Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Life facts Born in Portland, Maine Went to and later taught at Bowdoin College Also taught at Harvard
Wives Mary Potter died in 1835 from a miscarriage Frances Appleton died in 1861 after her dress caught on fire –The burns Longfellow sustained trying to save her disfigured him, and that’s why he always had a beard thereafter –He was devastated by her death and took to ether and laudanum
About his writing Most of his poems are lyric poetry –But very versatile in his forms –Musicality of his poems. –He said, “What a writer asks of a reader is not so much to like as to listen.”
Critical response Lauded Best seller—most popular poet of his day
“Paul Revere’s Ride” Famous first lines, “Listen my children and you will hear/of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.” Tale of Paul Revere who warned Americans if the British were attacking by land or by sea.
“Wreck of the Hesperus” Narrative poem A ship that sank because of the captain’s pride –Captain ignored approaching storm –Tied his daughter to the mast to protect her –Everyone dies… obviously
“Song of Hiawatha” Epic poem First realistic depiction of Native Americans
Evangeline Longfellow’s tale about the expulsion of the Acadians from Canada to Lousiana
Courtship of Miles Standish Longfellow’s Puritan poem