Arrows Struck Quote by Bernard Cornwell
““The first sound was the bowstrings, the snap of five thousand hemp cords being tightened by stressed yew, and that sound was like the devil’s harpstrings being plucked. Then there was the arrow sound, the sigh of air over feathers, but multiplied, so that it was like the rushing of a wind. That sound diminished as two clouds of arrows, thick as any flock of starlings, climbed into the gray sky. Hook, reaching for another broadhead, marveled at the sight of five thousand arrows in two sky-shadowing groups. The two storms seemed to hover for a heart’s beat at the height of their trajectory, and then the missiles fell. It was Saint Crispin’s Day in Picardy. For an instant there was silence. Then the arrows struck. It was the sound of steel on steel. A clatter, like Satan’s hailstorm.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “The Last Kingdom” (2004)
Vividly describes a battlefield’s chaotic sounds, likening arrows to a storm and steel to a demonic chorus, emphasizing war’s brutal beauty.
In simple terms: Battle sounds are fierce and overwhelming.
Key Takeaway
Recognize war’s destructive power.
Themes
war
history
violence
Mood
dramatic
intense
Type
literary
historical
When to use this quote
- historical fiction
- epic storytelling
- military strategy
- sound design
Key Concepts
military tactics
psychology of combat
Questions to Reflect On
- What emotions does this description evoke?
- How does vivid imagery affect perception of war?
A Different Perspective
Romanticizing combat can obscure its tragedy.
