Compare And Contrast Charge Of The Light Brigade And The Red Badge Of Courage

Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage, and the poem, Charge of the Light Brigade, by Lord Alfred Tennyson, are two extremely distinct Authors' depictions of war in two very different ways. The most noticeable differences between the two are the interpretation of war, and the mood set forth by the individual authors. While both lead you through the journey, the method, and result, dramatically differs.

Crane immediately sets the tone with tension, "Here they come! Here they come!" Gun locks clicked." (Crane) One can feel the anxiety building as the author leads the reader further into the scene. Set during the Civil War, a grim picture is portrayed, men running and screaming across "smoke-infested fields," (Crane) as they frantically swing their guns. This is war seen through the eyes of a young soldier, a "Youth," as the enemy approaches. The desperate nature of the scene is further felt when the soldier cannot recall if he loaded his gun, "As he caught sight of them the youth was momentarily startled by a thought that perhaps his gun was not loaded." (Crane) The desperation and panic

felt by the soldier at that moment must have been monumental as the soldiers received orders from despairing, fist yielding officers. Crane's graphic depiction throws the reader instantaneously into the chaos of war.
Tennyson's approach is a bit darker and controlled. "Half a league, Half a league, Half a league onward." (Tennyson) The opening lines reflect a haunting methodical journey. One might compare to a military chant. "Half a league," "Half a league," (Tennyson) the distance left to travel. This sullen journey continues "All in the Valley of Death." (Tennyson) A journey made by 600 soldiers, (a Light Brigade opposed to a heavy brigade), riding slowly into battle. The solders, unlike in Crane's story, are steadily moving forward with purpose. It is clear they are on their way to battle; the difference being the author slowly introduces his readers to the setting and action of the poem. The frantic nature of war is suppressed, enticing readers to continue. "Forward, the Light Brigade!" (Tennyson) Someone shouts a military order to move ahead, his name unknown; he introduces us to the heroes of the poem, the "Light Brigade."
While the authors build, their foundations for war, they are careful to include the fearless nature and pride felt of the warriors within, ensuring the readers develop empathy for their characters. Crane slowly pulls away from the overall scene drawing closer to the "youth," and his transformation. The story centering about a "youth," that did not become a man, "but a member," (Crane) losing concern for his own well-being as he prepared to fight for the "regiment, an army, a case, or a country." (Crane) No longer just a "Youth," the boy goes on to develop a deep sense pride and comradery and respect for the men around him as he grows into becoming a soldier. "He felt the subtle battle brotherhood more potent even than the cause for which they were fighting," (Crane) words that beautifully illustrate the complexity of the soldier's relationship.
Tennyson builds on the pride of his soldiers questioning, "Was there a man dismayed?" (Tennyson) as if trying to take a quick look into the heads of the soldiers as they charge towards death. Not leaving the reader time to ponder whether or not the soldiers suffered a lack of courage or sadness he leads on focusing on their strengths. "Not though the soldier knew, someone had blundered." (Tennyson) It is here their pride begins to shine. They will ride to war, to certain death representing their brigade. Without question or criticizing whomever gave the order. The famous group of words " Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die," (Tennyson) sum up all the humility, heroism and pride of these 600 soldiers as they fulfill a job that does not allow for question or debate. They must only ride, fight, and possibly meet their death.
Both authors set the scene of their actual battles in a similar manor, after all there is no pretty war, however, their individual styles are still discernible. Crane's character describes the scene as "smoke-infested," commenting on the sweat running down the face of the men. It is not clear if the smoke is from the gunpowder, burning fields, fog, or the sweat if from heat, or pure exhaustion. The passage, "Presently he began to feel the effects of the war atmosphere—a blistering sweat, a sensation that his eyeballs were about to crack like hot stones," (Crane) is so graphic the reader can almost feel the heat the author recounts. Crane is quite adept at building the scene for the reader, having the ability to plunge them deep into the emotion of this story.
"Into the mouth of hell, Rode the six hundred," (Tennyson) the author changes things up; the soldiers are no longer riding through the "Valley of Death" but have entered into hell, a subtle but dramatic change in the tone of the author.

As the soldiers "flashed all their Sabres bare," (Tennyson) they rode fearlessly into the gunned wielding enemy. The image of swords slicing, stabbing, chopping as they fight against a gun carrying army is brutal, to say the least. Even doomed as they were the 600 continues to charge onward, "Plunged in the battery-smoke, "Right thro' the line they broke," (Tennyson) the bravery of the soldiers shown as they push through not only gunfire but also cannons, "As horse and hero fell." (Tennyson) Reading further one realizes not only did the solders ride into the fight; they must make a return trip; I am sure, was just as bloody and the

first.
The authors pay their own style of homage to the heroism of the soldiers throughout their passages. I find however, Crane's sense of war to be less focused on heroism and more dialed in on the action and reaction of the soldiers. In his passage, the feeling of pride is there, but is over run by the feelings of panic, chaos and anger. Possibly this effect is perceived because Crane focusing more on an individual than a unit. He provides his readers a personalized perspective as he leads us through the difficulties of war. This passage does not end in a heroic salute, but more introspectively, focused on a young man's first battle. Our excerpt ends with the question "Why don’t they support us?" (Crane) the plea of a soldier is heard. Rather than boasts of heroism and pride, we end our journey with a feeling of desertion in a time of need.
Tennyson, on the other hand, brings his poem to close celebrating the battle beaten soldiers. "Back from the mouth of hell, all that was left of them," (Tennyson) the final image of the Light Brigade moving home from across the field, although clear to the reader, the author does not focus on lives lost but celebrates the return as he creatively turns the soldiers into legends. "O the wild charge they made," (Tennyson) reiterates their bravery, not allowing the reader a moment to forget the battle they have overcome. After all, "When can their glory fade?" (Tennyson) The author brings his quest to close with a plea of honor "Honour the charge they made! Honor the Light Brigade, Noble six hundred!" Tennyson demands respect for the noble heroes.
I found both pieces to be an equally engaging read. Crane and Tennyson's portrayals of battle all share courage, pride, drama and death, each providing in their own way all a reader should expect from a war story. The intrinsic individuality and artistic descriptions submerge the reader providing two interpretations of war and the mood set forth by the individual authors. While both lead you through the journey, the method, and result, dramatically differs.