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Interpretation of the charge of the light brigade
The charge of the light brigade comparisons
Interpretation of the charge of the light brigade
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The Charge of the Light Brigade and Attack ' The Charge of the light Brigade' by Alfred Lord Tennyson and 'Attack' by Siegfried Sassoon are two very dissimilar poems. Both of them are on the same topic of war but have many contrasts in how they treat the subject matter, war. The main difference between these two poems is the audience that they were written for. Tennyson, as poet laureate, was written for public reading, but Sassoon's work which showed more emotion and feeling, was therefore more of a private poem. The poems' tone and mood are very different. Tennyson's poem is a triumphant, victorious and celebratory poem. This is because the Victorians did not want to read about defeat, as it was not considered honourable, so Tennyson praises the men who died in the charge. He writes, "Boldly they rode and well," and, "While horse and hero fell." Tennyson also tells us that they were fearless and did everything without query. " Theirs not to make reply. Theirs not to reason why." In the last verse of the poem Tennyson asks all people to, "Honour the Light Brigade, Noble six hundred!" Even in defeat Tennyson portrays the men as heroes. In contrast Sassoon created a sinister and threatening mood. His poem contains a mysterious haunting quality revealing the shocking brutality of what war was really like. Instead of portraying the men who fought as brave and fighting without question, he says they were, "Masked with fear," when they had to go over the top to meet the "Bristling fire". It is clever the way he uses bristling to depict the gunfire because by this he makes out that the gunfire is heavy. He also says, "Lines of grey, muttering faces," which depicts a questioning attitude, which is a com... ... middle of paper ... ...een lines. ' Attack has thirteen lines.) The two poems are written from two points of view, and have very different purposes. Tennyson is reflecting on an event that had happened ten years beforehand and an event that he himself was not involved him. He was writing to commemorate those that had died during the charge. By the way he has written the poem, he seems to think that war was very honourable, even in defeat Sassoon however had experienced war, and really knew what it was like to be in the front line, ( unlike Tennyson). The purpose of his poem was to tell people what war was really like. How it was frightening and sad. He clearly and blatantly had a negative view of war, as he says in his last line, "O Jesus, make it stop!" and thinks of war as dishonourable and futile, " And hope with furtive eyes and grappling fists, flounders in the mud."
war, "I never figured out what you guys who got me into all that trouble were saying." In
Both stories were insightful about the harsh reality of war. They give the reader a view of war. The pieces are filled with visuals and symbolism. I recommend to all readers. Has a true message in both works.
about the war and his lack of place in his old society. The war becomes
his country. This is what makes these two books stand out from other war books. Both
So he saw saw how war affected everyone because his job in the was was to carry the injured to get help. He saw what happened to everyone. So when he said “humanity I love you” it is ironic because at the end of the poem he said “humanity I hate you” which is a more accurate description of his feeling towards all of humanity, so what he means with this quote is that the governing leaders or every power are putting people 's lives in their pockets and then not caring so they sent them off to die in the war (WWI) because over 14 million soldiers died. They sat down and forgot that their are people dieing so they can sit down and drink tea. Just like Kat said “Give 'em all the same grub and all the same pay/And the war would be over and done in a day." (Chapter 3, pg. 41) if everyone got paid the same and everyone did their part then the war would be over a lot faster. Furthermore in Russia (when it was called the Soviet Union) Vladimir Lenin said, “Hundreds of billions of capital have been invested… bringing death, hunger, ruin... to the peoples.” This shows that the world was put into a crisis because of the “criminal war”. which
...ainting symbolize the need for patriotism and unity in a country during war on and off the battlefront. These two prominent texts support each other’s points of fighting for human’s unalienable rights and liberties through writing and visualization. The connection between the to conclude that war may not be just but it is the act of physical force or even any action that can bring together a country and achieve the liberties they deserve. This is a message that can apply to any human today, when someone infringes on another’s liberties then they need to stand up and fight back in order to stop the other from doing it again.
due to the differing perspectives; and who the ‘victor’ of the situations was. Finally, this paper
First, both are similar in how they spread their message across. Basically, both made the enemy seem like a cruel heartless monster who only has the capability to kill while the heroes are the country’s soldiers/citizens. Both play on the pathos of citizens. They paint this idea that citizens must fight because the enemy is filled with barbarians.
...ce, although both writings are interesting in their own ways, the most interesting aspect of both writings together is that they both have a similar plot and theme. It is rare that two
each have a common viewpoint: war brings out the worst in man, a feeling buried
The first comparison is how they are both fighting for a good cause, and I mean that they are trying to protect people, and doing the right thing. In the epic story Beowulf is fighting to destroy the monster that is eating all of Hrothgars men in the mead hall. Beowulf defeats the monster and seeks all other monsters that try to promote evil and do evil things. The soldiers do the same as they try to defeat the enemy, promote goodness, and stop the suffering of other people that do or do not deserver having the suffering that they are receiving. The soldiers also are trying to promote peace which I think that war is our modern day monster that we are trying to avoid.
...and the way that the opposing sides think of each other is awful. The fact that one side is praying for disaster to come on their enemies isn’t showing God’s love and at the end of the poem it says, “We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love.” It is out of love for their own soldiers but not for the soldiers on the other side. This poem shows the real aspects of people’s feelings about war. Many people don’t want their own side to be crushed, but they don’t care if the other side does get crushed.
As poet laureate and patriot, Alfred, Lord Tennyson was very influential in 19th century England. He successfully showed the ignorance of the English Army leaders while still reflecting his strong nationalist views in an attempt to create propaganda for the Crimean War in his poem, “The Charge of the Light Brigade.” The charge was a tragic incident that took place in 1854 during the Crimean War, which was England, France and Sardinia against Russia, when English Army generals blundered and sent over six hundred soldiers on a charge that was destined for disaster. The solders were known as the Light Brigade and the charge resulted in over two hundred deaths to soldiers and over three hundred deaths to horses. In this horrific aftermath, Tennyson responded to this event by writing a poem which went on to become a classic. Tennyson was a strong nationalist and very political. He was moved and troubled when he received news of the tragic charge. The poem became a form of propaganda for the Crimean War due to Tennyson glorifying the sacrifice of the soldiers by using his exceptional writing skills. Although this poem is regarded by many as propaganda, he included the word blunder in the poem which showed the ignorance of the Army leaders.
in his poems. There is also the view that war has turned into a cycle,
Comparing The Charge of the Light Brigade and the Defence of Lucknow by A. Tennyson