The Destruction of Sennacherib by Lord Byron - OCROverview
The Destruction of Sennacherib by Lord Byron concerns a miraculous wartime incident. Content, ideas, language and structure are explored. Comparisons and alternative interpretations are considered.
The Destruction of Sennacherib is a short narrative poem retelling a Biblical story from the Old Testament (2 Kings, chapter 19) in which God destroys King Sennacherib鈥檚 Assyrian army as they attack the holy city of Jerusalem. It is probably as well-known for the way in which the poem is constructed as it is for its subject matter.
The speaker sets out events in chronologicalThe logical order of events in time, from beginning to middle to end. order. He seems impressed by the might and splendour of the Assyrian army when describing their appearance in the first six lines. However, halfway through the second stanzaLines of poetry that make up a section; a verse. comes a turning pointA decisive moment at which a change occurs. as he realises the Assyrians鈥 strength is short-lived. He then goes on to tell how the Angel of Death has passed through their camp wiping them out. Although the Assyrians may have been mighty, the speaker realises that the power of God is even mightier.