Compare and Contrast 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' with 'Dulce ET Decorum Est.'

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Tahir Sheikh-noor

Compare and Contrast ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ with ‘Dulce ET Decorum Est.’

The Charge of the Light Brigade is written by Lord Alfred Tennyson and describes the tragedy of six hundred heroic men on 25 October 1854.. We get the impression it was an Officer of high rank who relayed this story to the poet due to the constant detailed strategy. The second poem, Dulce et Decorum Est, is written by Wilfred Owen, detailing a scene from World War 1. This poem details the cruel suffering these heroic men experienced seen through the eyes of the Commanding Officer on scene. There are 60 years between these two poems which is immediately obvious with cannons and sabres in The Charge of the Light Brigade and the use of gas in Dulce et Decorum Est. Although these two poems are 60 years apart, the horrors and tragedies are similar but it is the poets who paint them in different colours. Lord Alfred Tennyson paints his poem in radiant colours with shining brass as this elite British cavalry force attempt to recapture the guns. They are proudly and heroically charging as a unit “Flashed all their sabres bare” into a situation that we, the reader, know can only end in tragedy and suffering. Wilfred Owen’s palette consists of the more murky colours of mud and blood running into each other detailing the actual suffering of the individual soldiers as it happens. There is a fast, charging pace in Lord Tennyson’s poem with a rhythmic beat which helps set the scene. In contrast, Wilfred Owen’s poem is more descriptive and slow in pace which helps the reader to understand the suffering of the individuals.

The Charge of the Light Brigade is based on a episode of the Crimean War which took place on the 25 October 1854. The Light Brigade was an elite British cavalry force, made up of 630 men and horses, who were ordered to recapture the Turkish guns at the head of a valley. These guns had been captured by the Russians who had launched an attack on Balaclava, the Allied base. The inspiration behind this poem were three words written by The Times’ correspondent, W.H. Russell when informing that this ill fated attack was because “Someone had blundered”. According to Tennyson’s son, a few minutes after reading this editorial where this phrase occurred, this poem was born.

Lord Alfred Tennyson was much admired by Queen Victoria, and was made poet Laureate. This made him the official state poet; therefore, he would record National events through his poetry. Although this poem also records tragedy and failure it emphasises true courage and bravery, which can only strengthen the admiration and respect from the reader for these ill-fated heroes. This heroism also reinforces patriotism within the population creating more unity. The deaths of these men were not in vain; they died for their Country, this is what makes them heroes.  

Verse one is setting the scene. It immediately starts with

“Half a league, half a league,

  Half a league onward,

  All in the valley of Death”

Tennyson is setting the pace at a gallop. He also creates the feeling of an adrenaline rush. The repetition creates this effect with its rhythmic meter. There is the biblical and symbolic reference to the Valley of Death which tells the reader that these soldiers are being sent like lambs to the slaughter – dying for their country. This immediately creates dramatic tension.

Tennyson writes this poem in the third person, which tells the reader that he is not actually there this is indicated when he writes

“…’Charge for the guns!’ he said;

  Into the valley of Death

  Rode the six hundred.”

These three lines outline the objective of the Light Brigade, emphasising their fate with repetition of the biblical symbolism and finally reminding the reader, again with repetition, the number of men involved. These three lines create tremendous dramatic tension by reiterating the futility of this exercise.

In verse two Tennyson increases the dramatic tension one hundred fold. He asks the rhetorical question “Was there a man dismayed?” which is, in effect, emphasising how brave the Light Brigade were. He continues to say

“Not though the soldier knew

  Someone had blundered:”

Here is the thunder bolt – these men are risking their lives due to an error. This is the only time the error is mentioned, almost as if it was an incidental part of the battle. Tennyson has taken these three words, “Someone had blundered” as a direct quote from W.H. Russell’s editorial in The Times. These are the three words that had such a powerful effect on Tennyson himself. He doesn’t expand on the error or point the finger of blame, he simply states the fact. It is in these two lines that the reader senses an element of fear. However, fear is never an issue with the Light Brigade themselves. After this shock declaration, Tennyson reminds the reader of the galloping, adrenalin charged pace when he writes

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“Their’s not to make reply,

  Their’s not to reason why,

  Their’s but to do and die:”

 These three lines also very simply emphasise not only how disciplined these brave men and horses were but also their total trust in their Commanding Officers and masters respectively.

Verse three depicts the Light Brigade as victims charging into an ambush. It begins with the galloping effect, this time illustrating the actual danger this elite force is charging into.

“Cannon to right of them,

  Cannon to left of them

  Cannon in front of them”

These three lines ...

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