The Charge of the Light Brigade

    AQA
    GCSE

    Alfred, Lord Tennyson's narrative poem depicts the disastrous charge of the Light Brigade during the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War. Following a mistaken command, six hundred cavalrymen ride directly into Russian artillery fire in the 'Valley of Death'. The poem vividly describes the sensory assault of the cannons and the slaughter of the soldiers and horses. Despite the realization that 'someone had blundered', the soldiers display unwavering discipline and obedience. The survivors retreat, leaving many dead behind, as the poem concludes with an imperative to honour their bravery. The text functions simultaneously as a critique of aristocratic leadership and a eulogy for the soldiers' sacrifice.

    0
    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    4
    Pitfalls
    4
    Key Terms
    5
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • AO1: Award marks for precise comparison of the poets' perspectives on war, specifically the tension between honourable sacrifice and military blunder.
    • AO2: Credit analysis of the dactylic dimeter mimicking the galloping horses and the relentless rhythm of the charge.
    • AO2: Candidates must analyse the use of anaphora ('Theirs not to...') and biblical allusion ('Valley of Death') to elevate the soldiers' status.
    • AO3: Reward understanding of the Crimean War context and Tennyson's role as Poet Laureate balancing propaganda with tragedy.
    • AO1 (Comparison): Responses must sustain connections between texts, moving beyond simple 'both poems show war' to nuanced differences in tone and intent.

    Example Examiner Feedback

    Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

    • "You have identified the rhythm, but you must explain how the dactylic dimeter affects the reader's experience of the battle's chaos."
    • "Integrate your context: show how Tennyson's status as Laureate specifically shapes the lack of direct criticism in the poem."
    • "Your comparison is currently 'bolted on' at the end; weave the second poem into every paragraph."
    • "Move beyond the narrative of the charge; analyse how the repetition of 'six hundred' creates a sense of tragic inevitability."

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • AO1: Award marks for precise comparison of the poets' perspectives on war, specifically the tension between honourable sacrifice and military blunder.
    • AO2: Credit analysis of the dactylic dimeter mimicking the galloping horses and the relentless rhythm of the charge.
    • AO2: Candidates must analyse the use of anaphora ('Theirs not to...') and biblical allusion ('Valley of Death') to elevate the soldiers' status.
    • AO3: Reward understanding of the Crimean War context and Tennyson's role as Poet Laureate balancing propaganda with tragedy.
    • AO1 (Comparison): Responses must sustain connections between texts, moving beyond simple 'both poems show war' to nuanced differences in tone and intent.

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡Select the second poem immediately based on the specific theme in the question (e.g., effects of conflict, reality of war).
    • 💡Use the printed poem to anchor the analysis but ensure the memory-based poem receives equal weighting.
    • 💡Structure the response by theme or idea, not by poem, to force high-level comparison.
    • 💡Memorise 3-4 'universal' quotes from other cluster poems that link well to Light Brigade (e.g., 'Bayonet Charge', 'Exposure').

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Treating the poems in isolation (Part A then Part B) rather than developing an integrated comparison.
    • Describing the history of the Battle of Balaclava without linking it to Tennyson's specific authorial choices.
    • Identifying 'rhythm' or 'rhyme' without explaining how the dactylic meter creates momentum and inevitability.
    • Asserting the poem is purely anti-war without acknowledging the simultaneous glorification of the soldiers' bravery.

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Compare
    How
    Present
    Explore
    What

    Ready to test yourself?

    Practice questions tailored to this topic