Rhetorical Techniques, Key Quotes & Comparisons

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

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

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”

Metaphor.
This horrific image highlights the danger of the situation and the brutal fate that awaited the men.

“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 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..."

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”

Creates a sombre tone.
Here, the reader is encouraged to think about the extent of the loss.

“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 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

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

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.

1Ozymandias - Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

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

2London - William Blake (1757-1827)

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

3Storm on the Island - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)

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

4Exposure - Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)

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

5War Photographer - Carol Ann Duffy (born 1955)

5.1War Photographer Analysis

5.1.1Summary

5.1.2Themes

5.1.3Imagery

5.1.4Comparisons & Key Quotes

6My Last Duchess - Robert Browning (1812-1889)

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

7The Prelude - William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

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

8Charge of the Light Brigade - Alfred Tennyson

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

9Bayonet Charge - Ted Hughes (1930-1998)

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

10Poppies - Jane Weir (Born 1963)

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

11Tissue - Imtiaz Dharker (Born 1954)

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

12The Emigree - Carol Rumens (Born 1944)

12.1The Emigree Analysis

12.1.1Summary & Structure

12.1.2Themes

12.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

12.1.4End of Topic Test - The Emigree

13Kamikaze - Beatrice Garland (Born 1938)

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

14Checking Out Me History - John Agard (Born 1949)

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

15Remains - Simon Armitage (Born 1963)

15.1Remains Analysis

15.1.1Summary

15.1.2Themes: Desensitisation &Trauma

15.1.3Themes: Guilt

15.1.4Themes: Nature of War

15.1.5Structure

15.1.6Key Quotes & Comparisons

15.1.7End of Topic Test - Remains

16Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

16.1Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

16.1.1Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

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