the destruction of sennacherib - lord byron

• 'the assyrian came down'


  begins in media res to illustrate that he is powerful and a majestic warrior
• 'like the wolf on the fold'


  simile to portray him as a single-minded predator and create sympathy for the jews being hunted
• 'cohorts'


  they are coming as a united pack who are intent on killing without conscience
• 'purple and gold'


  they are using bright, regal colours which conveys their masculinity and strength however they are just a disguise
• 'sheen of their spears'


  sibilance to portray their evil nature
• 'like stars on the sea'


  simile to convey that their power is a facade

  natural imagery highlights god's power as he made it to be this way
• 'like the leaves ... that host' x2


  parallel syntax with almost identical sentences which contrast life and death which highlight how quickly god can change things
• 'the angel of death'


  doesn't sound angry or violent, it sounds natural
• 'sleepers ... and for ever grew still ... nostril all wide'


  they instantly froze mid-breath, seems effortless
• 'gasping'


  should've been a loud gasp as it's war but it's soft and gentle
• 'pale'


  the regal colours have faded away
• 'the rust on his mail'


  rusting doesn't happen overnight, it's a slow process, conveys god's power

  colour of the armour is now ugly
• 'the widows of ashur are loud in their wail'


  although he does acknowledge the pain caused, he only gives them one line implying they don't deserve sympathy
• 'the might of the gentile, unsmote by the sword'

  the caesura allows the reader to stop and appreciate the victory
• 'hath melted like snow'


  snowing in a desert is impossible, so don't be arrogant as god can change everything
• anapestic tetrameter


  sounds like a horse which creates a threatening atmosphere