![]() I have a kind of loose framework of things I might want to think about: Form Some of you may be wondering what I have in my head when I come to a poem to think about the form and structure. This post will look in more detail at the form and structure of the poem to help you write about it in any exam. ![]() The poem was one of the first real-time responses to war reportage in the newspapers, written in Tennyson’s role as Poet Laureate. Tennyson was great at firing off this kind of lyric, but he also wrote beautiful and romantic poems, such as ‘The Lady of Shalott’ that you can listen to, here on last week’s post, I looked at the context behind Tennyson’s poem, “The Charge of the Light Brigade” in AQA’s GCSE English Literature poetry anthology, “Power and Conflict”. Bertie says that the poem has helped make the bravery of the Light Brigade famous for all time. Listen out for the galloping rhythm and smell the gunpowder.Īnd that was ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ by Alfred Lord Tennyson. His verses celebrate the heroism of the soldiers, but of course do not mention the stupidity of the commanders who caused the catastrophic blunder. He was Queen Victoria’s Poet Laureate and it was his job to commemorate events of national importance. Six weeks after the Charge of the Light Brigade, Alfred Tennyson published his verses about the event. Cardigan somehow survived, and that evening he ate a fine dinner washed down with champagne. Most of the brigade was blown to bits, but a few reached the guns at the end of the valley before retreating. The insanely brave soldiers galloped into a valley with 50 Russian guns positioned on three sides. Lord Nolan rode out in front of him, trying to call out that he was going the wrong way, but he was quickly killed. Presumably he did not want to show any trace of fear in front of the relative whom he despised.Ĭardigan led the Light Brigade in a mad, death doomed charge. He did not hesitate or question it, even though to carry it out was suicidal. As he did so, he pointed in the wrong direction, towards a different group of Russian guns that were dug in and ready for a fight.Ĭardigan received the order. Lord Lucan passed on the order to his brother- in-law. He wrote down this order and gave it to a messenger who took it to Lord Lucan, who was lower down and unable to see the whole battle. He wanted the Light Brigade to pursue a group of Russian gunners who were already pulling their cannons away from the battle. They wore little body armour, but looked splendid in their red uniforms and gold braid, especially when they sat astride their galloping horses.Īt the Battle of Balaclava, the overall commander, Lord Raglan, could see the lie of the land from his position on a hill top. In this war, he was commanding the Light Brigade, lightly armed, and fast moving cavalry who were suited to chasing down the enemy with sabres and lances. ![]() He was well known for his wealth, extravagance, smartness, snobbery, and incompetence. Two of them, Lord Cardigan and Lord Lucan, were brothers-in-law who detested each other heartily.Ĭardigan was 57 years old. The British Army was led by a group of aristocrats who were not known for their intelligence. ![]()
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