Question
Read the third stanza from the poem "The Charge of the Light Brigade" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
Cannon to the right of them,
Cannon to the left of them,
Cannon in front of them,
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.
Question
How does repetition in this stanza affect the reader?
Responses
The reader knows that the soldiers are about to seize victory after a hard-fought battle.
The reader knows that the soldiers are about to seize victory after a hard-fought battle.
The reader understands that the soldiers are being bombarded from all sides.
The reader understands that the soldiers are being bombarded from all sides.
The reader sees that the soldiers' retreat from the battlefield is chaotic.
The reader sees that the soldiers' retreat from the battlefield is chaotic.
The reader resents the soldiers for continuing to fight under dangerous conditions.
Cannon to the right of them,
Cannon to the left of them,
Cannon in front of them,
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.
Question
How does repetition in this stanza affect the reader?
Responses
The reader knows that the soldiers are about to seize victory after a hard-fought battle.
The reader knows that the soldiers are about to seize victory after a hard-fought battle.
The reader understands that the soldiers are being bombarded from all sides.
The reader understands that the soldiers are being bombarded from all sides.
The reader sees that the soldiers' retreat from the battlefield is chaotic.
The reader sees that the soldiers' retreat from the battlefield is chaotic.
The reader resents the soldiers for continuing to fight under dangerous conditions.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The repetition in this stanza affects the reader by emphasizing the overwhelming danger faced by the soldiers as they are surrounded by cannons on all sides. The phrases "Cannon to the right of them, / Cannon to the left of them, / Cannon in front of them," create a vivid image of the intense bombardment they are experiencing. This repetition reinforces the idea that they are not only in a perilous situation but are also valiantly charging forward despite the odds stacked against them. Therefore, the most appropriate response is:
**The reader understands that the soldiers are being bombarded from all sides.**
**The reader understands that the soldiers are being bombarded from all sides.**