Death is personifi ed as a monster devouring the soldiers.
They that had fought so well Came thro’ the jaws of Death Back from the mouth of Hell, All that was left of them, Left of six hundred.
When can their glory fade? O the wild charge they made! All the world wonder’d.
Honour the charge they made! Honour the Light Brigade, Noble six hundred!
Notice the use of ‘falling rhythm’
here again.
1. How does Tennyson say the 600 cavalrymen responded to the command to charge? Quote the lines that describe their response.
2. What sights and sounds in the battle does he describe?
3. The rhythm in this poem begins slowly, just as the cavalry charge. Then, it imitates the galloping speed as the horses charged straight into the gunfi re. Quote the lines that you think best capture the thundering gallop of the cavalry charge.
4. What examples of refrain can you fi nd in this poem? 5. Quote examples of imagery, personifi cation and ‘falling rhythm’ in the poem.
6. What does Tennyson think of the Light Brigade? What does he want the readers of this poem to think of them? Quote at least two words or phrases from the poem to support your opinion.
7. What is your own opinion of the charge made by the Light Brigade? War 155
