Henry Wadsworth Longfellow an American Writing Icon Essay Example

Gleam of Sunshine," and "Autumn."

Longfellow's poetry was influenced by several themes that appealed to readers. One major influence was American history, including stories of Indians, Paul Revere's ride, and the lives of slaves. He also incorporated everyday life lessons in poems such as "Something Left Undone" and "The Reaper and the Flowers". Longfellow's subjects mainly revolved around nature and its effects on human emotions, as well as tender or heroic incidents in history. He held a special fondness for stories of human devotion and self-sacrifice, whether they were from monkish legends, Indian tales, or American History.

In choosing familiar topics, the writer aimed to connect with the general public and make their work easy to understand. The topics chosen were common occurrences in people’s lives, such as waves in the ocean, a man working, and the life of a slave. Unlike other poets who wrote about European ideas that had no relationship with Americans, the writer chose to introduce new topics that people could relate to. For instance, in "Hiawatha," he explored the life and ways of Native Americans in early America, which was a departure from the norm. The "Song of Hiawatha" captured readers' attention and revived old legends with a fresh perspective.

By making Nature a central theme, Longfellow's poetry mesmerized readers and earned him the reputation of being one of the most revolutionary poets of his era. In "Milton," he vividly depicted crashing waves and shining sun that resonated with many individuals. With his distinct writing style, Longfellow became known as the father of modern day poetry. His comforting and inspiring poems sparked widespread interest in poetry, making him the first American poet to

gain such a vast audience. Moreover, Longfellow's gentle nature was evident not only in his writing but also in his personal demeanor. He made significant contributions to advancing poetry for generations to come by incorporating universal themes into his work.

Harris (479) notes that Longfellow's poetry possesses a distinct quality of resonating with the sympathies and comprehension of every reader. "Voices of the Night," his first collection of poems, gained immense popularity in both America and English-speaking nations. Readers were deeply moved by works like "A Psalm of Life" and "The Light of Stars" and eagerly anticipated more from him. Longfellow's writing style is marked by evocative imagery and poignant lines such as "So when storms of wild emotion/ Strike the ocean" (Longfellow 1).

Longfellow aimed to engage his readers by creating a tangible experience through his poetry rather than simply providing words to be heard. His use of imagery, whether he was discussing Native Americans or depicting nature, is consistently apparent. As Harris notes, "Mr. Longfellow's poetry is characterized by a highly active imagination, an openness to the impact of natural surroundings... and empathy for human emotions" (471). This skillful application of imagery enables Longfellow to foster a connection with his readers and present them with a vivid depiction of the world.

Longfellow utilized simple settings, such as a workplace, home, or forest, in his poetry to make it relatable to all readers. Despite the lack of extravagance in his choice of setting, his poems still mesmerized the world with their vivid descriptions. In his poem "Milton," Longfellow captures the beauty of walking on the beach with the lines "I pace the sounding sea-beach and behold /

How the voluminous billows roll and run / Upheaving and subsiding, while the sun / Shines through their sheeted emerald far unrolled" (Longfellow 1).

The popularity of his poems is due to the deep connection between the subjects and story, making them relatable to many people. The immersive experience that readers get from his writing style makes them feel as if they are witnessing events firsthand. A clear example of this can be seen in the lines "In his lodge beside a river, / Close beside a frozen river, / Sat an old man, sad and lonely."

Longfellow’s skill in describing a scene is evident in his use of literary elements which capture the reader’s imagination. As Derbyshire notes, Longfellow had a talent for expressing commonplace thoughts memorably. His gift of rhyme is particularly noteworthy, as his poems flow effortlessly and leave a lasting impression on readers. One of his most famous works, "The Song and the Arrow," highlights this gift: "Long, long afterward, in an oak/I found the arrow, still unbroke; / And the song, from beginning to end, /I found again in the heart of a friend." Additionally, Longfellow depicts an old man with snow-like hair and a low, flickering fire that incites the reader's emotions through his evocative descriptions: "White his hair was as a snow-drift; /Dull and low his fire was burning, / And the old man shook and trembled" (Longfellow 1).

Longfellow's use of rhyme is simple yet captivating, urging the reader to continue. Additionally, he implemented meters that were previously unseen or scarcely seen in English poetry, as demonstrated in the introduction to "The Song of Hiawatha". Throughout the piece, Longfellow

utilizes the same meter for several lines, effectively capturing his audience in a fresh and innovative way. His distinct method of writing which captured the English-speaking world, solidifies him as one of the most influential writers of the nineteenth century.

Longfellow was the inaugural writer to integrate native subjects relating to our heritage and relatable experiences of people from his time. His works engaged readers both during his time and still captivate modern-day readers. The themes woven into his poetry stir up emotions in vast numbers of readers - evident through the acceptance of common themes that appeal to a wide array of individuals. No other American poet has resonated so deeply within the broader English-speaking world as Longfellow. This is manifest in the way he weaves everyday themes into his work.

Works Cited Derbyshire, John. “In the Bivouac of Life: Longfellow and the Fate of Poetry” Literary Criticism by John Derbyshire.

In December 2000, an article about Longfellow written by Laurie Lazen Harris was published on the website http://www.olimu.com/journalism/Texts/Criticism/Longfellow.htm.The literary criticism article titled "Henry Wadsworth Longfellow" by Charles Wells Moulton can be found in volume 2 of Nineteenth-Century Literary Criticism, spanning from pages 468 to 492.

Moulton's Library of Literary Criticism, which covers English and American authors up to the start of the twentieth century, is available in a fourth volume that has been edited by Tucker and Martin. This version has been condensed and updated, and is published in New York by F.

The Library of Literary Criticism of English and American Authors Vol., which contains Moulton's book about Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, was published by the Ungar Pub. Co. in 1966. This four-volume collection can be located

between pages 27-45.

The Moulton Publishing Company in Buffalo, New York was responsible for publishing all of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poems. This information is sourced from "All poems of the poet: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow" on Poem Hunter, which was last updated on 4/23/2007.

The hyperlink for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's works can be found at http://www.poemhunter.com/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/.