In his famous poem Alfred, Lord Tennyson would accurately dub this the ‘Valley of Death’. Opposing the Light Brigade were some 19 battalions of Russian infantry, nearly 50 guns firing from enfilading positions on both sides of the valley and ahead of them and a body of Cossack cavalry. On the battlefield, their role was rapidly to exploit any advantages or enemy weaknesses such as undefended artillery batteries or broken enemy units. Mounted on smaller, fast horses their primary task was reconnaissance, scouting and skirmishing. Light cavalry was intended to be the highly mobile and flexible scouting arm of the Army. The Light Brigade consisted of the cream of the British Army’s light cavalry, including the 4th (The Queen’s Own) Regiment of Light Dragoons, 8th (The King’s Royal Irish) Regiment of Hussars, 11th (Prince Albert’s Own) Regiment of Hussars, 13th Regiment of Light Dragoons, and the 17th Regiment of Light Dragoons (Lancers). The battle had been raging since the early morning and had already seen a magnificent charge by the Heavy Brigade which broke General Ryzhov’s Russian cavalry. Read these important questions about the poem.Late in the morning of the 25 October 1856, some 670 cavalrymen of the British Light Cavalry Brigade began their ill-fated charge down a valley just north of the small port of Balaclava. the achievement of those 600 brave soldiers. The poet says that the world wondered over their achievement i.e. the wild charge or brave attack they made) will always be remembered by the Britishers. In the final stanza, the poet asks rhetorical question “When can their glory fade?” i.e. They then came back from the mouth of hell, all that was left of them i.e. Many of those (the poet calls them heroes) died along with their horse, but they fought so well. The five lines of the stanza 3 are repeated again to describe the war zone in which they were trapped. Their attacks were so fierce that the enemies trembled with fear and were torn apart to death.Īfter doing that, they returned back, but according to the poet, they were were not six hundred i.e. The whole world wondered as they dared to fight with light weapons while the enemies were using guns and cannons.Ĭrossing the border line, the soldiers then moved towards the artillery of the enemy through the dense smoke of shelling. In spite of having swords, they fought with the gunners bravely and killed them. The soldiers took out their sabres bare i.e. ![]() But they didn’t stop and went ahead into the jaws of Death, into the mouth of hell. The bullets and the shells of the guns and cannons respectively were flowing in their air. there were cannons of the enemies which were ready to kill them. The poet explains their position by saying Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them. ![]() This stanza describes the scene where they are surrounded by their enemies. They nothing else in mind but to fight and die for their country and hence they marched into the valley of Death. However, the soldiers were loyal and brave enough to neither request their leader to return back or question his command. ![]() The second stanza begins with the command of their leader, “ Forward, the Light Brigade!” The poet wonders whether any of the soldiers of the brigade frightened because of the fatal danger ahead and answers himself that they didn’t know which the fear is, though the idea of marching towards the enemy was a blunder committed by someone (means their leader). attack the enemies) to take their guns or probably destroy those holding the guns. The commander, who is referred to as “he”here commands the soldiers to move towards the enemies and charge (i.e. The poet uses the phrase “valley of Death” to show that they (the Light Brigade) were soon going to be killed. They were six hundred in number and according to the poet, they were marching in the valley of Death. The soldiers were commanded to march towards the enemy country which was probably 1.5 miles ahead. Hence half a league would mean 1.5 miles. League is an old method of measuring distance and is equal to around 3 miles. The poem begins with the phrase, “ Half a league” which is repeated three times which is to create a poetic effect as well as to symbolise the parade of the light brigade towards the enemy during the Crimean War.
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