Your essay should:

> "For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast, / And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed."

• Introduce the poem and articulate a clear, arguable thesis regarding how Byron's techniques reinforce a central theme.
• Analyze at least three specific literary or formal devices from the poem, incorporating direct quotations as evidence.
• Explain how each device enhances the poem's overall meaning, rather than merely identifying it.
• Conclude by reflecting on the broader implications of Byron's message — contemplate what the poem reveals about pride, mortality, or the limitations of human power.

Assessment focus

Thesis clarity, textual evidence, literary analysis, thematic synthesis

Guiding Questions to Consider (optional pre-writing)

• How does the poem's anapestic meter reflect its subject matter? What impact does this have on the reader?
• Identify at least two extended similes. What do they compare, and what do these comparisons imply about the power dynamics between the Assyrians and the divine force opposing them?
• Does Byron's tone shift between the opening and closing stanzas? If so, what does this shift indicate about the poem's central argument?
• How does the imagery of nature (wolves, leaves, sea foam) contribute to either diminishing or elevating the human figures in the poem?

Requirements

• Minimum 5 paragraphs (introduction, three body paragraphs, conclusion)
• Include a clearly stated thesis in the introduction
• Use at least three direct quotations from the poem with proper citation
• Analyze how and why techniques are used, not merely what they are