Comparing the Presantation of Conflict in the Charge of the Light Brigade and Anthem for Doomed Youth
Compare the presentation of conflict in ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ by Alfred Tennyson and ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’ by Wilfred Owen.
Alfred Lord Tennyson and Wilfred Owen are both poets who write about the conflict of war and its victims. ‘The Charge of the light brigade’ written by Lord Alfred Tennyson, it is based on a disastrous and real event that unfolded in the frimean war. The poem was written as a memorial for the numerous soldiers that died in the war. However the ‘Anthem for doomed youth’ is a sonnet written by Wilfred Owen. He writes about his feelings for the young men that he fought with on the front line in the Somme.
Firstly, in both poems we are presented with imagery revealing the reality of the wartime battlefield this is called aural imagery. In ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ the words “into the valley of death” are used, this is a metaphor suggesting that the Light Brigade charged themselves to their death, this shows the fierceness of battle and how people many people will died. The words “charge for the guns” proposes of the certain death that the soldiers will meet and how suicidal this charge is, it also suggests the madness of the war. Tennyson says “cannon to right of them, cannon to the left of them, cannon in front of them” this shows the confusion through the soldiers and the fierce fighting that is happening in this war. Whereas, in Owens poem ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’ the more graphic and hurried side of war is shown. Owen uses the words “for these who die as cattle” suggests the soldiers are abandoned in their own death and there is no way out, it could also suggest that they are sent to be slaughtered just like ‘cattle’ this proposes the tragedy and casualties of war. The words “monstrous anger of the guns” implies that the soldiers are scared of the guns and by likening the guns to monsters; this is showing the soldiers are young as it is typically children who are scared of monsters. Owen also uses the words “hasty
Alfred Lord Tennyson and Wilfred Owen are both poets who write about the conflict of war and its victims. ‘The Charge of the light brigade’ written by Lord Alfred Tennyson, it is based on a disastrous and real event that unfolded in the frimean war. The poem was written as a memorial for the numerous soldiers that died in the war. However the ‘Anthem for doomed youth’ is a sonnet written by Wilfred Owen. He writes about his feelings for the young men that he fought with on the front line in the Somme.
Firstly, in both poems we are presented with imagery revealing the reality of the wartime battlefield this is called aural imagery. In ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ the words “into the valley of death” are used, this is a metaphor suggesting that the Light Brigade charged themselves to their death, this shows the fierceness of battle and how people many people will died. The words “charge for the guns” proposes of the certain death that the soldiers will meet and how suicidal this charge is, it also suggests the madness of the war. Tennyson says “cannon to right of them, cannon to the left of them, cannon in front of them” this shows the confusion through the soldiers and the fierce fighting that is happening in this war. Whereas, in Owens poem ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’ the more graphic and hurried side of war is shown. Owen uses the words “for these who die as cattle” suggests the soldiers are abandoned in their own death and there is no way out, it could also suggest that they are sent to be slaughtered just like ‘cattle’ this proposes the tragedy and casualties of war. The words “monstrous anger of the guns” implies that the soldiers are scared of the guns and by likening the guns to monsters; this is showing the soldiers are young as it is typically children who are scared of monsters. Owen also uses the words “hasty