Read the poem to the pupils in such a way as to make vivid the scenes depicted.
What has the poet described in this poem? Some of the events preceding the battle.
What are the main pictures found in each stanza? (Write on the black-board.)
Do you see any stanza that interferes with the progress of the action? The third stanza anticipates the battle and destroys the continuity between the sounds of the approaching enemy and the hurried farewells.
Why does the poet devote a special stanza to the Highlanders? Were they more worthy of mention than the English and Irish regiments? The author, George Gordon, Lord Byron, belonged to a Scotch family. The muster of the Highlanders at midnight, combined with their stirring music, made a very picturesque incident.
Consider the elements which contribute to the various scenes:
What is described? The ball given by the Duchess of Richmond. What is the emotion of this stanza? Pleasure, gaiety. What is the picture in the first line? The arrival of the guests, the welcomes, and the "revelry" of the assembly. Why does the author say "Belgium's capital" rather than "Brussels"? It suggests the capital of a nation with a noble people. Who were the "Beauty" and the "Chivalry"? The ladies, the officers of the army, and the nobility. Describe the picture you see in "bright the lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men". The large ball-room, the brilliantly lighted chandeliers, the beautiful costumes of the ladies, the uniforms and decorations of officers and nobles. Describe the images that are suggested by "and when music arose with its voluptuous swell". The bands of the regiments are playing the music of the dance. Notice how the poet changes the rhythm to the foot of three syllables, to indicate the music of the waltz. What contrast do you find in the last two lines? "Marriage bell" and "rising knell". What was the purpose of this? To show the contrast between pleasure and fear.
What is the theme? The sound of the enemy's cannon. Why does the author use the dramatic form? A conversation between two people of opposite temperaments gives greater reality to the picture. The first seems to expect danger, but is, for a moment, silenced by the other's upbraiding him for attempting to spoil the pleasure of the evening. A repetition of the "heavy sound" proves that he is right. The second is a lover of pleasure, who would not have the first speaker alarm the guests by his gloomy anticipations. Show how the second speaker indicates his impatience. His answers are short, he speaks in ellipses. "On with the dance", and "No sleep till morn". Notice the positive tone of the first speaker in the repetition, "It is--it is".