Comparing_Authors

Compare and contrast two different poems by different authors The poems “The Charge of the Light Brigade” and “A Document” are war poems. They reflect on two different but equally harrowing experiences; however, the poets interpret and explain these events using their own style and terminology to create images for their audience. The poems give a different view on sacrifices made at war. “The Charge of the Light Brigade “was written by Alfred lord Tennyson in 1854 and it was about the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War. Although, the battle started with a “blunder” committed by the chief commander, it did show the bravery of the six hundred British soldiers, who charged into an unfortunate and disastrous death. “A Document” is a whole different poem written by an Australian poet Judith Wright. It’s more of an emotional poem compared to “Charge of the Light Brigade”, it focuses mainly on her situation during “World War 2” when the trees that were inherited by her were requested by the government for building bomber planes. Both poets employ the use of figurative language and repetition, to achieve their purpose; Tennyson also uses rhetorical questions, while Judith Wright uses jargon to explain more on her purpose and theme. Alfred Tennyson uses figurative language, into the mouth hell, into the jaws of death and into the valley of death, to give a picture of a terrifying and destructive battle field that the soldiers rode into. He did this to show how dangerous the battle zone was and perhaps the pain, screaming and agony the soldiers were going through. However, he uses the “jaws of death” to paint a clear image of how apprehensive and vulnerable the soldiers were, and also to stress the fact that once the soldiers are into the valley, are most likely to meet their doom, that is they have little or no chance of coming out. He tells that despite how dangerous the battle zone was, they still fought with bravery, so are to be honored and respected for the sacrifices they made! Tennyson, in line with conveying the bravery of the soldiers and futility of war, uses the repetition “cannon to the right of them, cannon to the left of them” to show the different directions of artillery firing made by the Russian gunners to the light brigade. He uses this to increase the heat and danger of the battle, whilst creating an awful and agonizing sensation for the reader, on the danger the soldiers were in. Tennyson, also uses the rhetorical question “when can their glory fade'” to explain his theme the sacrifice of life and heroism in war. The rhetorical question implies that, though some of the soldiers did die, they can never be forgotten, they are to be remembered for bravery and courage, from generation to generation. Like Tennyson, Judith Wright employs the use of figurative language; they grew hundreds of years to met those hurried axes” to explain her emotional feeling when the trees were cut down. The personification “hurried axes” sounds as if the axes were doing the chopping themselves, but it was actually the government workers fast at work. However, Wright’s purpose with the use of the figurative language was to indicate to the reader, the sacrifice of property, giving the idea that sometimes people sacrifice their possessions for the welfare of the country. Judith Wright also uses repetition, as Tennyson does, to explain her theme. She uses repetition “I signed uneasily, I signed uneasily” to explain how difficult it was for her to give up the trees to the government. She tells that though it was hard for her to give up the trees; she had to do it, since it was for the welfare of the country. She also tells her theme that sometimes people don’t have to sacrifice their life for war, but sacrifice their property. In keeping with conveying, the sacrifice of property, Judith Wright uses the scientific jargon “Ceratopetalum”, giving the idea that since it was a sacrifice made to the government, for the welfare of the country, the name of the trees should be written and documented in a legal manner. Both poets use these devices to develop and tell their theme the sacrifice of war, Tennyson in “The Charge of the Light Brigade”, conveys to the audience, how soldiers sacrifice their lives, for heroism and welfare of the country. He does this by using figurative language, rhetorical question, and repetition. In “A Document” by Judith Wright, she employs the use of scientific jargon, figurative language and repetition to convey the idea that sometimes people don’t have to sacrifice their life in war, but sacrifice their property.