ELAR English I Unit 02A: Continuing the Journey through Poetry 2013­2014
This document is the property of the TCMPC and may not be replicated or changed without permission.
10/21/13
“Old Ironsides” is the nickname for the USS Cons tu on, a warship used most famously in the War
of 1812 against Great Britain. Her great popularity with the American people has saved her from
being destroyed over the years.
Old Ironsides
Oliver Wendell Holmes 1809­1894
1 Ay, tear her tattered ensign down!
Long has it waved on high,
And many an eye has danced to see
That banner in the sky;
5 Beneath it rung the battle shout,
And burst the cannon's roar; ­­
Page 2
This document is the property of the TCMPC and may not be replicated or changed without permission.
10/21/13
GO ON
The meteor of the ocean air
Shall sweep the clouds no more.
9 Her deck, once red with heroes' blood,
Where knelt the vanquished foe,
When winds were hurrying o'er the flood,
And waves were white below,
13 No more shall feel the victor's tread,
Or know the conquered knee; ­­
The harpies of the shore shall pluck
The eagle of the sea!
17 Oh, better that her shattered hulk
Should sink beneath the wave;
Her thunders shook the mighty deep,
And there should be her grave;
21 Nail to the mast her holy flag,
Set every threadbare sail,
And give her to the god of storms,
The lightning and the gale!
Definitions:
ensign ­ a national flag when used at sea
harpies ­ [Greek Mythology] a vicious, winged creature with sharp claws; a predatory person
gale ­ strong wind
Page 3
This document is the property of the TCMPC and may not be replicated or changed without permission.
10/21/13
GO ON
1 Which of the following is an example of
5 The Latin word nauticus and the Greek
figurative language?
word nautikos both led to which
A Long has it waved on high
specialized word below that pertains to
B
The meteor of the ocean air
C
Where knelt the vanquished foe
D The lightning and the gale
ships such as Old Ironsides?
A nauplius
B
octal
C
natrium
D nautical
2 Holmes conveyed the connotation of
strength and power by using what phrase
in his poem?
6 What is an example of situational irony in
F
banner in the sky
"Old Ironsides"?
G
shattered hulk
F
H
threadbare sail
J
eagle of the sea
Justice.
G
The ship was once red with the blood
of battles.
H
3 In analyzing this poem, which of the
following is an example of overstatement?
The author was also a Supreme Court
The author would rather sink the
battle­tested ship.
J
The ship belongs to the sea.
A saying the deck is red with heroes'
blood B
saying the ensign has long waved
C
calling the waves white below
D saying the winds were hurrying o'er the
flood
7 What does the word vanquished in Line
10 mean?
A defeated
B
disappeared
C
rescued
D triumphed
4 Which of Holmes's words supports the idea
that he opposes demolishing Old Ironsides?
F
And many an eye has danced to see /
8 Read these lines from the poem.
That banner in the sky
G
Oh, better that her shattered hulk /
Should sink beneath the wave
H
J
The harpies of the shore shall pluck
The eagle of the sea!
The meteor of the ocean air / Shall
What emotions do these lines invoke in the
sweep the clouds no more
reader?
Nail to her mast her holy flag / Set
F
honor and dignity
G
fear and loathing
H
pity and distress
J
sorrow and depression
every threadbare sail
Page 4
This document is the property of the TCMPC and may not be replicated or changed without permission.
10/21/13
GO ON
9 Analyze “Old Ironsides” for examples of imagery. Identify and interpret the use of at least one
specific image the author creates, other than the plucked eagle. Be sure to use text evidence
to support your answer.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
10
Oliver Wendell Holmes lived from 1809­1894. How does the language and wording of the poem
reflect its historical setting? Use text evidence to support your answer including key words or
phrases and how they might be written differently by a modern poet.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Page5
This document is the property of the TCMPC and may not be replicated or changed without permission.
10/21/13
STOP