fate that awaited the men.
“Into the Jaws of Death”

“Into the Jaws of Death”

  • Personification.
  • This horrific image highlights the danger of the situation and the brutal fate that awaited the men.
“Theirs not to make reply / Theirs..."

“Theirs not to make reply / Theirs..."

  • "Theirs not to make reply / Theirs not to reason why / Theirs but to do and die”.
  • The repetition suggests the soldiers' lack of control over their fate. In an almost robotic way, they have been conditioned to follow instructions, no matter what they might be.
“Cannon to right of them / Cannon to left of them..."

“Cannon to right of them / Cannon to left of them..."

  • The repetition highlights the violence.
  • It also highlights how helpless the soldiers are to defend themselves against the onslaught of enemy fire.
  • It also highlights how their fate is inescapable.
“Not the six hundred”

“Not the six hundred”

  • Creates a sombre tone.
  • Here, the reader is encouraged to think about the extent of the loss.
“When can their glory fade?”

“When can their glory fade?”

  • Rhetorical question.
  • Encourages the reader to think for themselves about how to honour the men that lost their lives.
“Honour the charge they made!..."

“Honour the charge they made!..."

  • “Honour the charge they made! / Honour the Light Brigade / Noble six hundred.”
  • Repetition of the imperative verb “honour” cements the poet’s message that these men are worthy of a reader’s admiration and respect.

Key Comparisons: Charge of the Light Brigade

Here are some themes that come up in Charge of the Light Brigade and other texts:

Horror and reality of war

Horror and reality of war

  • On the theme of the horror and reality of war, you may want to compare Charge of the Light Brigade to:
    • War Photographer.
    • Bayonet Charge.
    • Remains.
Effects of war and conflict

Effects of war and conflict

  • On the theme of the effects of war and conflict, you may want to compare Charge of the Light Brigade to:
    • War Photographer.
    • Bayonet Charge.
    • Remains.
    • Kamikaze.
Jump to other topics
1

Ozymandias - Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

1.1

Ozymandias Analysis

1.1.1Summary1.1.2Key Ideas1.1.3Themes1.1.4Irony & Rhythm1.1.5Key Quotes & Comparisons1.1.6End of Topic Test - Ozymandias1.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Defining Caesura1.1.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Identifying Caesura1.1.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - Analysing Caesura
2

London - William Blake (1757-1827)

2.1

London Analysis

2.1.1Summary2.1.2Themes & Structure2.1.3Themes & Structure 22.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons2.1.5Exam-Style Questions - London2.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Defining Repetition2.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Identifying Repetition2.1.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Analysing Repetition
3

Storm on the Island - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)

3.1

Storm on the Island Analysis

3.1.1Summary & Structure3.1.2Themes3.1.3Themes 23.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons3.1.5End of Topic Test - Blake & Heaney3.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Fear
4

Exposure - Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)

4.1

Exposure Analysis

4.1.1Summary4.1.2Personification4.1.3Themes4.1.4Structure, Key Quotes & Comparisons4.1.5End of Topic Test - Exposure4.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Define Personification4.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Ident. Personification
5

War Photographer - Carol Ann Duffy (born 1955)

5.1

War Photographer Analysis

5.1.1Summary5.1.2Themes5.1.3Imagery5.1.4Comparisons & Key Quotes5.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Defining Similes5.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Identifying Similes
6

My Last Duchess - Robert Browning (1812-1889)

6.1

My Last Duchess Analysis

6.1.1Summary6.1.2Characterisation & Themes6.1.3Structure, Key Quotes & Comparisons6.1.4End of Topic Test - Duffy & Browning6.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Cheating Wife
7

The Prelude - William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

7.1

Extract from The Prelude Analysis

7.1.1Summary7.1.2Personification & Imagery7.1.3Themes7.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons7.1.5End of Topic Test - The Prelude7.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - "Her"
8

Charge of the Light Brigade - Alfred Tennyson

8.1

Charge of the Light Brigade Analysis

8.1.1Summary8.1.2Themes8.1.3Rhetorical Techniques, Key Quotes & Comparisons8.1.4End of Topic Test - Charge of the Light Brigade8.1.5Exam-Style Questions - Charge of the Light Brigade8.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Tennyson a Soldier?
9

Bayonet Charge - Ted Hughes (1930-1998)

9.1

Bayonet Charge Analysis

9.1.1Summary9.1.2Themes9.1.3Themes 29.1.4Structure & Key Comparisons9.1.5End of Topic Test - Bayonet Charge9.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - NOT COTLB9.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Soldier Running Away
10

Poppies - Jane Weir (Born 1963)

10.1

Poppies Analysis

10.1.1Summary10.1.2Theme of Motherhood10.1.3Imagery10.1.4Form, Structure & Key Comparisons10.1.5End of Topic Test - Poppies10.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Defining Enjambment
11

Tissue - Imtiaz Dharker (Born 1954)

11.1

Tissue Analysis

11.1.1Summary11.1.2Themes & Symbolism11.1.3Religion & Conflict11.1.4Form, Structure & Key Comparisons11.1.5End of Topic Test - Tissue
12

The Emigree - Carol Rumens (Born 1944)

12.1

The Emigree Analysis

12.1.1Summary & Structure12.1.2Themes12.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons12.1.4End of Topic Test - The Emigree12.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Emigrant vs Immigrant
13

Kamikaze - Beatrice Garland (Born 1938)

13.1

Kamikaze Analysis

13.1.1Summary & Structure13.1.2Themes13.1.3Themes 213.1.4Structure, Quotes & Comparisons13.1.5End of Topic Test - Kamikaze13.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Defining NP13.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Identifying NP
14

Checking Out Me History - John Agard (Born 1949)

14.1

Checking Out Me History Analysis

14.1.1Summary14.1.2Themes14.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons14.1.4End of Topic Test - Checking Out Me History
15

Remains - Simon Armitage (Born 1963)

15.1

Remains Analysis

15.1.1Summary15.1.2Themes: Desensitisation &Trauma15.1.3Themes: Guilt15.1.4Themes: Nature of War15.1.5Structure15.1.6Key Quotes & Comparisons15.1.7End of Topic Test - Remains15.1.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Casual Tone
16

Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

16.1

Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

16.1.1Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons
17

Recap: Main Quotes

17.1

Recap: Main Quotes

17.1.1Ozymandias - Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)17.1.2London - William Blake (1757-1827)17.1.3Storm on the Island - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)17.1.4Exposure - Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)17.1.5War Photographer - Carol Ann Duffy (born 1955)17.1.6My Last Duchess - Robert Browning (1812-1889)17.1.7The Prelude - William Wordsworth (1770-1850)17.1.8Charge of the Light Brigade - Alfred Tennyson17.1.9Bayonet Charge - Ted Hughes (1930-1998)17.1.10Poppies - Jane Weir (Born 1963)17.1.11Tissue - Imtiaz Dharker (Born 1954)17.1.12The Emigree - Carol Rumens (Born 1944)17.1.13Kamikaze - Beatrice Garland (Born 1938)17.1.14Checking Out Me History - John Agard (Born 1949)17.1.15Remains - Simon Armitage (Born 1963)

Practice questions on Rhetorical Techniques, Key Quotes & Comparisons

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What technique is being used in this quote?<br>_“When can their glory fade?”_Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What kind of tone does the poet create with this quote?<br>_“Not the six hundred”_Multiple choice
  3. 3
    What techniques does the poet use to encourage readers to think about the scale of deaths in war?True / false
  4. 4
    Which of these quotes gives the poem a sombre tone?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    Complete the key quotes from Charge of the Light Brigade:Fill in the list
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Themes

End of Topic Test - Charge of the Light Brigade