CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE ALFRED LORD TENNYSON

Transcript:CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE ALFRED LORD TENNYSON:
CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE ALFRED LORD TENNYSON TODAY WE ARE LEARNING TO … analyse and interpret ALFRED LORD TENNYSON’S poem ‘CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE’ Born on August 6, 1809, in Somersby, Lincolnshire, England, Alfred Tennyson is one of the most well-loved Victorian poets. Tennyson, the fourth of twelve children, showed an early talent for writing. At the age of twelve he wrote a 6,000-line epic poem. In 1830, Tennyson published Poems, Chiefly Lyrical and in 1832 he published a second volume entitled simply Poems. Some reviewers condemned these books as “affected” and “obscure.” Tennyson, stung by the reviews, would not publish another book for nine years. In 1842, however, Tennyson’s Poems in two volumes was a tremendous critical and popular success. In 1850, with the publication of In Memoriam, Tennyson became one of Britain’s most popular poets. He was selected Poet Laureate in succession to Wordsworth. At the age of 41, Tennyson had established himself as the most popular poet of the Victorian era. The money from his poetry (at times exceeding 10,000 pounds per year) allowed him to purchase a house in the country and to write in relative seclusion. In 1884, he accepted a peerage, becoming Alfred Lord Tennyson. Tennyson died on October 6, 1892, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. What do you think is happening here? Who is involved? When and where do you think this event took place? Why? The fall of Sebastopol Relevant contextual details: the Crimean War 1853-1856. This image shows French and Russian soldiers engaged in hand-to-hand combat at the Malakoff tower. In the Victorian era in which this war took place, it was commonly held that it is sweet and fitting to die for your country. What attitude to this idea does this picture suggest? How is this attitude suggested? Background to the poem The doomed Charge of the Light Brigade took place on 25th October 1854 during the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War. About 600 lightly armed cavalry troops charged bravely to their death against 25,000 Russians because of a mistake of their commanders. Only 195 came back. William Howard Russell was a journalist on The Times and one the earliest examples of an ‘embedded’ reporter. He despatched an article published in the second edition of The Times on 13th November, 1854 and then again the following day. Alfred Tennyson read the report, saw the line