Charge of the Light Brigade

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The battle of Balaclava took place on October 25, 1854, and a tragic military disaster like no other, was about to be caught by the eyes of the nation. A blunder sparked by the animosity between two English Army leaders led to the death of over two hundred solders. The Battle took place during the Crimean War which was a war between Britain, Sardinia and France against Russia. Over six hundred soldiers forming the Light Brigade charged towards the Russian soldiers under orders of the two blundering army leaders. The miscommunication had cost the Light Brigade many lives. The valiant marching of the Brigade into the mouth of hell influenced the emergence of a new poetic figure. Alfred Tennyson was struck with the news of the event and unknowingly wrote what became, one of the most famous poems to date. He reflected his sense of nationalism through his piece “The Charge of the Light Brigade.” Tennyson uses his influential position to cleverly create propaganda, not only for the purpose of magnifying the errors made during the patriotic charge, but also at the same time exemplifying the English Army’s loyal sense of obedience as a military success. In his early years, Alfred Tennyson was a strong but struggling poet with love and passion for his poetry. He went to college to pursue his poetic career and refine his skills. Education played a big hand in his achievement of success. Richard J. Dunn makes evident that “Tennyson earned his position in literature because of the remarkable range of his talents and his dedication throughout his long career to perfecting his art” (166d). After receiving a prestigious Chancellor’s gold medal award in 1829, Tennyson released a book of his poems in 1830 followed by his second book three year... ... middle of paper ... ... Book T.19 Encyclopedia. 2006 Edition. p.166d. print. Jones, Philip Dwight. “Balaklava, Battle of.” World Book Student. 2011 ed. Web. 30 March 2011. Marshall, Carol. “The Charge of the Light Brigade.” Poetry Out Loud. School Library Journal, 2005: 59. Elibrary.Web. 31 March 2011. O’Gorman, Francis, ed. Victorian Poetry: An Annotated Anthology. Blackwell, 2004. Google Books. Web. 31 March 2011. Pearce Joseph. Literary Giants, Literary Catholics. Ignatious Press, 2005. Google Books. Web. 9 April. 2011. Southam, Brian. British Writers. Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892). Print. Southam, B.C. “Tennyson.” Writers and Their Works : NO 218. London: Longman Group, 1971. p.6. print. Steane, J.B. Literary Critics Tennyson. New York: Arco Publishing, 1969. p.106. print. “Tennyson, Alfred, Lord.” Funk and Wagnells New World Encyclopedia. EBSCO. Web. 7 April 2011.

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