Poetry Slam!: "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. Read the text here.
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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. valley
    a long depression in the surface of the land
    Half a league, half a league,
    Half a league onward,
    All in the valley of Death
    Rode the six hundred.
  3. brigade
    army unit smaller than a division
    “Forward, the Light Brigade!
    Charge for the guns!” he said.
  4. charge
    make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
    “Forward, the Light Brigade!
    Charge for the guns!” he said.
  5. dismayed
    struck with fear, dread, or consternation
    Was there a man dismayed?
  6. blunder
    commit a faux pas or a fault or make a serious mistake
    Not though the soldier knew
    Someone had blundered.
  7. reason
    present rational motives and arguments
    Theirs not to make reply,
    Theirs not to reason why,
    Theirs but to do and die.
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. thunder
    make or produce a loud noise
    Cannon to right of them,
    Cannon to left of them,
    Cannon in front of them
    Volleyed and thundered
  11. shell
    a cylindrical metal casing fired from a gun
    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.
  12. bold
    fearless and daring
    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.
  13. saber
    a stout sword with a curved blade and thick back
    Flashed all their sabres bare,
    Flashed as they turned in air
    Sabring the gunners there,
    Charging an army, while
    All the world wondered.
  14. gunner
    a serviceman in the artillery
    Flashed all their sabres bare,
    Flashed as they turned in air
    Sabring the gunners there,
    Charging an army, while
    All the world wondered.
  15. wonder
    be amazed at
    Flashed all their sabres bare,
    Flashed as they turned in air
    Sabring the gunners there,
    Charging an army, while
    All the world wondered.
  16. plunge
    thrust or throw into
    Plunged in the battery-smoke
    Right through the line they broke
  17. battery
    the heavy fire of artillery to saturate an area
    Plunged in the battery-smoke
    Right through the line they broke
  18. reel
    walk as if unable to control one's movements
    Cossack and Russian
    Reeled from the sabre stroke
    Shattered and sundered.
  19. stroke
    a single complete movement
    Cossack and Russian
    Reeled from the sabre stroke
    Shattered and sundered.
  20. sunder
    break apart or in two, using violence
    Cossack and Russian
    Reeled from the sabre stroke
    Shattered and sundered.
  21. hero
    a person distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility
    Stormed at with shot and shell,
    While horse and hero fell.
  22. glory
    a state of high honor
    When can their glory fade?
    O the wild charge they made!
    All the world wondered.
  23. fade
    become less clearly visible or distinguishable
    When can their glory fade?
    O the wild charge they made!
    All the world wondered.
  24. honor
    show respect towards
    Honour the charge they made!
    Honour the Light Brigade,
    Noble six hundred!
Created on Fri Sep 22 12:01:03 EDT 2017 (updated Thu Oct 05 09:41:45 EDT 2017)

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