1. Old Ironsides A Poem By: Oliver Wendell Holmes

2. On the sea…War of 1812.  The first major naval encounter of the War of 1812 took place between the USS Constitution and the British Guerriere.  On August 19, 1812 the USS Constitution defeats the Guerriere, off the coast of Nova Scotia. The battle lasts for an hour, and was a great victory for the Navy  It took only 20 minutes to sink the British war ship.

3. Random Facts  The USS CONSTITUTION got it’s nickname “Old Ironsides” because cannonballs could not penetrate through the ship.  The ship was built in 1794 to help protect American merchant fleets from attacks by Barbary pirates and harassment by British and French forces.  The ship was never to be defeated in battle.  After the battle, the ship was to be destroyed but was not, due to this poem.

4. First Stanza 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; Beneath it rung the battle shout, And burst the cannon’s roar; — The meteor of the ocean air Shall sweep the clouds no more. 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; Beneath it rung the battle shout, And burst the cannon’s roar; — The meteor of the ocean air Shall sweep the clouds no more.

5. First Stanza  After the final battle they take the American flag down. –It’s torn and tattered.  This symbolizes what the soldiers went through and how they were able to survive and take victory.

6. Second Stanza 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, 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! 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, 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!

7. Second Stanza This stanza talked about how the soldiers who fought and died on this vessel were heroic. This stanza talked about how the soldiers who fought and died on this vessel were heroic. In this poem they called their opponent “harpies”. In this poem they called their opponent “harpies”. “The Eagle of the sea.” –America. “The Eagle of the sea.” –America. The author (Oliver Wendell Holmes) lets us know who the good and bad guys are. The author (Oliver Wendell Holmes) lets us know who the good and bad guys are.

8. Third Stanza Oh, better that her shattered hulk Should sink beneath the wave; Her thunders shook the mighty deep, And there should be her grave; Nail to the mast her holy flag, Set every threadbare sail, And give her to the god of storms, The lightning and the gale! Oh, better that her shattered hulk Should sink beneath the wave; Her thunders shook the mighty deep, And there should be her grave; Nail to the mast her holy flag, Set every threadbare sail, And give her to the god of storms, The lightning and the gale!

9. Third Stanza This stanza states that the people on the USS constitution would not surrender under any circumstances. This stanza states that the people on the USS constitution would not surrender under any circumstances. If they were to lose the battle, they would all go down with the ship. If they were to lose the battle, they would all go down with the ship.

10. Random Questions Why do you think Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote this poem? Why do you think Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote this poem? What do you think the tone is? What do you think the tone is?