This poem really uncovers the essence of a soldier's character. It tells the story of a brigade of 600 soldiers of the British forces in the Crimean War who are ordered to charge forward towards the Russian forces: an absurd order given by their commander. The courage of these men was highlighted as they charged forward, aware of the mistake, neither discouraged or distressed. This feature alone was very powerful to me. For these soldiers, while galloping towards their death, neither disobeyed their commander nor feared their fate. Rather, they continued to charge forward, honored to die for their country.
A unique feature of this poem is the form which Tennyson uses. As I read the poem, I felt a steady beat associated with each stanza. This beat felt almost like a galloping rhythm, making the reader feel connected with the brigade as they galloped closer and closer towards their death. This repetitive method also reminds the reader of repetitive orders constantly being yelled at the soldiers in the midst of battle - further equilibrating the reader with a sense of urgency and expectancy associated with the life of a soldier.
The poem begins stating, "Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward" (615). This opening phrase conveys a strong, united action of the collected 600 men. Tennyson never speaks of the soldiers individually, but emphasizes their unity as one powerful force: "the six hundred" and later "all that was left of them" (615). Then the soldiers were given their orders:
"'Forward, the Light Brigade!'
Was there a man dismay'd?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Some one had blunder'd:
Their's not to make reply
Their's not to reason why,
Their's but to do and die:
Into the Valley of Death
Rode the six hundred" (615).
As soon after the soldiers were given their orders, the speaker questions whether any of them were surprised by these commands. Tennyson quickly answers the proposed question, emphasizing that each soldier was fully aware of their commanders' fatal mistake. Although aware, not one soldier showed any fear or distress, but continued galloping towards the enemy. The next lines (13-15) validated the soldier's unselfish behavior. Upon reading these very powerful lines, I imagined a boot camp scene in which every soldier was repeating the words aloud in unison, with passion and fervor, knowing that these words which would come to define them, would also allow them to become fearless in the face of death and content in knowing they would die for their country. Their only duty was to obey orders and follow their commander, never to "make reply" never to "reason why" only "to do and die"(615). In these words lie the nature of a soldier, charging forward without hesitation, galloping courageously into the "Valley of Death"(615).
In the third stanza, Tennyson makes use of anaphora: repeating the same word at the beginning of several consecutive lines: "Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them" (615). This method creates a strong sense of unrelenting assault; at each line the reader's eyes meet the word "cannon," just as a soldier dodges a flying shell at every turn. Even in this overwhelming scene, the brigade rode "boldly" into the "jaws of death" and the "mouth of hell"(615). This hopeless scene of death makes the reader wonder if any of the brigade will surrender and spare their life, yet the six hundred continue to charge on.
As the charge continued, "all the world wonder'd"(615). Here, Tennyson does not address how the world wondered of the fate of the soldiers, but rather the reasoning behind their continuation of the charge headed towards their demise. The reader is part of the world - unaware of the soldier's mindset and the feelings of the soldiers causing them to continue in battle. Tennyson does not wish for the reader to understand these reasonings of the soldier, for only the soldier understands the motives that allow him to welcome his own death. Approaching the end of the poem, the soldiers struck the enemy with "sabres bare" and broke through the enemy line, destroying their Russian and Cossack opponents(615). But as they rode back they were "not the six hundred"(615). Until this stanza, every stanza has ended with "rode the six hundred," but now the debilitating effects of war can be witnessed as many life's of the 600 soldiers have been compromised.
The lines of the cannons in the third stanza are repeated in the sixth, reminding the reader of the war behind as what was left of the soldiers come through the "jaws of Death" and the "mouth of Hell"(616). The continued assault takes its toll on the remaining survivors as "horse and hero fell"(616). The final stanza speaks to the reader, encouraging that they may honor those who risked their lives: "Honour the charge they made! Honour the Light Brigade, Noble six hundred!"(616). For Tennyson, war, although sometimes compromising and foolish, is always necessary and just. Even though the improper command was made, the soldiers should still be honored for their relentless bravery and courage so strongly celebrated in this poem. The poem glorifies war because even when it can be inefficient and depleting, the courage of the soldier shown as he protects his country can be infinitely honored and respected.
Alex,
ReplyDeleteExcellent post on Tennyson's famous poem. You do a great job of getting beneath the surface of the poem and analyzing the words, the rhythm, the rhetorical techniques (such as anaphora) and the effect on the reader. I think this is your best post yet! Keep up the great improvement in your posts.
I really like how you compared the beat to the galloping of the horses charging forward. I also liked how you identified that Tennyson always referenced the men as a single unit, with exception to the commander. If he had singled out a person, the poem would have lost something. The unity and commitment of the soldiers was important when they were alive and during Tennyson's poem. It was their job to do and die. That they did. Great post.
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