Poetry is a form of literature used to convey ones emotions or describe an event in a beautiful and unique way. Poems typically contain hidden meaning that can only be discovered through further analysis of all aspects of the poem including form, sound devices, literary devices, and diction. Even with a further analysis, it is very difficult to ever be certain of the true meaning that the writer is trying to convey, and some poems may take on different meanings based on the reader and their personal experiences. The poem “The Charge of the Light Brigade” by Alfred Lord Tennyson, is about soldiers who do not hesitate to charge into battle despite them knowing that someone had made a mistake in giving the order to charge. This poem talks of the
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Sound devices are most prominent when the poem is read aloud and they serve to enhance the reader’s experience. The first example of a sound device that is used throughout the poem “The Charge of the Light Brigade” is rhyme. As demonstrated in the third stanza “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” (Tennyson 21-25), rhyme is present yet follows no distinct pattern which relates to the unpredictability of war. Another sound device that adds effect to this poem is meter which at times has a beat of stressed and unstressed syllables which can be shown in the lines “Their's not to make reply,/Their's not to reason why,/Their's but to do and die:” (13-15). This beat of stressed and unstressed syllables sounds similar to the galloping of a horse which helps further immerse the reader in the battle that ensues. Finally, Alfred Lord Tennyson uses repetition throughout his poem in the form of anaphora shown through the lines “Cannon to right of them,/Cannon to left of them,/Cannon in front of them” (18-20) which emphasizes the persistence of war. Clearly, Alfred Lord Tennyson has excellent use of sound devices throughout his poem that enhance the reading
Sound devices are most prominent when the poem is read aloud and they serve to enhance the reader’s experience. The first example of a sound device that is used throughout the poem “The Charge of the Light Brigade” is rhyme. As demonstrated in the third stanza “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” (Tennyson 21-25), rhyme is present yet follows no distinct pattern which relates to the unpredictability of war. Another sound device that adds effect to this poem is meter which at times has a beat of stressed and unstressed syllables which can be shown in the lines “Their's not to make reply,/Their's not to reason why,/Their's but to do and die:” (13-15). This beat of stressed and unstressed syllables sounds similar to the galloping of a horse which helps further immerse the reader in the battle that ensues. Finally, Alfred Lord Tennyson uses repetition throughout his poem in the form of anaphora shown through the lines “Cannon to right of them,/Cannon to left of them,/Cannon in front of them” (18-20) which emphasizes the persistence of war. Clearly, Alfred Lord Tennyson has excellent use of sound devices throughout his poem that enhance the reading