The Charge of the Light Brigade MCQs & Summary

Summary:

“The Charge of the Light Brigade” is a narrative poem written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson in 1854, inspired by a real event during the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War. The poem honors the bravery and sacrifice of 600 British cavalrymen who mistakenly charged into a heavily armed Russian artillery position due to a miscommunication in orders.

Despite the overwhelming odds, the soldiers followed their duty with unwavering courage, emphasizing themes of honor, patriotism, duty, and sacrifice. Tennyson uses repetition, rhythm, and vivid imagery to create a sense of movement and intensity, immortalizing the soldiers’ bravery even in the face of inevitable defeat.

The poem’s message reflects the glory of selfless heroism, even when faced with strategic errors and tragic loss.

MCQs:

1. Who wrote The Charge of the Light Brigade?
   A) Robert Browning
   B) Alfred, Lord Tennyson
   C) Rudyard Kipling
   D) William Wordsworth
   Answer: B) Alfred, Lord Tennyson
2. What historical event inspired the poem?
   A) The American Civil War
   B) The Battle of Waterloo
   C) The Battle of Balaclava
   D) The Napoleonic Wars
   Answer: C) The Battle of Balaclava
3. In which war did the Charge of the Light Brigade take place?
   A) World War I
   B) The Crimean War
   C) The Boer War
   D) The Napoleonic Wars
   Answer: B) The Crimean War

   

4. How many cavalrymen took part in the charge?
   A) 300
   B) 400
   C) 600
   D) 1,000
   Answer: C) 600
5. What was the main reason for the charge?
   A) A well-planned attack
   B) A mistake in orders
   C) A surprise ambush
   D) A retreat from battle
   Answer: B) A mistake in orders
6. What phrase is repeatedly used in the poem to emphasize the soldiers’ bravery?
   A) “The noble six hundred”
   B) “Into the valley of Death”
   C) “Forward, the Light Brigade”
   D) “The cannons roared”
   Answer: B) “Into the valley of Death”
7. What is the central theme of the poem?
   A) The horror of war
   B) The importance of strategy
   C) The courage and duty of soldiers
   D) The cruelty of leaders
   Answer: C) The courage and duty of soldiers
8. Which literary device is most prominent in the poem?
   A) Metaphor
   B) Repetition
   C) Simile
   D) Alliteration
   Answer: B) Repetition
9. Which line from the poem highlights the soldiers’ unquestioning obedience?
   A) “Stormed at with shot and shell”
   B) “Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die”
   C) “Honor the charge they made!”
   D) “Flashed all their sabres bare”
   Answer: B) “Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die”
10. What happens to the Light Brigade by the end of the poem?
    A) They win the battle
    B) They retreat successfully
    C) Many of them are killed, but their bravery is honored
    D) They are rescued by reinforcements
    Answer: C) Many of them are killed, but their bravery is honored