What is the author referring to with the phrase Broad Stripes and Bright Stars?
On September 14, 1814, U.S. soldiers at Baltimore’s Fort McHenry raised a huge American flag to celebrate a crucial victory over British forces during the War of 1812. The sight of those “broad stripes and bright stars” inspired Francis Scott Key to write a song that eventually became the United States national anthem.
What is a rampart in the national anthem?
A rampart is a wall that is built to protect a castle, fort, or city. Francis Scott Key, who wrote the poem that became the “Star-Spangled Banner,” was observing the British attack on Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in 1814 when he wrote the famous words.
What does rockets red glare mean?
The rockets red glare was the glare from the exhaust as the rockets the British fired at Fort McHenry were in the air. Having been invented in 1804 they would have been terrifying to see in action in 1814. The bombs would have been from the rockets, cannons, and mortars exploding.
What is the definition of O er?
(ɔr ) preposition. O’er means the same as ‘over. ‘ [literary, old-fashioned]
Which is the best definition of a stripe?
› a line on a surface that is a different color from the rest of the surface: › A stripe is also a particular type, esp. when there are many possible types: Governments of every stripe (= of all political opinions) have a tendency to try to control the press.
What kind of headdress has a broad stripe?
The headdress consists of a headband with an array of feathers and a broad stripe hanging from behind. Both sexes have a dark stripe running longitudinally along the flanks. This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
What does broad mean in the national anthem?
“Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watch’d, were so gallantly streaming?” broad: wide, referring to the stripes that run across the American flag This bit describes the American flag flying throughout the battle.
What do the red and white stripes on the American flag mean?
Generally, the red and white stripes represent the 13 original colonies that became the United States and each star in the field of blue represents a state. There is more detail here: What do the colors of the Flag mean? Originally Answered: What is the meaning of the blue and white stripes on American flag?