What impression of war and history does Tennyson give in The charge of the Light Brigade?
Seamus Mulready English coursework
What Impression of war and history does Tennyson give in The Charge of the Light Brigade? (800-1000 Words)
In my view Tennyson gives the impression of war being very noble, heroic, honourable yet also dark and those members of the Light Brigade participating in war are doomed and condemned. He also conveys a period of history when no soldier would disagree with, or dare resist an order whatever the consequences. It was a time when it was honourable to die in war, for your country, and for your King.
Tennyson gives the impression of war being noble and heroic because of the references to the Light Brigade. Constant references and praise is conveyed to The Light Brigade making a charge in battle. Tennyson views this as the bravest act of a soldier in war. An example of this is “Forward the Light Brigade! Charge for the guns!” which highlights the bravery and valour of the charge, especially with the use of exclamation marks, which give the feeling of strength and energy, zest and life to the charge. This line, (Forward the Light Brigade!), is the one of the most frequent lines in the poem and is used to highlight the bravery of the Light Brigade. Other lines reinforce this view: -“Boldly they rode and well”, “Charging an army…” “Canon to the right, left, in front of them (refers to what they were charging into)” The whole of the last verse, especially the recurring “Honour the Light Brigade, Noble six hundred!” Tennyson again reinforces the concept of nobility and honour, especially with his use of exclamation marks, eg. “O the wild charge they made!”