Lord Alfred Tennyson wrote the poem The Charge of the Light Brigade, I will be looking at it in respect to a sense of patriotism.

Authors Avatar

THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE

SENSE OF PATRIOTISM

Lord Alfred Tennyson wrote the poem ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade.’ the Charge of the Light Brigade occurred during the Crimean War at the battle of Balaclava. The Light brigade of the British army, consisting not more than 670 men, was ordered to charge the well armed Russian troops standing in front and on both the sides of Light Brigade. Though the soldiers knew that they were almost certainly facing death, they obeyed the order and went to fight for their country. The charge lasted twenty five minutes. It left two thirds of the English soldiers slain and wounded. Only 195 men were left above Tennyson’s commemorations of the British troop’s dauntless obedience to orders on the battlefield.

The poem describes the battle and how courageous the soldiers were. In the first stanza the brave six hundred soldiers advance by stages ‘half a league’ (half a mile), straight into the Jaws of death. The steady march of the soldiers is described here. The phrase is repeated.

Join now!

 ‘Half a league, half a league,

  Half a league onward.

The commander gives the Light Brigade to advance and attack the Russian. ‘Forward the Light Brigade! Charge for the guns!’ this conjures images of heroes on horseback, charging fearlessly towards the guns. These elements of fearlessness and danger add thrill to the poem.

In the second stanza they march forward. Though the soldiers knew that someone had committed a mistake no one was frightened. That did not answer or question. As soldiers it was their duty to follow the order even at the cost of their lives, so ...

This is a preview of the whole essay