Study Notes on The Destruction of Sennacherib by Lord Byron
Biblical Background and Narrative Synopsis of The Destruction of Sennacherib
‘The Destruction of Sennacherib’ is a narrative poem by Lord Byron that retells the biblical account of the failed Assyrian siege of Jerusalem. The primary focus of the work is the exploration of religious power and its specific relevance to conflict. Rather than dwelling on the suffering and despair inherent in warfare, Byron spotlights the triumph of the Jewish people and the supreme, divine power of God which renders the Assyrian army inferior. The narrative follows a specific sequence of events: King Sennacherib launches an aggressive attack on Jerusalem; however, the intervention of the ‘Angel of Death’ leads to the overnight slaughter of all the soldiers and their horses. This spectral arrival brings a heavy silence over the Assyrian camp, which is eventually broken by the wailing of the soldiers' wives. The people of Jerusalem emerge victorious solely due to this divine intervention.
Biographical Context of Lord Byron
Lord Byron lived from and was a prominent figure of the Romantic movement. He is frequently described as the world’s first “celebrity,” a status earned through both his literary success and his frequent involvement in public scandals. Byron’s personal life was tumultuous; following reports of an illegitimate child with his half-sister, he married Annabella Milbanke, though they separated shortly thereafter. Byron’s life was marked by significant debt and numerous affairs. In , he moved to Lake Geneva, spending time with Mary Shelley, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Claire Clairmont (who was Mary Shelley’s half-sister and with whom Byron fathered a child). Byron continued his travels throughout Europe and eventually died of a fever in modern-day Greece.
Literary Context and the Byronic Hero
In both his personal life and his literary output, Byron was known for rejecting societal conventions. He is credited with creating the archetype of the “Byronic hero,” a character type that mirrored many of his own traits. A Byronic hero is typically characterized as an outsider who rejects authority, possesses significant sexual attraction, is often self-destructive, and remains secretive. These characteristics were intentionally woven into his characters to reflect his own rebellious nature.
Hebrew Melodies and Historical Sympathies
‘The Destruction of Sennacherib’ was published in as part of a collection titled ‘Hebrew Melodies,’ which consisted of poems. While the title and the focus on Jewish nationalism suggest a religious motivation, many critics argue that Byron’s focus was actually on the victimized members of society. Byron expressed a sympathetic view towards the Jewish people, once writing that “The Greeks […] have as small a chance of redemption from the Turks as the Jews have from mankind in general.” In this context, the poem serves as an exploration of oppressed people facing conflict. The specific biblical source is the Old Testament account of King Sennacherib of Assyria, a figure famous for his military skill. While other historical versions of the tale vary, the biblical version highlights that the King of Judah prayed for God’s assistance, resulting in an angel killing the Assyrian soldiers in their sleep.
Stanza-by-Stanza Analysis and Language Techniques
The poem opens with a predatory simile, comparing the Assyrian to a “wolf on the fold,” which dehumanizes the King and characterizes the army as villainous. The description of their “cohorts… gleaming in purple and gold” utilizes colors of royalty to emphasize the army's ungodly extravagance and arrogance, which foreshadows their collapse. Byron uses parallel syntax to show the ease of their destruction, as their defeat is signaled by changing only a few words. The second stanza employs natural imagery, comparing the army to leaves in the forest. When “Summer is green,” the host is seen with banners, but once “Autumn hath blown,” the host is “withered and strown.” This transition highlights the fragility of human power when compared to nature and divinity.
In the third stanza, the Angel of Death appears, spreading his wings on the “blast” and breathing into the faces of the foes. Byron uses plosive sounds here to increase the impact of this supernatural force. The imagery of the sleepers’ eyes waxing “deadly and chill” and their hearts heaving “but once” before growing still emphasizes the finality of God's judgment. The following section focuses on the animal casualties, specifically a “steed” with wide nostrils that no longer breathe the breath of “pride.” The foam from the horse’s gasping is compared to the “spray of the rock-beating surf,” a cold and harsh image. Stanza five describes the rider as “distorted and pale,” a sharp juxtaposition to the gold and purple of the opening. The final stanza captures the human and religious fallout: the “widows of Ashur” are loud in their “wail,” the “idols are broke in the temple of Baal,” and the “might of the Gentile” has “melted like snow in the glance of the Lord.” The comparison to snow is particularly striking as it is an impossible occurrence in the desert setting of Jerusalem, further emphasizing God’s omnipotence.
Perspective and Narrative Voice
Byron employs a third-person objective narrator who describes events as they unfold. This choice creates a sense of reliability and authority, as the reader lacks reason to believe the narrator is biased. This narrator exhibits a clear sympathetic attitude toward the people of Jerusalem, glorifying God’s power. This perspective likely echoes Byron’s own views on the Jewish people and the nature of victimization, effectively using the narrator to convey personal philosophical and political opinions through a biblical lens.
Structure, Meter, and Anaphora
The poem follows a regular AABB rhyme scheme, creating rhyming couplets. Interestingly, this structure is typically associated with comic verse. Byron may have used this to distance the reader from the individual tragedy of the soldiers' deaths, instead focusing the reader’s attention on the glorious nature of the Jewish victory. The poem is characterized by the heavy use of anaphora, specifically the repetition of the conjunction “And” at the start of most verses. This mimics the linguistic style of the Bible, reinforcing the religious themes. Furthermore, this technique increases the pace of the poem, building intensity as events succeed one another rapidly toward the climax.
Technically, the poem is written in anapestic tetrameter. This consists of two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable (anapestic), repeated times per line for a total of syllables. For example: “The Ass-yr-i-an came down like the wolf on the fold.” Like the rhyme scheme, this meter is often melodic and used in light verse, but here it serves to mimic the rhythmic sound of horses’ hooves. This adds a sense of urgency and threat, placing the reader in the midst of an advancing force.
Extended Metaphor and Time Scheme
An extended metaphor involving the sea runs throughout the poem. Initially, the Assyrians are a “blue wave,” suggesting their overwhelming force. However, later in the poem, the “rock-beating surf” and “cold…spray” associated with the death of the horses shows that the Assyrians are powerless against the superior force of God. Additionally, Byron constructs an unrealistic and supernatural time scheme. In just one night, the imagery shifts from Summer to Autumn and finally to the “snow” of Winter. The mention of “rust” on the armor, appearing immediately after the soldiers' death, contributes to this sense of a divine, accelerated decay that transcends natural laws.
The Volta and Narrative Form
The poem is a narrative poem composed of equal quatrains. This uniformity can be interpreted as a reflection of either the army’s initial discipline or the total control of an omnipotent God. A significant volta, or turn, occurs. While the transcript mentions a turn in the “seventh verse,” the poem itself consists of total lines. The notes clarify that the first lines establish the Assyrian power, while the subsequent lines demonstrate the power of God. This numerical imbalance ( lines vs lines) emphasizes the theme of religious supremacy and the inevitability of the Assyrian defeat.
Themes of Death and Religion
While the poem largely prioritizes the glory of victory, it does not entirely ignore the tragedy of death. Byron includes poignant details such as the “widows of Ashur” wailing and the “distorted and pale” faces of the dead. These images serve as a reminder of the negative consequences of conflict. The poem itself acts as a metaphor for history: the rhythm and glory of the story often overshadow the reality of human suffering. Religion remains the central theme, particularly the effortless nature of divine power. The Angel of Death is not portrayed as a violent or angry figure, but as a being that gently “pass'd” and “breath'd,” killing the entire army with understated ease. This lack of gore emphasizes that the victory was achieved through the sheer will of God rather than physical struggle.