In The Destruction of Semnacherib, Byron uses different types of imagery to illustrate contradictory feelings about victory in war. In this poem, the complete demolition of the Assyrian people is depicted both horrifically and peacefully, demonstrating how success in war is always tainted by the atrocities of death on the other side. By striking the visual, auditory, and tactile senses with images of both destruction and peace, Byron captures the conflicting feelings of devastation at the destruction of the defeated side and contrasts them with the joy of triumph over the enemy. The intertwining of peaceful and devastating images in this poem conveys the bittersweet feeling of rejoicing in victory while experiencing the horror of death on the other side. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The visual images in this poem show the atrocity of death in war but also use simile to remind you that after the war there is a bright future to look forward to. The haunting image of death is conveyed through "the distorted and pale knight / With dew on his brow and rust on his mail" (17-18). The image of a mangled and lifeless body on the ground shocks the visual sense and leaves a traumatic image of death, even if it is the body of the enemy. The detail of the dew on the knight's forehead conveys a strange stillness that seems cruel. However, this image is contrasted with a peaceful image of the enemy "melting like snow at the gaze of the Lord" (24). The melting of the snow is a gradual process and a peaceful image, a reminder that even though everyone is dead, there is peace now. Melting snow is also an indicator that winter is over and that spring, a time of renewal and fruitfulness, is on the horizon. The parallel between spring and the end of the war gives hope that even after this devastation and mass death there is a new and better moment ahead. The contrasting visual images of melting snow and a mangled corpse exemplify feelings of peace over the enemy's destruction tainted by traumatic images of corpses. This contrast is confusing and evokes a strange mix of feelings about victory in war. The auditory imagery in this poem adds to the mixed feelings, creating intense sounds of terror and contrasting them with the peaceful silence to show happiness mixed with sorrow. As all the males of the Assyrian nation are killed, “the widows of Ashur utter loud wails” and their screams pierce the auditory senses with horror (21). The immense loss of these women and their cries of mourning are a tragic image that serves as a reminder that, even though they are the enemy, they too have families that have been torn apart. This tragedy evokes feelings of extreme pity for the other side. Just as with visual images, there are auditory images representative of peace amidst destruction as “the trumpet [is] not blown,” signifying that there is no call to battle (20). The effect of the mention of the unblown trumpet emphasizes the absence of war and, in turn, the presence of peace. The contrasting images of weeping widows with the peaceful silence on the battlefield reflect the bittersweetness of victory in war. The contradictory visual and auditory images create an uneasy feeling about victory in war, which is intensified with tactile images demonstrating the chilling sensation of death. but at the same time it portrays a rapid passage. The body of a dead horse lying on the ground is “cold as the spray of the surf hitting the rocks” (16). The sensation of cold water splashes?