I read “The Charge of the Light Brigade” in my European History class in high school, and I really enjoyed it. I found our recent discussion in class interesting, but I have some differing viewpoints. First, I agree that the work is a eulogy that is meant to glorify the actions of the men who perished in combat. However, I disagree that the author is expressing the senselessness of the war. Tennyson is conveying that although the specific purposes of the war may not have been completely understood by the soldiers,  the men are willing to risk everything for the sake of their hopes, dreams, wishes, and country. To be clear, this sense of duty is not blind. The men are not aware of the exact political or strategic objectives at hand, but this is irrelevant to Tennyson’s purpose. The soldiers are willing to enter the dangerous war because they have individual, as well as nationalist, motivations. Their families and desires spur them to do everything in their power to protect the prospects of their futures, even if it means risking their lives. The battlefield might be a “valley of Death” or the “mouth of Hell,” yet the men enter it regardless.  Therefore, I view “The Charge of the Light Brigade” as a kind of nationalist piece solely meant to glorify the battle and inspire the populace.

I appreciate the contrast “The Dead” provides from the first poem.  It is notably a Shakespearean sonnet, and as a result, the diction is more melodic and poetic, and the tone is nostalgic and soothing. Even though the poem seems to be tranquil and serene, I feel that Brooke is subtly guilting and blaming society for the deaths of the soldiers. By glorifying the civilian aspect of the soldiers’ lives and exaggerating the joys of mundane occurrences, he insinuates that their deaths are meaningless. Since the men’s lives are cut short, they will never be able to experience simple pleasures such as “the stir of wonder,” “rich skies,” and “waves that dance.” At the poem’s conclusion, I feel slightly unsettled knowing that these men perished at preventable means.

Although “Charge of the Light Brigade” and “The Dead” discuss men in combat, the purpose of each are distinct. Tennyson extols the fallen soldiers in a nationalist manner, whereas Brooke suggests that promising lives are lost in meaningless wars. Determining the authors’ intents was somewhat challenging because it required noticing subtleties, but I enjoyed each poem and respect the differing perspectives.