Reading Poetry: 'The Charge of the Light Brigade'

In this worksheet you will read the poem 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, before answering the questions that follow it.

If you need to look at the poem again, you can do so at any time by pressing the 'Help' button.
 

 
This poem is based on a battle that took place during the Crimean War. Tennyson read a newspaper report about how the commanding officer of the Light Brigade gave the order for his cavalry (soldiers on horseback) to ride into a valley surrounded by Russian soldiers armed with guns. The Light Brigade had only swords and as such could not defend themselves against the Russians. Many of them died.

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The Charge of the Light Brigade
 
1

Half a league half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred:
'Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns' he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
 
 
2

'Forward, the Light Brigade!'
Was there a man dismay'd ?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Some one had blunder'd:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do & die,
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
 
 
3

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley'd & thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.
 
 
4

Flash'd all their sabres bare,
Flash'd as they turn'd in air
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army while
All the world wonder'd:
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right thro' the line they broke;
Cossack & Russian
Reel'd from the sabre-stroke,
Shatter'd & sunder'd.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.
 
 
5

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
While horse & hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came thro' the jaws of Death,
Back from the mouth of Hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.
 
 
6

When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wonder'd.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred!

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