"They rode bravely and well, into the jaws of Death, into the mouth of Hell." This is an excerpt from Charge of the Light Brigade by Lord Alfred Tennyson, a poem that highlights the honor and death of war. The poem was chosen for this close reading essay because it has always been one of my favorites. It talks about the real events of the Battle of Balaclava, but it also talks about the life that all soldiers have to live. The Charge of the Light Brigade is a fascinating poem, both in the way it is composed and the details of why it was created. First, a brief explanation of the poem is in order. In it six hundred soldiers ride a league and a half into battle. They were ordered to advance against the Russian and Cossack forces, despite being largely outnumbered. Even though the mistake was known, the soldiers did not hesitate because it was not their place. Many died in the battle and few survived. Next, the events described by the poem should also be expounded upon to provide the appropriate context. In 1853 war broke out between Russia and the Ottoman Empire; later, this war would come ...