OLD IRONSIDES ANALYSIS

Literal Meaning:
Take down the flag of the Constitution; it is has been up for a long time; many people have looked and seen the flag waving in the air; under it there was battle and the cannons firing; the meteors will not be in the sky anymore. The ship's deck was stained red from blood of heroes where the dead enemies knelt, where winds were running over the flood, where the waves were white below, no more shall it feel the winner's feet or know their knee, the monsters of the shore will pluck the eagle of the sea. It is better her shattered mass should sink in the sea; her thunders made the deep tremble, and there her grave will be, nail her flag to the mast, set all of the thin, aged sails, and give her to the god of storms, lightning and wind.

Poetic Devices:
There are really not very many poetic devices used within Old Ironsides by Oliver Wendell Holmes. However, there is a lot of imagery in this poem that describes past scenes that have taken place aboard this ship. It also describes that dignity of this ship and how glorious and respectable it is. There is also the use of stanzas, being three stanzas total in this poem. It is kind of just a sad poem about how this beautiful ship should not be retired.

Figural Meaning:
The poem Old Ironsides is about an ironclad ship, the Constitution and how it is being retired. The writer is clearly very sad about the retirement of this ship which has fought and been victorious in many battles. He thinks the ship better be at the bottom of the ocean in its grave than be taken out of commission. It is clear the writer had very strong feelings toward this beautiful ship and did not want to see it go.