This definitions covers Key Terms within The Charge of the Light Brigade (Tennyson) for GCSE English Literature. Revise The Charge of the Light Brigade (Tennyson) in Power and Conflict Poetry for GCSE English Literature with 10 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 13 of 19 in this topic. Make sure you can use the exact wording confidently, because definition marks are often lost through vague language.
📖 Key Terms
- Dactylic metre
- A rhythmic pattern in which each unit of rhythm contains one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed ones. In "Half a league, half a league, / Half a league onward," the pattern mimics galloping hooves, placing the reader inside the charge before any scene-setting.
- Anaphora
- Repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines. "Cannon to right of them, / Cannon to left of them, / Cannon in front of them" uses anaphora to recreate the sensation of encirclement — the repeated word closes off escape routes.
- Refrain
- A repeated line or group of lines that recurs across a poem, functioning like a chorus. "Into the valley of Death / Rode the six hundred" is a refrain — each repetition adds weight and functions as commemoration.
- Rhetorical question
- A question asked for effect rather than information, where the answer is assumed. "When can their glory fade?" is not a genuine enquiry — Tennyson positions the question so that agreeing with the only acceptable answer validates his argument for the soldiers' honour.
- Allusion
- A reference to another text, event, or cultural idea that brings its associations into the poem. "Valley of Death" alludes to Psalm 23 — a biblical passage about courage under threat — lending religious weight to a secular act of courage.
- Imperative
- A verb form that issues a command. "Honour the charge they made!" uses the imperative to transform the poem's final stanza from description to instruction — Tennyson commands posterity, not just describes the event.
Practice questions for The Charge of the Light Brigade (Tennyson)
In 'The Charge of the Light Brigade', Tennyson uses dactylic rhythm — a stressed syllable followed by two unstressed ones. What does this rhythm most closely imitate?
Explain how Tennyson uses the poem's form to enact the cavalry charge. Refer to specific techniques in your answer. [2 marks]