The order came down for the Light Brigade, cavalry optimized for mobility and flexibility, to advance and charge the Russian fortifications head on. Rather than the military mistake it is commonly seen as, is there some rationale to be found in the attempt, however futile it ultimately was? Suicidal BraveryĬertainly the order must have seemed suicidal to the 600 cavalrymen who rode for a mile or longer into what became known as the Valley of Death. In stanza 4 he does use caesura to emphasise the suspense of the battle, this gives the reader a sense of wonder. The poet signifies the idea of pace in the battle by writing with little caesura. The poet incorporates the idea of war in this poem. The charge has fascinated historians, many of whom are trying to pick apart the seemingly suicidal decision to see if there was any tactical sense to the maneuver. Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death. Where is there enjambment and caesura in the charge of the light brigade. restricted to the use of the mid-line virgule for caesura), but not capitalisation. Tennyson’s poem was published just six weeks after the event, and captures the trauma felt by the British public at the horrific defeat. The Charge of the Light Brigade practises a similar abstention. This charge was considered a suicidal attack and indeed the charge was repulsed with heavy losses on the British side. It is perhaps the most well-remembered event of the Crimean War, that continued from 1853 to 1856. Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1854)Įtched into the British consciousness by Tennyson’s poem, the Charge of the Light Brigade was a massive charge of British cavalry against heavily defended and entrenched Russian troops during the battle of Balaclava in 1854.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |