![]() This is what the poet means by “ someone had blundered”. In reality, a senior officer had made a fatal mistake and sent them toward a battle they were not equipped to fight. ![]() They were commanded to charge forward toward the guns, and so they did. The Charge Of The Light Brigade | Summary, Lines 9-17 Death is personified, and so is referred to with a capitalized first letter. Here, the valley of Death is a metaphor for the battlefield. It also provides a sense of purpose or anticipation for the battle that they are so close to joining. The repetition of the cadence of “ half a league” is reminiscent of the sound of horses galloping and the repetitious sound of their hooves on the ground. Six hundred men of this brigade charged ahead at the command of their superior. They were told to charge toward the guns of the opposing army, and hence charge straight to their death. The Light Brigade was a part of the British Cavalry, and they rode horses and used lances or swords to fight. This Valley of Death meant that the soldiers were riding their horses toward a fight that they were sure to lose. The Light Brigade had just one and a quarter miles to ride before they reach the Valley of Death. Had it not been written, the charge may have been forgotten by all but military historians.The Charge Of The Light Brigade | Summary And Analysis The Charge Of The Light Brigade, Summary Lines 1-8 Almost like a ballad, it appealed to people who were not able to read to a high level. With its catchy rhythm and powerful images the poem stuck in the public consciousness. His work was enjoyed by ordinary people, and with this poem he was addressing a wide audience – not just the establishment. Tennyson wrote The Charge of the Light Brigade in response. A nation that had embraced British military exploits abroad began to question the politicians and generals who led them. Public reactionĪt home news of the disaster was a sensation. Their flight was marked by instant gaps in our ranks, the dead men and horses, by steeds flying wounded or rider less across the plain. Surely that handful of men were not going to charge an army in position … At the distance of 1200 yards the whole line of the enemy belched forth, from thirty iron mouths, a flood of smoke and flame through which hissed the deadly balls. We could hardly believe the evidence of our senses. They swept proudly past, glittering in the morning sun in all the pride and splendour of war. William Howard Russell reported for The Times: Over 150 British soldiers were killed, and more than 120 wounded. Īn order given to the British army's cavalry division - known as the Light Brigade - was misunderstood and over 600 cavalrymen charged down a narrow valley straight into the fire of Russian cannons. The most significant moment in the Crimean War came during the Battle of Balaclava. ![]() His reports caught the attention of the public and inspired individuals to set out for the war zone to help suffering soldiers - most famously Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole. The Times correspondent William Howard Russell used the modern technology of electric telegraph to send dispatches from the front line. The Crimean War could be described as the first media war - a forerunner to the intensely reported conflicts of modern times.įor the first time in history newspapers carried eye-witness reports, detailing not just the triumphs of war, but the mistakes and horrors as well. Unlike other medals, this was awarded not only to officers but to ordinary soldiers. The war saw the introduction of the highest decoration for gallantry, the Victoria Cross. It is estimated that around 25,000 British, 100,000 French and up to a million Russians died - almost all of disease and neglect. The Russian Empire was defeated by an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, Britain and Sardinia. The Crimean War was fought from October 1853 to February 1856. Strategically valuable as a naval base, and with rich agricultural land, it has been invaded, occupied and battled over by a series of aggressors. Jutting into the Black Sea, Crimea is a rugged peninsula in Eastern Europe.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |