Ch. 9 Online: Old Ironsides
October 25, 2009 by Administrator
Filed under AP US History, Student Work
What elements of American symbolism can be found in Oliver Wendell Holmes Senior’s Old Ironsides?
| Your Answer: |
| The poem “Old Ironsides” witten by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. on September 16, 1830, shows various elements of American Symbolism.
The poem states, “That banner in the sky” In this excerpt, Holmes is describing the American Flag that flew high on the ship during battle. The American Flag was an American symbol for freedom, and still today symbolizes the principles that American liberties stand for. Holmes also calls “Old Ironside”, “The eagle of the sea.” In fact the ship he was refering to, which is “Old Ironside” was the frigate constructed in the 18th century called the USS Constitution. It was one of the six original frigates launched by the Naval Act of 1794. The poem also symbolizes the many naval conflicts that America was involved in. The USS Constitution, as described in the poem, was involved in such naval conflicts such as the Quasi-War, the First Barbary War, the Battle of Tripoli Harbor, and the Battle of Derne. It finally earned it’s name, “Old Ironsides” after the War of 1812, for the many battles it sustained. Holmes described the ship in the verse “Her deck, once red with heroes’ blood, Where knelt the vanquished foe” In summary this poem was writtten by Holmes in order to convince the U.S. Government to retire the USS Constitution, rather than sink it. This can be found in the verses: “Oh, better that her shattered hulk Should sink beneath the wave; Her thunders shook the mighty deep, And there should be her grave;” |
