Compare (1968) Of The Same Events Essay Example
Compare (1968) Of The Same Events Essay Example

Compare (1968) Of The Same Events Essay Example

Available Only on StudyHippo
Topics:
View Entire Sample
Text preview

Among the many artistic works that have been inspired by the dramatic historical event of The Charge of the Light Brigade, two notable examples are Alfred Lord Tennyson's 1854 poem and Tony Harrison's 1968 film. Despite some differences in their attitudes towards soldiers and officers, levels of emotion, and attention to detail, both the poem and the film skillfully depict the events surrounding this famous blunder.

During the Crimean War, which lasted from 1853-56 and involved the Russians and Allies (France, Britain, and Turkey), the Charge of the Light Brigade took place at the battle of Balaklava in 1854. While the poem doesn't name the officers involved, they are identified in the film version. Lord Raglan was the Chief Commander who sent a message to Lord Nolan. Lord Nolan passed it on to Lord Lucan, the commander of the cavalry. Due to

...

Nolan's hurriedness, the order was misinterpreted and Lucan and Commander of the Light Brigade, Lord Cardigan, led their cavalry towards the Russian army and their fate.

Throughout his poem, Tennyson repeatedly references the "six hundred" cavalrymen of the Light Brigade. In the first three verses, he depicts their gallant charge into battle, stating "Rode the six hundred". However, in the fourth and fifth verses, Tennyson shifts the focus to the soldiers' deaths and writes "Then they rode back, but not, not the six hundred". This portrayal evokes feelings of sadness and anger towards the officers who made the costly mistake.

Tennyson's poem honors the courageous soldiers rather than blaming the officers for the blunder. This is evident in lines like "Boldly they rode and well" and "Honour the Charge they made! Honour the Light Brigade,

View entire sample
Join StudyHippo to see entire essay

Noble six hundred!" The poem omits specific officer names in favor of a more general approach, as seen in the line "Someone had bluder'd". Tennyson's writing engages the reader and evokes passion and emotion. The reader feels connected to the events and individuals involved through lines that provide insight into their thoughts and feelings. The use of direct speech, such as "Forward the Light Brigade! Charge for guns!" gives the reader a sense of involvement and urgency, as if they are on the front lines.

In the lines "Not tho' the soldier new someone had blundered," grief is felt for the soldiers, but their heroism is still evident. The battle is described as bleak and anxiety-inducing with "Cannon to the right of them, cannon to the left of them, cannon in front of them" and "Sabring the gunners there." The Light Brigade bravely takes on a platoon of Russian cannons with swords without question, demonstrating their heroism. Verse five adds to the gloom felt for all brave men who made the charge, "While horse and hero fell, they that had fought so well came thro' the jaws of death."

Tennyson expertly builds tension in the poem, starting with a steady pace and the impression of horses riding along, as seen in the line "Half a league, half a league, half a league onward." As direct speech is used, such as "Forward the Light Brigade! Charge for guns!", the poem quickens, inducing the notion of horses accelerating. Following this, the line "Cannon to the right of them, cannon to the left of them, cannon in front of them" instills a feeling of hopelessness as if the

Light Brigade is surrounded by Russian artillery. However, the words "came thro' the valley of death" hold promise that the men may still be alive. Finally, the last verse demands that the reader feel pride and honor for the men and pay homage to their charge - "Honour the charge they made! Honour the Light Brigade, noble six hundred!" - effectively honoring them and unifying the overall piece.

The impact of action is conveyed through the line "Plunged in the battery-smoke right thro' the line they broke". Following the battle, verse five depicts the retreat through the valley, leaving readers to question how many of the courageous cavalrymen managed to survive the ordeal and the fatal errors made by their officers. In his film adaptation of Charge of the Light Brigade, Tony Harrison aims to discredit the British army officers while highlighting the soldiers' heroism and bravery, much like the poem does. However, unlike the poem, Harrison's film identifies the officers responsible for the blunder and features additional spectators.

In his portrayal, Harrison depicts the upper class as individuals who view battles as a form of entertainment and holds them in contempt, similar to the officers. The men's bravery and loyalty to their superiors are also showcased by Harrison, with Nolan encouraging Lord Raglan to act stating that the cavalry would follow their officers worldwide. Harrison utilizes a variety of cinematic techniques to convey his perspectives and emotions.

The film's soundtrack is poignant and effective in enhancing various situations. At the beginning, the bugle sound intensifies as the cavalry advances towards the Russians, with the music getting louder as they draw closer. During the chaotic battle, there

is a cacophony of noise and music. The aftermath of the battle is accompanied by the sound of whistling wind, as survivors navigate through smoke and try to find their way back to the British camp. The tension leading up to this moment is similar to that in the poem, as it builds methodically and measuredly, mirroring the cavalry's approach towards the Russian army.

The opening scene of the movie depicts a panoramic view of the valley and transitions to various activities taking place. One specific shot features Nolan, who is alone and taking orders to the cavalry, riding down the mountain. The viewer feels as if the fate of the cavalry depends solely on this one person, adding to the tension of the scene. Additionally, Nolan's arrogance as he rides down the mountain creates an unpleasant and uneasy feeling as he is responsible for the army's well-being.

During the battle, Lord Nolan realizes that something is amiss and attempts to alert others, but is struck by shrapnel and killed. The camera then shifts to Lord Raglan, who appears devastated upon realizing the error. Following the battle, the smoke from the cannons obscures the view until a lone soldier emerges. More soldiers and horses slowly stumble into view, indicating heavy casualties resulting from the mistake. The concluding scene depicts a dead horse that transforms into a historical photograph.

The film and poem both depict the soldiers' grandeur and the officers' errors, with the film providing more in-depth character emotions. The film's portrayal confirms that the events truly happened, with all of those men's needless deaths. As the horses head into battle, suspense reaches its peak. The officers

on higher ground observe their blunder as there is nothing to be done while the light brigade is oblivious to the agony that awaits. The film specifically identifies the officers, unlike the poem.

Compared to the poem's generic labels such as 'the Light Brigade' or 'someone had blunder'd', the film provides a more personal perspective. It names the key officers, Raglan, Lucan, Cardigan, and Nolan, and conveys their individual emotions more effectively.

You can gain a better understanding of the officers' personalities in the movie. Nolan is portrayed as a forceful but resolute character. He compels Lord Raglan to make a snap decision and directs Lucan towards the Russian army by gesturing his arm in their direction, resulting in Lucan's mistake and leading the cavalry to the forefront of the Russian army. Overall, I believe that both the poem and the movie showcase the bravery of the soldiers and the error of the officers.

Regarding the expression of emotion, I believe that film as a medium allows the director to convey it more effectively, though some emotional impact can still be elicited from readers of poetry.

Get an explanation on any task
Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
New