Poetry: Destruction of Sennacherib Flashcards
message
destruction of sennacherib
ambivilance of god’s righteousness vs horror of death
themes
destruction of sennacherib
faith/religion
fragility of life
colour
structure
destruction of sennacherib
anapestic tetrameter
“came down… breathed”
anapestic tetrametre > regular rhythm sounds like horses galloping
juxtaposing verbs > god’s power is silent and superior
atmosphere/tone
destruction of sennacherib
Quote 1
destruction of sennacherib
“purple and gold” vs “distorted and pale”
juxtaposition > demonstrates downfall of Sennacherib
Quote 2
destruction of sennacherib
“hearts but once heaved forever grew still”
alliteration & oral imagery of “hearts heaved” > emphasises horror of death/breathlessless (aspirant sound)
“forever grew still” > ends a stanza, emphasising finality
exclamative > emphasis on power of god
juxtaposition of “once…forever” > fleeting/temporary nature of life
Quote 3
destruction of sennacherib
“widows… are loud in their wail”
colour imagery stops here
focus on horrors which generates sympathy and justaposes the rest of the poem that shows gods actions as righteous
Quote 4
destruction of sennacherib
“And…And…And”
polysyndeton > compounding effect of destruction
Quote 5
destruction of sennacherib
“idols are broke in the temple of Baal”
rhyme scheme “breaks” > suggests that everything is breaking down
author
destruction of sennacherib
Lord Byron
