The Charge of the Light Brigade

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The Charge of the Light Brigade

October 1854, the attention of the world's most powerful empire was

fixed on the territories of modern-day Ukraine.

It was by no means a benevolent gaze the British Empire cast eastward.

For it was the Crimean War, and

at Balaclava, Britain took a beating which has been immortalized in

Lord Alfred Tennyson's poem,

The Charge of the Light Brigade.

Half a league, half a league, half a league onward - repetition is

used. There is a sense of movement distance and rhythm.

All in the valley of Death rode the six hundred - valley of death is a

metaphorical language. 600 hundred becomes important later on.

"Forward, the Light Brigade! "Charge for the guns!" he said: - this is

direct speech, very adventurous.

Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred - slowly building up,

repetition.

"Forward, the Light Brigade! " - more repetition

Was there a man dismayed? - Was there a man not looking into it, all

doing there duty, sense of doubt.

Their's not to make reply,

Their's not to reason why,

Their's but to do and die: - rhythm, only concentrating on the duty.

Don't reason why just do it.

Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred - repetition

Cannon to right of them,

Cannon to left of them,

Cannon in front of them

Volley'd and thunder'd; - sense of awareness, repetition,

surroundings, danger and movement, sound and excitement.

Into the jaws of Death, into the mouth of hell - jaws of death is a

metaphor. Speaking as if they're going into a mouth, nearly there.

Excitement but much danger. Sense of hesitation.

Rode the six hundred - repetition

Flash'd all their sabres bare, Flash'd as they turn'd in air, - the

waving of their swords.

Sabring the gunners there, Charging an army, while all the world

wonder'd: - the waving of their swords. Fighting against guns. 'ALL

the world wondered', how honourable.

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