The Charge of The Light Brigade by Alfred Lord Tennyson

 The Charge of The Light Brigade

by Alfred Lord Tennyson 

I
Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
“Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!” he said.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

II
“Forward, the Light Brigade!”
Was there a man dismayed?
Not though the soldier knew
Someone had blundered.
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

III
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of hell
Rode the six hundred.

IV
Flashed all their sabres bare,
Flashed as they turned in air
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army, while
All the world wondered.
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right through the line they broke;
Cossack and Russian
Reeled from the sabre stroke
Shattered and sundered.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.

V
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
While horse and hero fell.
They that had fought so well
Came through the jaws of Death,
Back from the mouth of hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.

VI
When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wondered.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred!

Original Poem Analysis

-       The poem celebrates on the act of bravery and sacrifice made by the soldiers which was a suicidal cavalry charge during the Crimean war.

-       The poem suggests that heroism isn’t just about bravery but also about duty; being willing to obey orders no matter the cost

-       The soldiers only have swords that are hardly as powerful or intimidating as the big artillery they’re going up against

-       They have to ride a long way under artillery fire before they can even engage their enemy

-       The attack is thus desperate and foolish, and the speaker fittingly describes it with horror. The charge is suicidal.

-       The order to charge is a mistake, a lapse in judgment—and the soldiers know this, even if their commander doesn’t.

-       The speaker stresses that the cavalrymen respect their place in the military hierarchy. It’s not their job to come up with orders, but to execute them.

-       The poem suggests that heroism consists of both bravery and adherence to duty at once.

-       The blame rests with the commanders who sent them on a suicidal mission

-       The poem is praising the soldiers themselves; celebrating their sacrifice, their bravery, and their commitment to their country.

Copyright (c) - Used with permission.