Nevertheless, the war was an event of major significance in European history. It marked the collapse of the arrangement of whereby the victors of the Napoleonic Wars, namely Britain, Russia, Austria, and Prussia, had co-operated.
The poet that created ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ was Alfred Tennyson. Tennyson was born in 1809 and he died at the age of eighty-three in 1892. He was one of the greatest representative figures of the Victorian age. His writing encompasses many poetic styles and includes some of the finest idyllic poetry in the language.
The poet effectively conveys the story of the Light Brigade in six almost sound-like stanzas. This poem is symbolic to a ballad, as it resembles death. The poems wonderful rhythm is relentless and it never stops. This technique is similar to the pace of the cavalry charge.
The deep vivid images created by the metaphors conjure images of death and despair as the raging battle turns into an irreversible defeat.
“Into the Jaws of Death
Into the Mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.”
These images evoke a deep involvement between the events of the poem and the reader. The poet truly manages to paint a vivid picture of the valiant battle by using such emotional metaphors, which involves the reader into the blood lust and fight for honour of this merciless battle.
The use of imagery and song are not the only devices Tennyson employs. Within the poem there is an incredible amount of repetition, in stanza 3 and 5, there is direct repetition and direct connections can be drawn between the two stanzas. Stanza three provides the reader with a more optimistic perspective of the battle:
“Stormed at with shot and shell
Boldly they rode and well.”
(Stanza 3)
“Stormed at with shot and shell
While horse and hero fell.”
(Stanza 5)
The link between these two quotes is visible; it is an example of how the repetition of this poem is being used to focus upon two different points during the battle. In this case it offers promise for the battle and the complete opposite in stanza five, therefore painting a picture of tragic irony.
The repetition is obvious through the use of alliteration. This technique is present throughout the whole poem. However there are a few occasions where alliteration attracts particular interest.
“There’s not to make reply
Their’s not to a reason why
Their’s only to do and die.”
(Stanza 2)
One possible interpretation of this quote is that it does not matter what their orders are, they have no other option but to do it.
“Reeled from the sabre-stroke
Shattered and sundered.”
(Stanza 4)
Here it is apparent that they have begun to attack the enemy in close combat with their swords. However it is obvious that they have been repelled. The use of metaphors in combination with alliteration is obviously an effective strategy by observing the power of these sections.
In the final stanza Tennyson is praising the glory of war:
“When can the glory fade?”
(Stanza 6)
He obviously intends his poem to carry the memories of this war through all time. He is honouring the Light Brigade’s fearless charge towards inevitable defeat although they probably did not know this at the time. Tennyson focuses upon the Light Brigade as noble, dutiful, and patriotic. He finishes off the poem with
“Noble six hundred!”
(Stanza 6)
There is no mention of their defeat; this conjures Tennyson’s pride in these courageous men.
Wilfred Owen was born in 1893 and died in 1918. From early youth he wrote poetry, at first most of it was inspired by religion. He became increasingly disapproving of the role of the church in society, and he sympathised with the poor. In 1913, he went to France and taught English there until 1915. Owen made the decision to enlist in the army and fight in World War 1. He entered the war in January 1917 and fought as an officer in the Battle of the Somme but was hospitalised. In the hospital he met Siegfried Sassoon, a poet and novelist whose grim antiwar works were in harmony with Owen’s concerns. Under Sassoon’s care Owen began producing the best work of his short career; his poems symbolise the horror of battle. Owen’s war poetry is a passionate expression of outrage at the horrors of was and of pity for the young soldiers sacrificed in it. Only four of Owen’s poems were published during his lifetime.
Through vivid imagery and compelling metaphors, the poem gives the reader the exact feeling the author wanted. “Dulce et Decorum Est,” and anti-war poem makes great use of these devices. This poem is effective in the context that it manipulates the reader through the emotional aspects of poetry. The use of diction emphasises that war is terrible and devastating. Also extremely graphic imagery contributes even more to his argument. Through the effective use of all three of theses tools, this poem conveys a strong meaning and persuasive argument.
The advanced diction used within the poem helps to clearly define what the author is implying. Words like ‘guttering,’ ‘choking,’ and ‘drowning’ show how the man is suffering and express the pain he endures. Other words like ‘writhing’ and ‘froth-corrupted’ define precisely how the man is being tormented. The phrase ‘blood shod’ shows how the troops have been on their feet for days, without rest.
The fact that the gassed man was ‘flung’ into the wagon reveals urgency involved in fighting. The only thing they can do is toss him into a wagon. The fact that one single word can do such meaning shows how the diction of this poem adds greatly to its effectiveness. Metaphors are useful poetic devices because they allow you to emphasise the meaning and symbolism. Owen refers to this greatly by using powerful metaphors and similes. In the first line he describes the troops as being:
“Like old beggars under sacks.”
This not only shows that they are tired, but that they are so tired they have been brought down to the level of beggars who have not slept in a bed for weeks on end. Owen also compares the victim’s face to the devil, seeming corrupted.
The most important means of developing the effectiveness of the poem is the graphic imagery. They evoke such emotions they evoke the onlooker to become sick. The images draw pictures that no other poem can.
“Come gargling from the froth corrupted lungs.”
(Line 22)
This can be disturbing to think about as it shows troops being brutally slaughtered very vividly; it also evokes powerful images in the readers mind.
Later in the poem when the gas is dropped, it paints a psychological imager that would disturb the mind. The troops were ripped out of their walk and surrounded by gas bombs.
“In an ecstasy of fumbling”
Everyone was forced to run out into the mist, unaware of what their fate held for them. Anyone wanting to fight in a war would become nervous at this image conjured in their head, running into a blood bath. The images displayed here are affecting and can never be forgotten.
The poem clarifies the meaning of this piece in the last few lines:
“Dulce et decorum est pro partria mori!”
“It is sweet and noble to die for ones country!”
The title indeed is a lie as the experience these men faced was not sweet and noble, instead their experience was horrific and one which may never be forgotten. This poem is extremely effective as an anti-war poem, as it makes war seem horrid and revolting, just as the author wished it.
When comparing these two poems I concluded by stating that both poems, share very different messages, through their use of metaphors, similes and alliteration.
Patriotism is looked upon through different aspects, “The Charge of the Light Brigade” states the cavalry as noble, dutiful and courageous. Whereas “Dulce et Decorum est” portrays a more realistic approach and focuses on the exhaustion of the men. Both poems commemorate the dead and neither creates a moral atrocity on each event. Another comparison surrounding both poems is the fact that they are both symbolic to a ballad, as they focus on the events of death.
On the other hand one must notice the contrasting effects each poem has. The era each poem was written in is different and the language used is also a contrasting issue, as “The Charge of the Light Brigade” uses positive language. Whereas “Dulce et Decorum est” conveys a more negative approach to war itself and this is reflected through the language used throughout.
On one thing alone both poems agree that each one is important to one self, and the fact that you have to fight for your believes becomes inevitable. On concluding war poetry, both poems and life in general can be described as “Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori.”
By Arron Pollock
12RT
