The Charge of the Light Brigade

BEFORE READING:

1. What are some examples of times when people must obey an authority figure, even though they may not want to?
--Generally, the people will 'go with the flow' when it's what the rest of the public wants. If the authority figure is the only one supporting this idea/order, it won't work unless he can convince the public it will. A politician/leader has to have a majority or the military behind him to enforce his rule.

2. Must military commanders enforce harsh discipline on their soldiers?
--For the most part, yes. There has to be strict organization and quick responses. The commanders are there for a reason; in combat, there isn't time to consider suggestions or take a vote. What the commander says goes, and he can't have anyone disagreeing with him during a life or death moment. The more discipline and speedy reactions the troops have, the less likely they are to loose men.

3. Is it important for a military outfit to work as a team?
--Definitely. There has to be an amount of respect between soldiers, but when they are actually in combat, they have to work and move together to be sucessful.

4.What are the consequences if a commander is unable to keep his or her troops under control during wartime?
--Disobdience. If this disobedience comes at a critical time (like combat), then it couls threaten the life of not only the commander and soldier, but the rest of the soldiers in the troop or even the secrity of a nation.


AFTER READING

The poem is talking about the 'Light Brigade' and thier charge on the Cossack and Russian forces. It occured during the Crimean War (Russia vs. Turkey). The initial reaction the poem was awe and sorrow-- the 600 brave men ended up riding into battle in the wroing direction, into "the jaws of Death". The men that fought continued to brave their way through enemy lines even while others turned back, and when they finally fell back they did not have 600 any more.

he author talks about heroes falling all around them:
While horse and hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Which implies that the Light Brigade was nothing special, just men who had the courage and bravery to fight, and they outshone the heroes that fell around them.

The author also creates a 'glow' around the Light Bridage, pitting them agains the face of death and in the way of disaster. He uses terms "valley of Death", "dismay'd", "do and die", "thunder'd", "Into the jaws of Death,Into the mouth of Hell", "Flash'd all their sabres bare", "battery-smoke", "Sabring the gunners", and "Sabring the gunners" to re-create the danger and difficulty the Light Brigade faced. By naming the poem the "Light" brigade, the author sets them as the one thing 'good' in the poem, using the dark elements of war to contrast the bravery of the soldiers of the Light Brigade.