Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate options :

Light Brigade - By Alfred Tennyson

Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
“Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!” he said.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
“Forward, the Light Brigade!”
Was there a man dismay'd?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Someone had blunder'd.
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

Which literary device is used in the expression, 'to do and die' ?

Question

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate options :

Light Brigade - By Alfred Tennyson

Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
“Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!” he said.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
“Forward, the Light Brigade!”
Was there a man dismay'd?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Someone had blunder'd.
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

Which literary device is used in the expression, 'to do and die' ?

Accepted Answer

The expression "to do and die" in Alfred Tennyson's poem "The Charge of the Light Brigade" employs the literary device of alliteration, which is why Option 2 is the correct answer.

1. **Explanation for Alliteration (Option 2):**
   Alliteration is a literary device where consecutive words in a sentence or phrase begin with the same consonant sound. In the expression "to do and die," the repetition of the 'd' sound at the beginning of "do" and "die" creates a rhythmic and emphatic effect, which is characteristic of alliteration. This repetition helps to emphasize the inevitability and duty of the soldiers' actions, enhancing the dramatic impact of the line.

2. **Explanation for why other options are incorrect:**

- **Assonance (Option 1):** Assonance involves the repetition of vowel sounds within words that are close to each other. In "to do and die," the focus is on the consonant 'd' sound rather than any repeated vowel sounds, making assonance an incorrect choice for this expression.

- **Simile (Option 3):** A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words "like" or "as." The expression "to do and die" does not involve any comparison between different entities, nor does it use "like" or "as," so it is not a simile.

- **Personification (Option 4):** Personification is a literary device where human qualities are attributed to non-human entities. The expression "to do and die" does not attribute human characteristics to anything non-human; rather, it describes the actions and fate of the soldiers. Therefore, personification is not applicable here.

In conclusion, the use of alliteration in "to do and die" is the correct literary device, as it effectively highlights the consonant sound repetition, aligning with Option 2.