Multilayer Sentiments in Britain: "Britons, Strike Home," "Britons, Strike Home! A New Song," and English Romantic Verse

Abstract

This paper attempts to examine Britain''s complicated responses to the French Republic in the Romantic period. For the fruitful discussion, I would like to explore three works: a crucial passage in William Wordsworth''s autobiographical poem, The Prelude, Henry Purcell''s "Britons, Strike Home," and an anonymous verse, "Britons, Strike Home! A New Song." Hopefully the discussion about their literary signification and implications will shed a light on how the French Revolution and the French Revolutionary Wars exerted a strong influence on Britain at that time. The exploration of the relevant passage from The Prelude will help foreground Wordsworth''s fear of the French Revolution, which was exacerbated by its innate brutalities. Indeed, the cruelties committed by the Revolutionists inspired fear in the poet''s mind. But they also stimulated Britain''s national pride. Purcell''s "Britons, Strike Home" and the anonymous piece, "Britons, Strike Home! A New Song" praised the British Constitution very ardently. (Jeonbuk National University)