Week Ten

Reading One: "From the Charge of the Light Brigade"

Lord Tennyson Alfred

1. 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. 2. "Forward, the Light Brigade!" Was there a man dismay'd? Not tho' the soldier knew  Someone had blunder'd: 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. 3. Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them  Volley'd and thunder'd; Storm'd at with shot and shell, Boldly they rode and well, Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of Hell  Rode the six hundred. 4. Flash'd all their sabres bare, Flash'd as they turn'd in air, Sabring the gunners there, Charging an army, while  All the world wonder'd: Plunged in the battery-smoke Right thro' the line they broke; Cossack and Russian Reel'd from the sabre stroke  Shatter'd and sunder'd. Then they rode back, but not  Not the six hundred. 5. Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon behind them  Volley'd and thunder'd; Storm'd at with shot and shell, While horse and hero fell, They that had fought so well Came thro' the jaws of Death Back from the mouth of Hell, All that was left of them,  Left of six hundred. 6. When can their glory fade? O the wild charge they made!  All the world wondered. Honor the charge they made, Honor the Light Brigade,  Noble six hundred.

This poem is about a battle. The commander of the army has made a wrong decision which will lead his 600 men into their deaths. The men of the army do not fear or question the charge. The 600 men ride their horses to fight a battle that will end in flowing red blood. "Came Thro' the jaws of Death/Back from the mouth of Hell". This poem shows courage and bravery from the men in the army. The men knew they were giving up their lives from a command that would result of loosing love, family, and life. 600 men laid down their life, knowing their lives would end on the dirt of the earth and gave up everything that was most dear to them. "Honor the charge they made/Honor the Light Brigade/Noble six hundred".