The Masque of Anarchy

Interesting Facts

• «The Masque of Anarchy» was written in response to Peterloo, a mass demonstration that ended in a bloody suppression in Manchester in 1819.
• Shelley wrote the poem as a form of political protest, condemning tyranny and calling for nonviolent resistance.
• The poem was published only in 1832, more than a decade after Shelley's death, due to its political sharpness.
• One of the central figures in the poem is Anarchy, symbolizing chaos and oppression.
• Shelley uses allegories and symbols to express his ideas about freedom, justice, and moral responsibility.
• The poem contains the famous line «Rise like lions after slumber,» which became a symbol of the struggle for rights and freedoms.
• «The Masque of Anarchy» is considered one of the first examples of political poetry aimed at a mass audience.