Borgialli 1

Cypress Borgialli
Mrs. Sauer
American Literature
4 November 2014

The Star-Spangled Banner

The Star-Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key, is our national anthem because it
represents the birth of our freedom as a country. It explains the authors experiences during the
war that resulted in America being free. It also speaks for our nation about this meaningful point
in our history is. Most importantly, The Star-Spangled Banner expresses how we gained our
freedom and why it is so meaningful.

By seeing our flag still standing, Key knew that we had not lost and that the enemy had
not taken our flag. He says this in line 5, And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there (5).This was very reassuring as it
meant that we still had a chance of winning. Key put this in the song because he wanted it to be
hopeful. He also wanted to share the feeling he had when he saw the flag.

Key expresses how important it is that the flag stays standing when he asks O say does
that Star-Spangled banner yet wave, Oer the land of the free and the home of the brave? (7).
This shows that he is anxious about winning the war and gaining freedom in America. He is
proud that America is brave enough to keep fighting to earn freedom, and thinks that we should
all be proud of our country.

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Near the end of the song, Key confirms that the flag stays standing all though the night.
He expresses the feeling of winning freedom as triumph after all the pain of the war. From the
terror of flight or the gloom of the grave, And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth waved
(22).

This anthem represents the birth of our nations freedom. Key wanted to express how
meaningful this point in history is, and how we should be proud. Even though there are many
different people in America, we are all linked together by the amazing history of our freedom.

The Star-Spangled Banner

O say can you see, by the dawns early light,
What so proudly we haild at the twilights last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
Oer the ramparts we watchd were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
Oer the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep

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Where the foes haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, oer the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the mornings first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream,
Tis the star-spangled banner - O long may it wave
Oer the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battles confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has washd out their foul footsteps pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
Oer the land of the free and the home of the brave.
O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lovd home and the wars desolation!
Blest with victry and peace may the heavn rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preservd us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto - In God is our trust,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
Oer the land of the free and the home of the brave.

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