Tennyson uses lots of examples of repetition throughout this poem. In the first three stanzas, for example, he repeats the phrase "Rode the six hundred." The repetition of this phrase emphasizes how courageous and relentless the soldiers were. They kept going forward, into "the valley of Death," even though they...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
must have known that they were very likely going to die. The phrase "valley of Death" is also repeated in the opening two stanzas and serves to highlight the bravery of the soldiers, who rode into certain death and gave their lives willingly for their country.
In the third and fifth stanzas, Tennyson uses repetition to suggest that the soldiers were completely surrounded in the aforementioned "valley of Death." Both stanzas begin with the lines, "Cannon to right of them, / Cannon to left of them, / Cannon in front of them." The impression created by these lines is that the soldiers of the Light Brigade were receiving fire from every direction. In both the third and fifth stanzas, Tennyson also repeats the phrases "mouth of hell" and "jaws of Death." The repetition of these phrases again serves to emphasize just how brave and patriotic the soldiers must have been to ride, unflinchingly, into such grave danger.
In the final stanza, Tennyson repeats the word "Honour." He calls upon his readers to "Honour the charge they made! / Honour the Light Brigade." The repetition of the word "Honour" emphasizes Tennyson's insistence that the sacrifice made by each of the soldiers was brave, inspiring, and laudable. Indeed, it seems to be Tennyson's contention that there is no more honorable deed than dying for one's country.