What Does The Star-Spangled Banner Mean

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“The Star-Spangled Banner”
“The Star-Spangled Banner,” written by Francis Scott Key, expresses a great amount of bravery, commitment, inspiration, and patriotism for our country throughout the song. Francis Scott Key, an American lawyer, was held captive by the British Royal Navy during the War of 1812, because he heard some of their plans to attack the Americans. The inspiration for “The Star-Spangled Banner” comes from a flag that is still in existence today at the Smithsonian. It was first written as a poem but later put to music because it carries a lot of meaning. Eventually, because it contained significant meaning, it became our national anthem. “The Star-Spangled Banner” has been around for over two hundred years. Even though …show more content…

The words of the song are not just there because they sound good; they are there because they have a specific meaning. The lyrics testify for what really happened on that day of battle at Fort McHenry. The historical context behind “The Star-Spangled Banner” is quite significant. For example, “By the dawn’s early light” is written in the song because the fighting went on for over 24 hours. At night, it is hard to see clearly, but by dawn, light slowly starts to overtake the darkness, making it easier to see. Also at dawn, there is a new sense of hope because it’s a new day. “What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming” states that there is something people are looking for. Once the sun went down, the soldiers knew there was a flag marking Fort McHenry. So the next morning, they were anxiously waiting to see if the flag was still flying. “Whose broad stripes and bright stars” refers to the captivating appearance of the flag that was still waving, affirming that the American soldiers had won a tough battle. “Thro’ the perilous fight” refers to the constant dangerous fighting that was taking place between the soldiers. “O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming” stands for the flag that was boldly flying behind the blockade. “And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air” shows that the British were constantly firing cannons and rockets causing the sky to be illuminated. “Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there” shows that our flag made it through the night without being taken down and replaced by a British flag. The Americans had won and taken the unexpected yet epic victory. The last two stanzas of the song, “O say, does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave” are asking a question. Does “The Star-Spangled Banner,” referring to the flag, still wave or has it been

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