Historical Background Name: The War of 1812: The Star Spangled Banner Core: 1 On August 24, 1814, after British forces had deliberately burned the White House and other public buildings in Washington, they returned to their ships and sailed toward Baltimore. However, Baltimore anticipated an attack. The Americans had blocked the river so that the British were forced to bombard Fort McHenry from a distance. Ultimately, the fierce artillery fire and defense of Fort McHenry prevented the British from entering the harbor. 2 The night of the Battle of Fort McHenry, Francis Scott Key, an American attorney, had been meeting with British Prisoner Exchange Agents in order to secure the release of American prisoners. Due to the impending attack on Baltimore, Key had little choice but to watch the bombs bursting over Fort McHenry. At dawn the following day, Francis Scott Key wrote that the flag was still flying o er the land of the free and the home of the brave. The British withdrew and the Battle of Fort McHenry (September 13-14, 1814) ended in an American victory. 3 Inspired by these events, Francis Scott Key wrote a poem entitled, The Star Spangled Banner. As the poem gained popularity, Key decided to set the first stanza of his poem to the tune of an old British drinking song. 1 In 1916, during WWI, President Woodrow Wilson, by Executive Order, adopted the Star Spangled Banner as the country s national anthem. It wasn t until 1931 (during The Great Depression), that Congress officially made The Star Spangled Banner the national anthem of the United States. 1 At the time, there was no copyright protection for melodies, so it was common practice to use the same melody for a variety of songs such as: political songs, hymns, marching tunes, drinking songs or even country dances.
Learning the Skill Poems can express deep thoughts or paint vivid images in just a few lines. Poets can find inspiration in anything, including nature and historical events. The Star-Spangled Banner, for example, is one of the most famous American poems. It was written during the War of 1812. With words, it paints a vivid picture of our flag standing after a battle. Follow these strategies to learn how to write a poem: Read Poetry Find Inspiration Free-Write Sensory Words Concrete Images Poetic Devices Draft Your Poem Revise and Edit Your Poem As you read, pay attention to punctuation marks and the form of stanzas, or groups of lines. What type of rhythm do you hear in the poem? Is it fast or slow? There is no limit to what a poem can be written about: plants, animals, climate, people, or places. Consider things in your own life. Write for 5 to 10 minutes on a topic; write words or phrases that come to mind when you think of that topic. Describe images vividly, using the five senses so that the audience can experience what is happening in the poem. Images make abstract ideas clear, such as the feeling of happiness. Compare the main theme in your poem to something unrelated, such as comparing life to a walk through a forest. These devices can improve a poem's rhythm and include the following: alliteration repeated consonant sounds metaphor comparing two different things rhyme identical or similar sounds in two or more different words Choose your words carefully because not all words work well together. Try synonyms or similar sounding words. Eliminate unnecessary words or parts of the poem that are not working, such as poor imagery.
Practicing the Skill Directions: Read and analyze the poem "The Star-Spangled Banner" by Francis Scott Key, and then answer the questions that follow. 1 Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light, 2 What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? 3 Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, 4 O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? 5 And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, 6 Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. 7 Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, 8 O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? 9 On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, 10 Where the foe s haughty host in dread silence reposes, 11 What is that which the breeze o er the towering steep, 12 As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now discloses? 13 Now it catches the gleam of the morning s first beam, 14 In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream; 15 Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave 16 O er the land of the free and the home of the brave! 17 And where is that band who so vauntingly swore 18 That the havoc of war and the battle s confusion, 19 A home and a country should leave us no more? 20 Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps pollution. 21 No refuge could save the hireling and slave, 22 From terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave: 23 And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave 24 O er the land of the free and the home of the brave! 25 Oh! Thus be it ever, when freeman shall stand 26 Between their loved homes and the war s desolation! 27 Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land 28 Praise the Power that made and preserved us a nation! 29 Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just, 30 And this be our motto:-- In God is our trust! 31 And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave 32 O er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
1. What was Key's inspiration to write the poem? 2. Which senses does Key trigger in the poem? Give two examples. Sense Example 3. Why did Francis Scott Key describe the battle as a perilous fight? 4. What questions does Francis Scott Key ask? Why? 5. Name two poetic devices that Key uses, and give examples from the poem. Poetic Device Example
6. How do you think Francis Scott Key felt when he saw the flag after the battle? Why? 7. How would you have felt if you had been standing next to Francis Scott Key watching the British fire upon Fort Henry? Why? 8. Why do you think that President Woodrow Wilson wanted to make this poem our National Anthem? 9. Why did it not become our National Anthem until 1931, 117 years after it was written?