The Destruction of Sennacherib- Lord Byron

Question 1

The Destruction of Sennacherib:
Who was this poem written by?

Answer 1

Lord Byron in 1815.

Question 2

The Destruction of Sennacherib:
What meter is it in?

Answer 2

Anapestic Tetrameter- mirrors horses

Question 3

The Destruction of Sennacherib:
What is some key context?

Answer 3

-Based on biblical story where the king of Assyrians led by Sennacherib, try to invade Jerusalem but are defeated by religious forces.
-Lord Byron was one of the most notorious and flamboyant Romantic Poets.
-Sennacherib spared city after huge ransom, but after returning was murdered by his two sons.

Question 4

The Destruction of Sennacherib:
What is the meaning of this poem?

Answer 4

-Poem explores the power of God (anger directed at Pagan King who dared to attack Jewish holy city) through his destruction of Sennacherib’s army after they attached Jerusalem.
-The extent to which war & conflict can cause death and destruction.

Question 5

The Destruction of Sennacherib:
“The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold”
What is some analysis of this quotation?

Answer 5

-Predatory Simile: dehumanises Sennacherib’s men as ruthless and a dangerous predator, juxtaposed by the Israelites being likened as sheep, a symbol of innocence.

Question 6

The Destruction of Sennacherib:
“And breathed in the face if the foe as he pass’ d”
What is some analysis of this quotation?

Answer 6

Anaphora of ‘and’: increase the pace, mirrors the merciless attack.

Question 7

The Destruction of Sennacherib:
“Hath melted like snow in the glance of the Lord!”
What is some analysis of this quotation?

Answer 7

Simile: Comparison to snow creates a unusual tone since Jerusalem has a desert setting. This shows the all-powerful nature of God reflecting the poem, how the ‘all powerful’ army was impossible destroyed such like the occurrence of snow in the desert.
Exclamation mark: marks the climatic finish.