the destruction of sennacherib

• Who is the author of the poem "The Destruction of Sennacherib"?

  Lord Byron
• What historical event does the poem focus on?

  The siege of Jerusalem by Sennacherib
• Who was Sennacherib?

  King of the Assyrian Empire
• What regions did the Assyrian Empire conquer?

  Parts of Egypt, Israel, and Iraq
• When did the Assyrian Empire reach its high point?

  Between 1250 BC and 621 BC
• What significant event occurred in 701 BC?

  Sennacherib attacked Jerusalem
• Where can the biblical account of Sennacherib's attack be found?

  2 Kings chapter 18 and 19
• What does the biblical account describe about Sennacherib's attack?

  Hezekiah was in charge of Jerusalem
• What happened to the Assyrian camp during the night?

  185,000 soldiers were killed
• What was the reason given for the defeat of Sennacherib's army?

  An angel of the Lord killed the soldiers
• What is the Taylor Prism?

  A clay prism with Assyrian writings
• How does Sennacherib describe Hezekiah in his account?

  As a king who did not submit
• What does Sennacherib claim to have done to Jerusalem?

  Besieged and captured 46 fortified cities
• What imagery does Byron use to describe the Assyrian army?

  Gleaming in purple and gold
• What does the simile comparing the Assyrian army to a wolf imply?

  They are strong and predatory
• How does Byron depict the change in the Assyrian army's fate?

  From powerful to withered and dead
• What does the imagery of leaves in the poem signify?

  The decline of the Assyrian army's strength
• What does the Angel of Death symbolize in the poem?

  The power of God over the Assyrians
• How does Byron use rhyme to convey tone in the poem?

  It reinforces the confident tone of the Assyrians
• What is the overall theme of "The Destruction of Sennacherib"?

  The power of divine intervention in war
• What are the key themes in "The Destruction of Sennacherib"?

  • Physical conflict between Sennacherib and Hezekiah
  • Destruction of Sennacherib by the Angel of Death
  • Emotional conflict of the grieving Assyrians
• How does Lord Byron use language and structure in the poem?

  • Similes to compare strength and vulnerability
  • Imagery to depict the Assyrian army's power
  • Rhyme to reinforce tone and themes
• What are the sources of the historical account of Sennacherib's attack?

  • Biblical account in 2 Kings
  • Assyrian account on the Taylor Prism
• What contrasts are present in the poem regarding the Assyrian army?

  • From powerful to defeated
  • From vibrant to withered
• What does the contrast between bright green leaves and withered leaves emphasize?

  The power of the Lord over the Assyrian army
• How does Lord Byron present the Assyrian army in the first six lines?

  As incredibly strong and powerful
• What does the simile in the poem compare?

  The strength of God to the Assyrian army
• What is the significance of the Angel of Death in the poem?

  He represents God's power over death
• What does the verb "breathed" imply about the Angel of Death?

  It creates an ironic juxtaposition with the dead
• What does the alliteration in "face of his foe" suggest?

  Desperation felt by the Assyrian army
• How does the imagery of the dead horse contribute to the poem's theme?

  It highlights the defeat of the Assyrian army
• What does the comparison of the horse's foam to sea foam imply?

  It emphasizes the violent death of the horse
• What does the phrase "the tent all silent" suggest about the battlefield?

  It indicates a sense of death and stillness
• How does the imagery of the widows wailing contrast with the battlefield?

  It highlights emotional conflict and grief
• What does the phrase "melted like snow in the glance of the Lord" imply?

  It suggests the futility of the Assyrian army's strength
• What is the meter used in the poem?

  Anapestic tetrameter
• What effect does anapestic tetrameter have in the first six lines?

  It emphasizes the strength of the Assyrian army
• How does the use of anapestic tetrameter change after line 7?

  It emphasizes the strength of God and the Angel of Death
• What does the rhythm of the poem suggest about the actions of God and the Angel of Death?

  It makes their actions seem inevitable and powerful
• What is the overall theme of Lord Byron's poem "The Destruction of Sennacherib"?

  The power of God over human strength