Nevertheless, his use of rhyme and alliteration (note the fifth and sixth lines of stanza V) gives the poem a tentative yet noticeable rhythm.
There is not a set scheme throughout the entire poem rather, he adjusts each stanza with its own unique format. Tennyson uses a rhyme scheme that seems a little eratic. He sprinkles in these metaphors throughout the poem, in an attempt to give the reader a deeper feel for the terror these men were facing. Note his repeated allusions to the “Valley of Death,” or the “Jaws of Death,” highlighted in the piece. Tennyson contrasts their heroic sense of honor and duty with the use of descriptive language accentuating the horror of war. But the reasoning behind the decision was of little importance “Theirs not to reason why,/ Theirs but to do and die.” So while the attack itself is a “blunder,” and an embarrassment to the British military, the charge was a testament to the character of the soldiers themselves. The soldiers did not know that the order came from a faulty assessment of the situation. The second stanza highlights this distinction. On one hand it recognizes the sacrifice and bravery of the soldiers, while at the same time reflecting the horror of war and the mismanagement of battle.
Light Brigade is said to have been written immediately upon hearing the news of the attack.Īs mentioned before, the poem conveys a dualistic nature. These two contrasting styles made themselves evident in his poetry. On the other hand, epics like his Idylls of the King were written over long periods of time with meticulous attention paid to detail and composition. He wrote pieces like Light Brigade in a short period of time, as a reflection of immediate reaction and emotion. Tennyson was known to have two contrasting styles in his writing. The poem was written both as a commemoration to the soldiers and as a testament to the horrors of war. This is precisely what Tennyson attempts to capture in Charge of the Light Brigade. Their charge, a result of misinformation and miscommunication on the part of British intelligence, both illuminated the British military’s shortcomings and inspired all those around them. Their action was seen as a defining example of honor and bravery in the face of hopelessness. Tennyson, like many other Brits at the time, was inspired by the tale of altruistic sacrifice on the part of the Light Brigade.
Although the war would conclude with a compramising treaty in 1856, the three years of fighting exposed the British army as ill-equiped and disorganized, and likewise exposed the Russian army as backward and inferior (Warner, 211-213). Britain supported the Turkish empire (their presevation was taken as essential in protecting trade and lines of communication with their Asian and Indian colonies), and thus came to Turkey’s aid when the confict began. However, Britain and France, both with interests of their own in the territory, were not prepared to allow Russia to muscle in on the region unopposed. Russia had long been in conflict with the Turkish empire, so this atmosphere was nothing new to the region (Warner, 6). With the Turkish (Ottaman) empire in serious decline, Tsar Nicholas I of Russia anticipated its inevitable collapse, and thus took measures to ensure that when it did, Russia would not be deprived of certain valuable territories in the Balkan area. The Crimean war, which lasted from 1853-1856, was an example of a war caused entirely by the imperialstic agenda of the major powers involved. “Crimean War” Courtesy of Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia The charge was regarded as one of the most heroic yet futile assaults in British military history, and was instantly the subject of speculation back home. The charge took place at the Battle of Balaclava, during Britain’s war with Russia in the Crimea in the mid 19th century.
The poem recounts an assault by a brigade of British cavalry under the command of Lord James Thomas Brudenell, Earl of Cardigan, which cost the lives of 113 men and injured 143 others. Tennyson reading “Charge of the Light Brigade” “Charge of the Light Brigade” by Richard Caton Woodville, Courtesy of Claremont College
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