Essay Explanation Of The Star Spangled Banner

Explanation of The Star Spangled Banner

The Star Spangled Banner, now known as the Iconic National Anthem of the United States of America was a poem written by Francis Scott Key that was inspired by the Battle of Baltimore, fought on September 12-14, 1814 during the War of 1812. Key wrote this poem from his own experience of actually being there to witness the battle, the defense of Fort McHenry, Baltimore.

Francis Scott Key wanted readers to virtually see and feel what and how he did during this time and so his use of several literary devices in the writing of the (SSB) was a genius move, which in turn helped his poem turn into the iconic National anthem that it is today, that some Americans are still trying to learn to sing today, because of the feeling one gets when hearing it being sung

Key’s use of imagery; use of vivid language to generate ideas and /or evoke mental images, to me this is the overall theme throughout the poem, it helps gives the readers the vivid scene that he wants them to have. Now this poem is coming Key’s point of view, so when he ask “can you see, by the dawn’s early light, (line 1) after hours of bomb smoke throughout the night, he wants you to know that by the dawn’s early light he was able to see the flag, the broad stripes, and bright stars that stood erect throughout the night during the fight. There could be a little use of Onomatopoeia: Words that sound like their meanings. 2nd Paragraph (line 2) “bombs bursting in air” and the rocket’s red glare can also be considered imagery, and alliteration. The second largest device throughout the poem would be the use of Rhyme: Words that have different beginning sounds but whose endings sound alike, including the final vowel sound and everything following it. The rhyme device ties the whole