Ideas for using The Charge of the Light Brigade in other subjects

Citizenship

The film represents a time when there were some very different ideas about what it meant to be British and about 'serving your country'. It could provide a useful starting point for discussions on what it means to be a citizen, and how views of citizenship can change. For example:

• Lord Raglan argues that it is essential that, in times of crisis, 'persons of quality, who have a stake in their country' should defend their country, and lead it to safety. Do people still feel like this today?
• Should people have a stake in their country before they are involved in governing it? How do you define 'stake in your country?'

English

You could get students to compare this film with Tennyson's classic poem [www.rickard.karoo.net/articles/battles_lightbrigade.html] about the charge of the Light Brigade.

• Discuss: To what extent does the film reflect the poem? Do you think the director of the film offers a similar or different interpretation? Or a similar or different point of view?
• Get different groups of students to select sections from the poem and write a storyboard or script to interpret the section in film. They should consider style of filming, sound, setting etc. If you have the necessary facilities (digital video cameras and editing equipment), each group could make their own film.
• Students could watch the battle sequence in the film, and write it as a poem.

Music

• Get students to listen carefully to different sections of the sound track with and without images. How does the sound track enhance the meaning of the film and how, for example, the charge is represented?

• They could then select a section of film and select or compose an alternative soundtrack, to convey a different message.