The Charge of the Light Brigade - Alfred Tennyson

CONTEXT
Tennyson was one of the greatest poets of the Victorian era 
Poet Laureate from 1850 until his death in 1892
The battle described was in the Crimean War (1853-1856)
This particular battle was between British cavalry (on horseback) and the Russian forces 

THE STORY OF THE POEM
The poem describes disastrous battle between the British cavalry and the Russian forces 
There was a misunderstanding and this meant that the Light Brigade were ordered to advance into a valley surrounded by enemy soldiers
The cavalry was only armed with swords, whereas the Russian soldiers had guns.
The Light Brigade were virtually defenceless against the Russians, and many were killed

KEY THEMES IN THE POEM 
Effects of Conflict
Reality of Conflict
Identity 

FORM
The poem is written in the third person, making it seem like a story 
The regular, relentless rhythm of the poem created a fast pace and reflects the cavalry's advance into and the energy of the battle 
The rhyming couplets/triplets drive the poem forward, but the momentum is broken by unrhymed lines - this could reflect the horses stumbling and the soldiers falling
The overall lack of a constants rhyme scheme…