Question 1: Describe the overall structure of the poem. How are the stanzas arranged, and what is their length?

Answer: The poem is composed of six stanzas with varying lengths, generally short, creating a rhythmic and urgent tone.

Question 2: How does the use of repetition, such as the phrase 'Theirs not to reason why,' affect the tone and mood of the poem?

Answer: Repetition emphasizes the soldiers’ unquestioning duty and creates a somber, resigned mood.

Question 3: Identify a key stanza where the structure shifts or intensifies. What is the effect of this change?

Answer: The stanza describing the 'valley of Death' is more compact and intense, heightening the sense of danger and chaos.

Question 4: Quote Explosion: Analyze the quote 'Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them.' What structural device is used here, and what effect does it have?

Answer: The repetitive 'Cannon' creates a rhythmic pattern, emphasizing the relentless and surround attack on the soldiers, heightening tension and urgency.

Question 5: How does Tennyson’s use of caesura (pauses within lines) impact the flow and meaning of the poem?

Answer: Caesura creates pauses that mimic the chaos and unpredictability of battle, reinforcing the poem’s tense atmosphere.

Question 6: Compare the structural treatment of the opening lines with the closing lines. How does this structure frame the poem’s message?

Answer: The opening presents the heroic tone, while the closing emphasizes the tragedy, framing the poem’s message of noble sacrifice.

Question 7: Extended Response / Essay Planning: How does the structure of the poem reinforce its themes of conflict, heroism, and loss? Outline your ideas.

Answer: The poem’s irregular stanza lengths and rhythmic repetition mimic the chaos of battle. The shift from heroic tone to tragedy underscores the cost of conflict and the nobility of sacrifice, creating an emotional impact on the reader.

Question 1: Quote Explosion: Examine the phrase 'Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die.' How does its placement within the poem's structure affect its significance?

Answer: Placed near the middle, this quote underscores the soldiers’ unquestioning obedience, and its repetition emphasizes the tragic loss of agency, reinforcing the poem’s themes of duty and sacrifice.

Question 2: Identify how the final stanza’s structure and language serve as a conclusion. What effect does it have on the reader?

Answer: The final stanza’s concise structure and solemn tone leave the reader with a sense of mourning and respect, emphasizing the enduring heroism.

Question 1: How does the structure of 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' compare to that of 'Ozymandias' in conveying themes of power and impermanence?

Answer: 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' uses rhythmic, repetitive structure to emphasize chaos and sacrifice, while 'Ozymandias' employs a sonnet form with a volta to reflect on the fleeting nature of power and pride.

Question 2: What structural features would you highlight when comparing 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' and 'My Last Duchess' in terms of discussing control and authority?

Answer: Both poems use specific structural devices: Tennyson’s rhythmic repetition for chaos, and Browning’s dramatic monologue structure for control and possessiveness.