The Retold The Light Brigade

Heroes have achieved many feats that support the belief of a greater good and expressing valor and selflessness through the ages. There are fictional or real-life accounts that have recognized these men and women for their vigor and marked them as heroes due to their events of success and the motives of committing the heroic deeds. Yet there are copious amounts of people who have sacrificed themselves for a greater good, but they have been lost through time, even if their actions were prosperous or doomed in the end with a valiant purpose. They are unsung heroes who committed the actions based on their inner fire of what is right or honorable or rather than the fame they hope to achieve from those acts. The world or a populous may not know

During the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War, many British soldiers who were part of the Light Brigade have perished or were incapacitated during their charge in the battle. Although the damage has outraged many people, Alfred, Lord Tennyson (British poet) has retold the Light Brigade’s Charge to help purport the Brigade’s bravery and the sacrifice they experienced and endured rather than the cannon fodder the British received from the Russians. Lord Tennyson stated in his Poem “...Theirs not to reason why Theirs but to do and die. Into the Valley of Death, Rode the Six Hundred…” (p. 78, lines 13-17). This displays the selfless behavior the Light Brigade had during the charge as they had no regard for their own lives. They fought against the Russians and to fulfill their duty with honor for their country without thinking of the notoriety they could have achieved during the charge. Yet they have lost a great score of men, the Light Brigade is heroic by expressing full tenacity on the battlefield without the need to achieve success. The soldiers and brigadiers during on that fateful charge have survived or died with thoughts of dispensing full service and support towards their country. They did not question why they had to be the first wave or what they can

His noble behavior has influenced one of his Geat men, Wiglaf, to be willing to sacrifice one’s own life so others wouldn’t to have to face the endangerment. During the battle between the elderly Beowulf and the deadly Dragon, Wiglaf asserts himself to aid Beowulf in the fight as he states, “...I’d rather burn myself than see Flames swirling around my lord...” (p. 39, lines 761-762). Wiglaf expressed dedication to Beowulf as he promised him to be at his side and aid him even if the heroic king would recommend fighting the Geats’ battles alone. Wiglaf kept his oath and duty as he presumes toward the fire-breathing dragon risking himself to aid Beowulf without caution of his own life and not focusing on the actual treasure the dragon held in its tower. As Beowulf’s life fades away, he deems Wiglaf a hero and credible to lead the Geats as he expressed true dedication, fortitude, and mettle rather than the bounty he will receive from slaying the dragon. Both Wiglaf and Beowulf in the epic have sacrificed themselves against the dragon so the people would not live in fear or harm and know how the battle can leave them lifeless. They believe that it is worth the risk and not fully assuming the success of the battle. As Beowulf told