‘While horse and hero fell’ the poem then begins to honour and praise the soldiers as the tone begins to change during the fifth stanza. Throughout the rest of the poem there is a strong, regular, and relentless rhythm that creates a fast pace duplicating the cavalry’s fast pace towards the battle and the energy within. ‘Half a league, Half a league, Half a league onward,’ in the rhythm of hoof beat cadences, is the first two lines of the poem, which gives the impression that the horses are unstoppable. Many lines also create an image of the chaotic battle.
With this in mind the poem is also in chronological order with repeated lines throughout, with subtle differences such as ‘Rode the six hundred’ repeated every last line in the first three stanzas adding to the sense of foreboding and reminding the reader of the amount of soldiers in battle. Presented in six stanzas with varied length ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ is narrated in the third person. It is as if he romanticized the events when in reality ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ was brutal and vigorously violent. ’While horse and hero fell, they had fought so well,’ Appreciation to the soldiers who made a huge sacrifice even though they knew that death was likely. Although many were killed or wounded Tennyson admires their bravery with a touch of sadness for those who were killed. This passage is from psalm 23 ‘….through the valley of the shadow of death…….’, making the poem seem solemn and significant. The soldiers very obedient, and with their sense of duty- don’t question their commanding officer- knowing their riding ‘Into the valley of Death’.
Instead of retaking guns, the commanding officer imperatively commanded “Forward, the Light Brigade! Charge for the guns!” This miss hearing sent the cavalry, only armed with swords, into battle with the Cossack’s, armed with guns, practically defenceless against their enemies. The poem describes a disastrous battle between the British cavalry and Russian forces. The original charge of the light brigade took place in the Crimean War, 1853-1856. Tennyson read about the Charge of the Light Brigade in ‘The Times’ and responded with this poem. One of the best the Victorian era ever saw-becoming the poet laureate in 1850 till 1892. Studying at Trinity College, Cambridge Tennyson was destined to be a great poet and that he was. Tennyson was born in 1809, in the city of Lincolnshire but later lived on the Isle of Wight and Surrey. Tennyson reflects on conflict within the poem when discussing the subject of war, where someone had “Blunder’d” impending doom upon many soldiers. How is the theme conflict presented by Alfred Tennyson in ‘The Charge Of The Light Brigade’?
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