English II: "The Charge of the Light Brigade" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Tennyson's poem commemorates a group of British soldiers who fought and died during the Crimean War. Due to a miscommunication from a commander, the British troops charged into an area that was well defended by Russian forces and suffered major casualties.
15 words 0 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. league
    an obsolete unit of distance of around 3 miles
    Half a league, half a league,
    Half a league onward,
    All in the valley of Death
    Rode the six hundred.
  2. brigade
    army unit smaller than a division
    “Forward, the Light Brigade!
    Charge for the guns!” he said.
    Into the valley of Death
    Rode the six hundred.
  3. dismayed
    struck with fear, dread, or consternation
    “Forward, the Light Brigade!”
    Was there a man dismayed?
    Not though the soldier knew
    Someone had blundered.
  4. blunder
    commit a faux pas or a fault or make a serious mistake
    “Forward, the Light Brigade!”
    Was there a man dismayed?
    Not though the soldier knew
    Someone had blundered.
  5. cannon
    a large artillery gun that is usually on wheels
    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.
  6. volley
    discharge in, or as if in, a rapid burst of gunfire
    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.
  7. plunge
    cause to be immersed
    Plunged in the battery-smoke
    Right through the line they broke;
    Cossack and Russian
    Reeled from the saber stroke
    Shattered and sundered.
  8. reel
    walk as if unable to control one's movements
    Plunged in the battery-smoke
    Right through the line they broke;
    Cossack and Russian
    Reeled from the saber stroke
    Shattered and sundered.
  9. saber
    a stout sword with a curved blade and thick back
    Plunged in the battery-smoke
    Right through the line they broke;
    Cossack and Russian
    Reeled from the saber stroke
    Shattered and sundered.
  10. shatter
    damage or destroy
    Plunged in the battery-smoke
    Right through the line they broke;
    Cossack and Russian
    Reeled from the saber stroke
    Shattered and sundered.
  11. sunder
    break apart or in two, using violence
    Plunged in the battery-smoke
    Right through the line they broke;
    Cossack and Russian
    Reeled from the saber stroke
    Shattered and sundered.
  12. hero
    a person distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility
    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.
  13. glory
    a state of high honor
    When can their glory fade?
    O the wild charge they made!
    All the world wondered.
    Honor the charge they made!
    Honor the Light Brigade,
    Noble six hundred!
  14. honor
    show respect towards
    When can their glory fade?
    O the wild charge they made!
    All the world wondered.
    Honor the charge they made!
    Honor the Light Brigade,
    Noble six hundred!
  15. noble
    having high or elevated character
    When can their glory fade?
    O the wild charge they made!
    All the world wondered.
    Honor the charge they made!
    Honor the Light Brigade,
    Noble six hundred!
Created on Mon May 04 16:42:35 EDT 2026 (updated Mon May 04 16:49:26 EDT 2026)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.