Introduction
The Battle of Balaclava was a crucial event in the Crimean War, which lasted from 1853 to 1856. This battle proved futile for the British and resulted in significant casualties for the army. For poets, it was common to glorify sacrifice and bravery, particularly when these led to victories. Lord Tennyson, however, commemorated the British army despite the futility of their efforts and paid tribute to the lives lost in a battle that proved fruitless.
He emphasizes the honor of the Light Brigade and seeks to immortalize their courage through his poem “The Charge of the Light Brigade”. Tennyson does not criticize the military command or the strategic blunder that led to the charge; instead, he focuses on the nobility of the soldiers’ dedication to duty. In the context of a futile war, he depicts the soldiers as fearless warriors and employs various literary devices to create this representation.
Historical Context
The Crimean War was one of the most significant military conflicts of the 19th century, involving the most important European powers. On the one hand, this war was characterized by inept leadership and great human and material costs. On the other hand, the war was a point of national pride and heroism for all parties involved, including Great Britain. The battle depicted by Lord Tennyson embodied these characteristics, representing the double nature of armed conflicts.
The Charge of the Light Brigade was not a deliberate tactical choice but rather the result of a grave miscommunication. Lord Raglan, the British commander, issued an order for the Light Brigade to charge a Russian artillery position. However, due to ambiguous and confusing orders and a lack of clarification, the brigade charged directly into a heavily fortified valley under Russian artillery fire on both sides (Lord Tennyson, lines 39-41).
This miscommunication led to a suicidal mission for the Light Brigade, exposing them to devastating enemy fire. In the context of the War, the Charge was a microcosm of the larger conflict. While the charge itself had limited strategic significance and resulted in significant losses for the British, it symbolized the soldiers’ self-sacrifice in the face of duty and adversity. It became emblematic of soldiers’ willingness to give their all for their country, even in circumstances beyond their control.
Tennyson’s Perspective
Tennyson chose to present the battle in its raw form, reminding the reader of the soldiers’ ill fate, who, nonetheless, were brave enough to face death rather than avoid it. He emphasizes the presence of death throughout the poem: “Into the valley of death rode the six hundred” (Lord Tennyson, lines 3-4). Out of the six verses, death is mentioned in four of them: “They had fought so well, came through the jaws of death, back from the mouth of hell” (Lord Tennyson, lines 45-47).
By giving death the role of protagonist, the poet elevates the warriors’ courage. They knew the risk they were taking, and they were aware that their lives would most likely be taken away. In the eyes of Lord Tennyson, this is a deed worthy of being venerated and remembered. He also venerates soldiers’ obedience and commitment to duty, even when they know a grave mistake has been made. Tennyson does not criticize or dwell on the blunder or the soldier’s dismay. Instead, he highlights the soldiers’ willingness to follow orders without questioning them, underscoring the nobility of the Light Brigade.
Literary Devices
To create the image of soldiers as fearless warriors and to venerate their actions, the author employs various poetic devices. As a whole, the poem can be characterized as an elegy as it mourns the soldiers who died on the battlefield. Tennyson’s emphasis on the bravery and sacrifice of the cavalrymen, along with the overall tone of reverence and remembrance, carries elegiac elements: “Honour the charge they made! Honour the Light Brigade” (Lord Tennyson, lines 53-54). Elegies aim to make the reader sympathize and feel the pain for the deceased, which is what Tennyson does.
In addition to eliciting a certain emotional response in the reader, the writer also wants to tell a story that is memorable and understandable. He achieves this by employing elements of a ballad, using refrains throughout the poem. In this case, the refrain is the name by which the poet calls the soldiers, which is “The six hundred” (line 8). As a synecdoche, this number represents the entire Light Brigade. With this figure of speech, the author emphasizes the unity and heroism of the entire unit through a smaller, quantifiable number. While not a traditional dramatic monologue, the poem can also be seen as a dramatic narrative. It conveys the collective thoughts and emotions of the soldiers rather than those of individuals.
Conclusion
The goal of Lord Tennyson was to immortalize the soldiers’ feat in a context that could be seen as hopeless. He emphasized the danger they were putting themselves in out of loyalty to their country. This effect was achieved by applying the elements of a balladic style, elegiac sentiments, dramatic narrative, and synecdochal representations, enriching the poem’s portrayal of the historical event and the soldiers’ sacrifice.
Work Cited
Lord Tennyson, Alfred. The Charge of the Light Brigade. Poetry Foundation, 2017.