About the authors

Owen was born in Oswestry (U K) in 1893.  He was an English language teacher at Berlitz School of languages Bordeaux France.  He enlisted in the armed forces in 1915 and was sent to France in 1916/17.  He was killed November 4th 1918, one week before the armistice was signed.

Alfred Tennyson was born in Somersby, Lincolnshire, on Aug. 6, 1809, the fourth of 12 children. His grandfather was a Member of Parliament. His father, the Reverend George Clayton Tennyson, was the rector of a Somersby parish. At the age of 12 young Tennyson wrote a 6,000-line epic.  

 Tennyson was named poet laureate in 1850. As poet laureate he wrote some memorable poems for special occasions including 'The Charge of the Light Brigade'.

Dulce et Decorum est et Decorum est is a poem condemning war.  It is a sad depressing poem showing the harsh realities of war and how anyone can die.  The poem describes world war one soldiers returning from battle.  They are tired and exhausted with inferior clothing which is ragged and worn.  Suddenly they come under attack and Owen describes the aftermath.

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The charge of the Light Brigade of the light brigade by Alfred Lord Tennyson is a more positive poem about the heroes of war and their bravery in the face of death.  The poem describes the charge that the light brigade made at Balaclava against Russian forces.

Tennyson’s poem was written to commemorate the charge of the light brigade against Russian forces in the 19th century.  The poem is written so that the rhythm sounds like the stampeding hoofs of the light brigade’s horses.  Tennyson’s repetitive use of ‘Rode the six hundred’ emphasises the bravery of the light brigade ...

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