National Anthems as Unifying Tools: A Comparative Analysis of Selected Western National Anthems

Year 2019, Volume: 1 Issue: 2, 44 - 50, 29.12.2019

Yalçın Erden

Abstract

National anthems are highly nationalistic and patriotic poems which are mostly accompanied by a suitable tune. These poems masterfully serve for the construction and conservation of a national identity. Furthermore, they include myriad symbols and images that enable solidarity among the members of a certain society. In this article, “God Save the Queen” of Britain, “La Marseillaise” of France, and “Star Spangled Banner” of the USA, which belong to the Western world, are focused on, and how certain tools and strategies are employed to achieve social unity is discussed through a comparative analysis of these poems. While the function of the monarchy, religion and the description of enemies are interrogated in the British anthem, how the emotion: fear constructed through the image of foes and arousing patriotic emotions serve for solidarity is examined in the French national anthem. In addition, how the flag is used as an emblem to provide unification of the members of society is mainly discussed through the American national anthem. Following a comparative analysis of these poems, it is concluded that these national anthems of the Western world share certain common characteristics and some minor differences. Nevertheless, all powerfully function to achieve a unity in society as well as constructing or preserving a national identity.

Keywords

Western National Anthems, Solidarity, Unifiying Tools

Supporting Institution

Karabuk University

Project Number

1

Thanks

Many a thanks to Prof. Abdul Serdar ÖZTÜRK for inspiring me to write this article.

References

• Alden, C. (2002). Britain's monarchy. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/may/16/qanda.jubilee
• Cerulo, K. A. (1989). Sociopolitical Control and the Structure of National Symbols: An Empirical Analysis of National Anthems. Social Forces, 68(1), 76-79.
• De Lisle, C.J.R. (2015). What does the France national anthem mean? Here is the English translation of La Marseillaise. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved from https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/what-does-the-france-national-anthem-mean-here-is-the-english-translation-of-la-marseillaise/news-story/a1ec0949587cf29e869517e47420bf38
• Durkheim, É. (1995). The Elementary Forms of Religious Life (K.E. Fields, Trans.). London: The Free Press.
• Durkheim, É. (2005). Suicide: A Study in Sociology. (J.A. Spaulding & G. Simpson, Trans.). G. Simpson (Ed.). London and New York: Routledge.
• God Save the Queen. (2015). God Save the Queen lyrics: The troubling words of the National Anthem that are being ignored. Independent. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/news/god-save-the-queen-lyrics-the-troubling-words-of-the-national-anthem-that-are-being-ignored-10503455.html
• Hummel, D. (2017). Banal Nationalism, National Anthems, and Peace. Peace Review, 92(2), 225-230. DOI: 10.1080/10402659.2017.1308736
• Key, F.S. (1999). The Star-Spangled Banner. In The Yale Book of American Verse. T.R. Lousberry (Ed.). Retrieved from http://www.bartleby.com/102/3.html
• Leavis, F. R. (1961). New Bearings in English Poetry: A Study of the Contemporary Situation. London: Chatto&Windus.
• Lukás, G. (1971). Epic and Novel. The Theory of the Novel: A Historico-philosophical Essay on the Forms of Great Epic Literature, (pp.146-68). Cambridge, MA: M.I.T.
• Mencken H.L. (1998). In Defense of Women.[E-text]. Retrieved from Project Gutenberg.
• Selden, R., Widdowson, P., Brooker, P. (2005). New Criticism, Moral Formalism and F. R. Leavis. A Reader’s Guide to Contemporary Literary Theory (5th ed., pp. 15-28). Malaysia, Pearson Longman.
• Tyson, L. (2006). New Criticism. Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide. (pp. 135-165). New York and London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.