As previously said there is a vast difference in the rhythms of the poems, this could be due to the difference in wars. Tennyson’s poem was based on a war that started in 1853, therefore there would be cavalry on horses charging, in fact this is probably the case as the soldiers are described as, ‘rode boldly and well’. The rhythm of ‘Charge of the Light Brigade also fits in with the gallop of a horse.
Owen however based his poem for World War one, which is noticeable when you see descriptions of the battles, “Leapt to swift unseen bullets, or went up. On the hot blast and fury of hell's upsurge”, this gives imagery of a shell blowing up. The soldiers are also described as “So, soon they topped the hill, and raced together, over an open stretch of herb and heather. Exposed.” this was the time of trenches and the ‘Unseen’ bullets would have been bullets fired from men in trenches.
Another critical difference between the poems is their setting, Spring Offensive was written during World War I whilst Charge of the Light Brigade was written in 1954 and was based on a newspaper article regarding the Crimean War. Owen was a soldier in World War I and so gained first hand experience of what the war was like, while Charge of the Light Brigade is from the point of view of Tennyson, who had no first hand encounters of war and based the poem on his findings in a newspaper article. This is obvious throughout the poems, Owen uses more descriptive language, describing not only the surroundings in detail but the feelings of the soldiers, ‘Sharp on their souls hung the imminent line of grass’.
Themes in the poems’, cause the reader to differentiate the authors own experiences of war. Charge of the Light Brigade Is very congratulatory of the soldiers’ bravery; ‘Boldly they rode and well, into the jaws of death’. Whilst Spring Offensive is the complete opposite, it doesn’t praise bravery of the soldiers but instead exposes the fear and harsh reality of the war; ‘Till like a cold gust thrilled the little word, at which each body and its soul begird and tighten them for battle’. The poems titles are also very effective when it comes to differentiating certain themes within the poems; the title, Spring Offensive, refers to a number of German attacks in 1918, so is automatically seen as a very pessimistic poem.
Both poems are told from a narrative perspective, although Spring Offensive adopts a more personnel feel towards the soldiers, as it focuses more on how they feel; ‘To face the stark, blank sky beyond the ridge, Knowing their feet had come to the end of the world’. Spring Offensive appears to be a very sort of ‘downbeat’ poem when compared to Charge of the light Brigade. Whereas Charge of the light Brigade appears more militant, it has a more upbeat feel creating a climax of suspense and excitement after each stanza, ‘Into the valley of death rode the six hundred’. This keeps the reader interested and is effective in creating suspense for the next stanza.
Imagery is critical in both poems, although probably more so in Spring Offensive, use of metaphorical language and general descriptions cause the countryside to play a large part in use of imagery. Death is the main themes in Spring Offensive and this is shown by using simple metaphors, ‘Knowing their feet had come to the end of the world’. Charge of the Light Brigade uses imagery but it isn’t relied upon as much as it is in Spring Offensive. Although both poems use imagery very differently, both involve using imagery for descriptions of death.
Iambic pentameter is made use of towards the end of Spring Offensive. This is used more towards the end of the poem and acts as a kind of tool in order to cause the reader to consider the loss that takes place more deeply, during this period in the poem, there is less caesura used; ‘Opened in thousands for their blood’. The rhythm is slower and there is no sort of build ups.
It seems the object of each poem is quite similar, whilst Owen wants soldiers to be appreciated and known of for bravery and honour whether the war was won or lost, Tennyson seems to want them to also be appreciated for bravery but in a different kind of sense. Owen reflects on the bad side of the wars and pushes the message forward that really all soldiers are heroes for going out with knowledge that they’re probably going to die, whilst Tennyson only sees the more positive side of war, that all soldiers should be praised but he doesn’t give much though whatsoever to the same issues as Owen although that could be due to Tennyson’s lack of experience and the time difference between the wars them selves.
Stanza one in each poem differs considerably, Owen uses a lot of imagery and also metaphorical language whilst Tennyson uses only one metaphor and not very much imagery at all, ‘Carelessly slept. But many there stood still, to face the stark, blank sky beyond the ridge’.
Stanza two has the same sort of structure for both poems, Tennyson repeats the metaphor used in the first stanza, ‘Into the valley of death’. Owen sets a very dreamy sort of atmosphere with use of personification and atmosphere, ‘murmorous with wasp and midge’. The use of imagery causes the reader to feel a sense of guilt for both poems, Owen causes the soldiers to be in a sort of dream like state, one where they know they’re going to die so they seem to be savouring the last innocent parts of nature that they can. Tennyson uses the same method but the effect is slightly different, the soldiers in his poem appear to be more ignorant of the fact that they are going to meet their death soon, they seem to just get on with it, which makes a great contrast to Owens soldiers. This also exposes the sort of sensitivity that the writers have towards war itself, Owen is obviously more understanding of the soldiers, his poem causes the reader to feel a lot more sympathy for the soldiers and possibly make them have a lower opinion of war, whilst Tennyson possibly believes that soldiers should hold a noble front at all times, this is what is reflected into his poem.
The Charge of the light brigade offers a very non personnel view of war and its effect on soldiers as opposed to Spring Offensive. The men are always noble, they are never shown as scared of death or pain, Tennyson uses devices to dramatise death and exaggerate it, “Into the jaws of death”, however there is not notice on the emotions or reaction of the soldiers to this, “Boldly they rode and well, into the valley of death”. Spring offensive is a complete contrast, it focuses more on the emotion of the soldiers then the actual event occurring, “Long-famous glories, immemorial shames, and crawling slowly back, have by degrees.”
Loss and tragedy is a main theme in both poems, the two poems highlight this differently. Spring Offensive uses devices such as iambic pentameter to focus on impression of loss as well as increased caesura, giving the reader the opportunity to reflect at the end of each line. Owen is also effective in using personification and various other devices in depicting the loss, the oxymoron ‘Superhuman inhumanities’ gives a sense of guilt but also luck as being alive. Owen also ends the last paragraph with a question, ‘Why not speak of comrades that went under?’ This question really emphasizes both the readers and soldiers guilt and sympathy for the dead. Tennyson however, keeps the soldiers emotions very quiet and uses his last stanza to highlight the bravery and importance of the soldiers, ‘How can their glory fade?’
The rhythm throughout the charge of the light brigade is very fast and sometimes hard to keep up with, it follows irregular patterns. As the battle itself commences in the poem, the rhythm speeds up and caesura and run on lines virtually disappear, , in comparison to this, Spring Offensive maintains a steady rhythm and doesn’t gain the same sense of loss of control like in Charge of the light brigade.
Overall I think that war poetry condemns conflict, both poems express the loss of the soldiers in different ways but either way the effect is the same. This shows that poetry believes that most if not all conflict of this sort results in tragic loss of life. Spring Offensive exposes a very harsh reality of what war is like but Charge of the light brigade gives a more patriotic feel. Despite this, the affects of both poems onto the readers is guilt and sympathy.
By Natalie Granger
