Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Revenge; A Ballad of the Fleet" is a poem by Alfred Tennyson, first published in 1880. Tennyson was a Victorian-era poet, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest poets in the English language. He served as Poet Laureate of Great Britain and Ireland from 1850 until his death in 1892.

Content:

The poem tells the story of the Battle of Flores, which took place in 1591 between the English and Spanish fleets off the coast of Portugal. The English ship Revenge, under the command of Sir Richard Grenville, was vastly outnumbered and outgunned by the Spanish armada, but fought bravely for fifteen hours before being forced to surrender. Grenville was mortally wounded in the battle, and the poem is a tribute to his courage and the bravery of his crew.

Form:

"The Revenge; A Ballad of the Fleet" is written in ballad form, with a regular meter and rhyme scheme. The poem consists of eight-line stanzas, with a rhyme scheme of ABABCCDD. The ballad form gives the poem a simple, direct quality that befits its subject matter.

Poetic Elements:

Tennyson makes use of several poetic devices in the poem, including repetition, alliteration, and onomatopoeia. He also uses vivid imagery to bring the battle to life, describing the sounds of cannon fire, the smell of gunpowder, and the chaos of the fighting. The poem's refrain, "Sink me the ship, Master Gunner--sink her, split her in twain!" is a powerful example of repetition and emphasizes the intense emotions of the battle.

Summary:

"The Revenge; A Ballad of the Fleet" is a powerful tribute to the heroism and bravery of Sir Richard Grenville and his crew. Tennyson's use of vivid imagery and powerful language brings the battle to life, and his use of repetition and other poetic devices adds to the emotional impact of the poem. The ballad form gives the poem a simple, direct quality that emphasizes the bravery of the English sailors in the face of overwhelming odds. Overall, the poem is a moving tribute to a heroic moment in English history.

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