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

or played, which is because of the history of what it truly stands for. The devices Keys used, helps readers get a since of pride, a vision of what he saw and felt. To name a few devices I found used in the poem: rhyming, alliteration, onomatopoeia, imagery and symbolism.
Let’s look at the first paragraph ( line 1) “O say, can you see” or ( line 3) “Broad stripes and Bright Stars “can be considered use of alliteration - repeated consonant sounds at the beginning of words placed near each other, usually on the
same or adjacent lines.

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

poem together for the image to take place, there is gleaming and streaming, bursting in air and flag was still there, wave and brave. The rhyme device also allows for the poem to flow smoothly increasing the reader’s understanding and get that vivid image of it all. To understand the final product is to know what Key wants us to see and feel at the end of it all. Symbolism is what this poem is explaining, the relevancy of an ordinary object, event, to which we have attached extraordinary meaning and significance – a flag to represent a country, Symbolism is what this poem turned National anthem is all about, the continued standing of the American flag that stood tall and continued to wave through the weather and war adversities. In conclusion, That is why Francis Scott Key wrote this poem as he did, knowing if the American people can see what he saw; the flag still standing after the enemy’s best shot, the protester’s of Fort McHenry defending our land and feel what he felt; a sense of pride to be an American, the flag will always be respected and it is, maybe not by a hand full of people, who may have their beliefs, but surely by the majority of the people that believes in God and in the United States. That is why this poem/anthem will always be considered by some great Americans as a GOOD poem, I say GREAT! Poem.