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    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    The poem “The Charge of the Light Brigade” describes a battle between the English and the Russian army during the Crimean War. The British Army or the Brigade were mistakenly ordered to attack the enemies. The former had only swords while the latter were laid with War Cannons and Guns. Despite knowiRead more

    The poem “The Charge of the Light Brigade” describes a battle between the English and the Russian army during the Crimean War. The British Army or the Brigade were mistakenly ordered to attack the enemies. The former had only swords while the latter were laid with War Cannons and Guns.

    Despite knowing that they were going into the mouth of death, the Light Brigade marched towards the enemies. Many of them died and only few of them remained alive and returned back. The poem celebrates the patriotic sacrifice made by the soldiers for their country.

    Read the complete summary of the poem here.

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    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    In simple words, hyperbole is an exaggerated statement usually given in a poem for effect. e.g. I saw ten thousand at a glance. The poet cannot count the flowers and makes a guess that he saw ten thousand at a single sight.

    In simple words, hyperbole is an exaggerated statement usually given in a poem for effect. e.g. I saw ten thousand at a glance. The poet cannot count the flowers and makes a guess that he saw ten thousand at a single sight.

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    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    The title of this poem written by Alfred Lord Tennyson is “The Charge of the Light Brigade“. The word Charge here in the poem means attack done by the British Army on the Russian Army. As described in this section, the word Brigade means a battalion or unit of the army. Here it is the army of 600 BrRead more

    The title of this poem written by Alfred Lord Tennyson is “The Charge of the Light Brigade“. The word Charge here in the poem means attack done by the British Army on the Russian Army. As described in this section, the word Brigade means a battalion or unit of the army.

    Here it is the army of 600 British Soldiers. Finally, the word Light has been used for the British soldiers to depict that they had swords which are quite a light and traditional weapon as compared to the powerful and dangerous weapons like guns and cannons which Russian army had.

    Thus the title of this poem symbolises the brave expedition of the British Army which was armed with swords, against the Russian Army which had dangerous weapons. Hence it is written in the praise he those brave British soldiers.

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    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    The poem was written in honour of those who gave their life for the country. The poem represents a particularly potent example of bravery as the soldiers knew they would likely die in the battle but choose to carry on anyway. The poem makes frequent use of repetition to emphasise key elements. For eRead more

    The poem was written in honour of those who gave their life for the country. The poem represents a particularly potent example of bravery as the soldiers knew they would likely die in the battle but choose to carry on anyway. The poem makes frequent use of repetition to emphasise key elements.

    For example “cannon” is repeated a number of times to draw attention to the difference in weaponry showing the danger the soldiers face. Furthermore, repetition is used to command the reader to “honour” the sacrifice the light brigade made for their country.

    Alongside this, personification is used to contrast the battlefield with hell when it says “Jaws of Death” and “mouth of hell” illustrating the horrors the soldiers face in this charge. Overall, the poem was the reader into understanding the sacrifice these men made.

    Read the complete summary of the poem here.

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  1. Lucifer
    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    King Lear has a unique portrayal of madness through its three characters specifically; Poor Tom (Edgar), The Fool and King Lear himself. The natural eccentricity of the court Fool of Lear, the pretended madness of Poor Tom and the ageing mind of Lear himself bring an interesting analysis of human coRead more

    King Lear has a unique portrayal of madness through its three characters specifically; Poor Tom (Edgar), The Fool and King Lear himself.

    The natural eccentricity of the court Fool of Lear, the pretended madness of Poor Tom and the ageing mind of Lear himself bring an interesting analysis of human condition of madness and insanity.

    Through the three characters, Shakespeare is able to provide greater understanding of the complexity of human emotion and thought, from its best to its worst.

    These flaws in thoughts, perception of reality etc are so powerful in exposing the social ignorance of madness itself. This also critics he treatment of people with such issues. Instead of helping them and understanding their struggles with real and false, the society often relegated them as unworthy and unfit.

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    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    Feminism in King Lear explores two different strands of womanhood. On one hand is Cordelia, caring and compassionate and adhering to the popular image of womanly behaviour. On the flip side are Goneril and Regina who are barbaric and ambitious. They are devoid of emotions and are even more lustful aRead more

    Feminism in King Lear explores two different strands of womanhood. On one hand is Cordelia, caring and compassionate and adhering to the popular image of womanly behaviour.

    On the flip side are Goneril and Regina who are barbaric and ambitious. They are devoid of emotions and are even more lustful and aggressive than their husbands. the seemingly despondent reaction of Lear when he learns about his dependence on his daughters may also point at the unacceptability of women as wise and just rulers.

    This creates a rather masculine portrayal of the female gender and a dismissal of them as worthy leaders in society.

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    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    Power of the king and father is portrayed through an ageing and struggling Lear. He struggles to retain his authority in regards to his ambitious daughters. The same is depicted through the betrayal of Gloucester by his bastard son Edmund. Lear’s inability to sustain the power he commanded as  a kinRead more

    Power of the king and father is portrayed through an ageing and struggling Lear. He struggles to retain his authority in regards to his ambitious daughters. The same is depicted through the betrayal of Gloucester by his bastard son Edmund.

    Lear’s inability to sustain the power he commanded as  a king led to his loss of power as the family patriarch, causing him to lose his mind, life and his one daughter who truly cared for him, Cordelia.

    The lust of power drives Cordelia and Goneril to destroy their father’s life as well ruin their own marriages.They end up becoming objects of mutual hatred ending with their deaths. Similarly, Edmund meets his tragic end at the sword of Edgar, the step brother he tried to murder.

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    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    The way a crow shook down on me is the first line of the poem Dust of Snow written by Robert Frost. The poet says that he is on a way i.e. outside (might be wandering alone to enjoy the snow). Suddenly a crow, which is on the branch of a tree shakes making the snow fall on the poet. As these are theRead more

    The way a crow shook down on me is the first line of the poem Dust of Snow written by Robert Frost. The poet says that he is on a way i.e. outside (might be wandering alone to enjoy the snow). Suddenly a crow, which is on the branch of a tree shakes making the snow fall on the poet.

    As these are the initial lines of the poem, they make the reader eager to know what happens next because crow is considered to be a bad-omen in the country of the poet.

    Read the detailed summary of the poem here.

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    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    The central idea of the poem Dust and Snow written by Robert Frost is that one may have the worst day or time of his life, but a little good thing can make it quite amazing. The crow, the hemlock tree and the dust are some bad signs that normally make the people believe that something wrong is goingRead more

    The central idea of the poem Dust and Snow written by Robert Frost is that one may have the worst day or time of his life, but a little good thing can make it quite amazing. The crow, the hemlock tree and the dust are some bad signs that normally make the people believe that something wrong is going to happen.

    The poet in the poem, I think, is already upset. This is why he comes out of his home to wander in the snow. But a crow shakes and snow falls on him which makes him happy.

    The poem gives us the message that one should hope for the best even in the worst. Like negative and negative makes positive in mathematics, similarly, in real life, we can make enjoy in our worst times.

    Read the detailed summary of the poem here

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