The Charge of the Light Brigade

The Charge of the Light Brigade

BY LORD ALFRED 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.
OVERVIEW

The Charge of the Light Brigade was written by Lord Alfred Tennyson. Those who
can still remember the poem Monsoon History would still remember the line
Reading Tennyson at six p.m. . Anyway, this poem was inspired by a true event
that happened during the Battle of Balaclava that occured on 25 October 1854 in the
Cremean War between the British and the Russian. As the name suggests, the Light
Brigade was supposed to pursue a retreating Russion artelliry battery, a task well-
suited to a light calvary. However, due to miscommunication in the chain of
command, the Light Brigade was sent on a frontal assault against the more well-
prepared artelliry battery specialised in defensive fire.

Adapted from : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charge_of_the_Light_Brigade

VOCABULARY

WORD MEANING

an elongated depression between uplands, hills, or mountains,

Valley
especially one following the course of a stream.

Charge to attack by rushing violently against:

to break down the courage of completely, as by sudden danger or

Dismayed
trouble; dishearten thoroughly; daunt:

to make a gross or stupid mistake, especially through carelessness

Blundered
or mental confusion:

Volleyed to fly or be discharged together, as missiles.

Shell a hard, protecting or enclosing case or cover.

not hesitating or fearful in the face of actual or possible danger or

Boldly
rebuff; courageous and daring:
MEANING OF THE STANZA

Stanza 1

The light calvary was marching to the Valley of Death because the foes were no
match for them. It was like committing suicide. They were 600 of them riding horses
figthing in a battle. Their leader ordered them to move forward and consficate the
guns to prevent the guns from being carried away by the enemies.

Stanza 2

The soldiers were still moving foward. No one was discouraged by the fact that
somebody had made a foolish mistake by giving them a wrong order. They were not
in the position to answer any questions nor to ask why. They kept on moving
because it was their responsibility and they recieved order from their superior. Even
if the were fated to die, all the six hundred of them were still moving forward.

Stanza 3

The soldiers bravely fought the battle. They were attacked from their right, their left
but they still moved forward. True enough, they were also attacked from the front.
But they marched fearlessly to the Valley of Death and fought until their last
breaths.

MORAL VALUES

1. We should be brave in defending our country.

2. Appreciate the peace that we have.
3. Sometimes, it is good to ask questions.