Lines from the poem

Literal Meaning
1 stanza- the orders to attack and the
journey .
-600 British soldiers were given the order
to capture enemy artillery (Russian
cannons) during the Crimean War in 1854.
-The Light Brigade which consisted of 600
soldiers on horseback (cavalry) were
ordered to ride about 1 miles (half a
league) into a valley which became their
graveyard. (the valley of death)

Figurative Meaning
Life is a journey. Sometimes, we
may not like the things we have
to do, but we
have to carry it
out anyway.

Forward, the light Brigade!

Was there a man dismayed?
Not though the soldier knew
Some one had blundered.
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die.
Into the Valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

2nd stanza- the decision is it right?

-The soldiers obeyed their commanders
order even though they knew it might be a
mistake. They did not lose their courage.
-They did their duty without questioning
their leader.They were loyal and brave
heroes willing to die for their country.

We have to obey orders even if

our boss or

Cannon to right of them

Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred

3rd stanza- the battle in The Valley of

Death.
-This is the Battle of Balaclava. When the
soldiers arrived at the valley, they were
surrounded by gunfire- left, right and
front. There was no escape. It was a
suicide mission.
-When the cannonball was fired ( volley), it
made a deafening sound ( thunder). Even
though they were attacked with bullets

st

The Charge of The Light

Brigade
by Lord Tennyson
Half a League, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns! he said.
Into the Valley of Death Rode
the six hundred.

leader make a mistake. It is our

duty to do so.
In times of trouble, we must be
brave and do the best that we
can. We must not give up even
when we fail. We must try and
try again.

Theme : War and death /

(shots) & casings (shell), they bravely rode

into the jaws of Death. Many perished in
the war and died in the monsters mouth
of Hell.
Courage in the face of danger

SMART NOTES- Rachel Gnoh

Message : We should be at peace and not at war.
/ We must be brave in the face of danger.
Moral values : a)Courage
b) Loyalty and patriotism
Persona : Poet
himself, Lord Tennyson
Vocabulary :
league- 3 miles
brigade- a group/ battalion of soldiers
charge- attack violently
dismayed- worried/scared
Blundered- made a mistake
reason why questioning/ ask for explanation
cannon- weapon
boldly- bravely
Shell the outer layer of cannonballs and bullets
to do and die- to do their duty
jaws of Death- war is a monster that kills people
mouth of Hell -war ends in death
Set A (1st stanza)
The Charge of The Light
Brigade
Half a League, half a
league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
Forward, the Light
Brigade!
Charge for the guns! he
said.
Into the Valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
Forward, the light
Brigade!
Was there a man
dismayed?

c) Explain the meaning of theirs but to do

a) Who were the six hundred?

and die?

................................................................

...........................

b) Explain the phrase, Half a league

d) Give 2 characteristics of a good soldier i)

onward.

..

e) If you were the commander, what order

c) Which word in the 1st stanza means

would you have given?

attack?

Why?..........................................................

..............

ii)..

Not though the soldier

knew
Some one had blundered.
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die.
Into the Valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

d) How do you show your patriotism for

Cannon to right of them

Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and
shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred
by Lord
Tennyson

..
Set C ( 3rd stanza)

your country ?

a) How were the soldiers attacked as they

..

rode into the

valley?........................................................

..........................

e) If you were the soldier, would you

b) Explain the phrase, Boldly they rode and

follow the order? Why?

well.

..

..

c) Which word means an explosive sound?

..

Set B (2nd stanza)

a) Who gave the order to ride into the

d) How would you feel if you were one of

valley?

the 600 soldiers going into the valley of

death?............................................

..

b) State the line which shows it had been

a mistake.

e) If you were a reporter during that time,

what would your headline be ?

..

Why?..........................................................

....
.