This study notes covers The Crimean War and the Role of Poet Laureate 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 11 of 19 in this topic. Use this study notes to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
🏛️ The Crimean War and the Role of Poet Laureate
The Charge of the Light Brigade took place on 25 October 1854 at the Battle of Balaclava, during the Crimean War — a conflict in which Britain, France, and the Ottoman Empire fought Russia over control of the Black Sea region. The charge was the result of a miscommunicated order: around 670 cavalry soldiers were sent directly at a Russian artillery battery. Roughly 110 were killed; many more were wounded. Contemporary press coverage, particularly a report in The Times, used the word "blunder" — a word Tennyson incorporated directly.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson held the title of Poet Laureate from 1850 — the official poet of the British Crown, expected to write commemorative verse for national events. He wrote this poem within days of reading the newspaper account and published it in The Examiner in December 1854. The poem was widely reproduced and distributed to troops in the Crimea.
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]