Rhetorical Techniques, Key Quotes & Comparisons
English Lit: AQA GCSE Poetry - Power & Conflict, topic 8.1.3
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.
Test yourself on Rhetorical Techniques, Key Quotes & Comparisons
What technique is being used in this quote?
“When can their glory fade?”What kind of tone does the poet create with this quote?
“Not the six hundred”What techniques does the poet use to encourage readers to think about the scale of deaths in war?
Which of these quotes gives the poem a sombre tone?
Which of these key quotes does not involve repetition?