How Did Alfred Lord Tennyson Use Imagery In The Charge Of The Light Brigade
Alfred, Lord Tennyson was the Poet Laureate of Great Britain and Ireland during much of Queen Victoria's reign and one of the most popular British poets. He is known for his rich imagery, descriptive writing, and his masterful handling of rhythm. One of his most famous poems, “The Charge of the Light Brigade” tells about the Battle of Balaclava, in this battle the 600 horsemen are ordered to charge into a valley with guns on sides, they do and meet heavy fire on all sides, many of the men die. This poem uses imagery to show both the bravery and nobility of the soldiers of the Light Brigade and the brutality of war.
The first use of imagery in this poem is the valley of Death, “All in the valley of Death/ Rode the six hundred” (ll. 3-4). This
actually serves a dual purpose. Firstly it is the first visual image given to us and haunts the entire poem. Secondly it is an allusion to the, “valley of the shadow of death,” in Psalm 23 which would have been very important in that time period. That phrase was repeated in the second stanza, but replaced in the third stanza by, “Into the jaws of Death / Into the mouth of hell” (ll. 24-25). Tennyson shows the almost appalling futility of this battle by giving death and hell human characteristics.
The first use of imagery in this poem is the valley of Death, “All in the valley of Death/ Rode the six hundred” (ll. 3-4). This
actually serves a dual purpose. Firstly it is the first visual image given to us and haunts the entire poem. Secondly it is an allusion to the, “valley of the shadow of death,” in Psalm 23 which would have been very important in that time period. That phrase was repeated in the second stanza, but replaced in the third stanza by, “Into the jaws of Death / Into the mouth of hell” (ll. 24-25). Tennyson shows the almost appalling futility of this battle by giving death and hell human characteristics.