FINALLY! Someone who knows how to read it! One of the best readings I’ve ever heard. It’s not enough to know the meter, you have to think about what the words mean.
A wonderful reading Hollie. A poem written so long ago, about a war now nearly forgotten. The shifting pace and emotion expressed show that you really understand this poem. You really brought it to life. Hearing a woman recite the poem makes the conflict seem immediate and shocking. Well done!
The Charge of the Light Brigade BY ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON I 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. II “Forward, the Light Brigade!” Was there a man dismayed? Not though the soldier knew Someone had blundered. Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die. Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. III Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them Volleyed and thundered; Stormed at with shot and shell, Boldly they rode and well, Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of hell Rode the six hundred. IV Flashed all their sabres bare, Flashed as they turned in air Sabring the gunners there, Charging an army, while All the world wondered. Plunged in the battery-smoke Right through the line they broke; Cossack and Russian Reeled from the sabre stroke Shattered and sundered. Then they rode back, but not Not the six hundred. V Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon behind them Volleyed and thundered; Stormed at with shot and shell, While horse and hero fell. They that had fought so well Came through the jaws of Death, Back from the mouth of hell, All that was left of them, Left of six hundred. VI When can their glory fade? O the wild charge they made! All the world wondered. Honour the charge they made! Honour the Light Brigade, Noble six hundred!
MagnificentFiend I think it was perfect! The speed and tone at which she reads this poem is epic and fits it will. This poem is about a battle and a charge those parts shpuld be faster, than the parts about honouring them, and the beginning.
Kaitlynn Brooker, I completely agree! The whole point is that it reflects the pace of the battle, with specific parts such as the “half a league” bit possibly aiming to mimic the sound of a horse galloping (thanks GCSE English!). Holly McNish is an excellent spoken word poet, and I really think she does this poem justice, which is why The Charge Of The Light Brigade is one of my favourites in the Power and Conflict anthology we have to do at school.
I can't speak for Tennyson but I think this is exactly what he had in mind. In the time it took Hollie to read this poem, how many of the Light Brigade had already been killed?
