In the nineteenth century, following the devastating American Civil War, author John Greenleaf Whittier wrote a lengthy poem designed to solve both personal and national problems. Whittier hoped that his poetry could stitch together the festering wounds left by the Civil War. While composing his work, Whittier realized that a reminder of good times from the past would assist his fragile country in its reconstruction; his poem “Snow-Bound: A Winter Idyl” became the vehicle through which he achieved this goal. In particular, Whittier focuses in “Snow-Bound” on addressing his life in context, as well as on the issue of how the lessons of his youth apply to his country. He describes his early life, the issues of his family and memories, the contributions of nature to his literature, and, finally, his hope for the poem’s readers, which causes a fascinating response. Together, these attributes forever molded the United States as a nation.
First, Whittier addresses his early life by discussing personal issues, the purpose of his life, and experiences on the farm of his boyhood. For example, he was “grief-stricken at the death of his younger sister” (Levine 653). The loss of “our youngest and our dearest” led Whittier to a reason to continue enduring; he placed all of his initiative into the composition of “Snow-Bound” (line 396). When critics awarded him with critical acclaim, there is no doubt that he felt vindicated. Also, Whittier substituted “for Slavery’s lash the freeman’s will” (line 499). With debate over the slavery issue gone, Whittier no longer seemed forced to bear guilt for the inaction that his Quaker heritage had required. The writer became able to reminisce about the past without becoming consumed by it. Next, Whittier ...
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... fate; / still achieving, still pursuing, / learn to labor and to wait” (lines 33-6). If humans can remember the mistakes from long ago and simply labor for a better tomorrow, Whittier’s message will have achieved its holy purpose, and Longfellow’s words will be the norm in American society.
Works Cited
Levine, Robert. “John Greenleaf Whittier.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Seventh Shorter Edition. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2008. 652-3. Print.
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. “A Psalm of Life.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Seventh Shorter Edition. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2008. 645-6. Print.
Whittier, John Greenleaf. “Snow-Bound: A Winter Idyl.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Seventh Shorter Edition. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2008. 654-70. Print.
As a final point, Phillis Wheatley may have been bought a slave but she never lost faith and ended up being one of the best known poets in the early nineteenth century. This poem illustrates how she was living in darkness in Senegal, West Africa and because of slavery she was bought and brought to America. In this poem “On Being Brought from Africa to America,” Wheatley uses poetic devices such as similes, metaphors, hyperboles to illustrate color and darkness, multiple meanings of words, and the relationship between skin tone and salvation. This poem seems to be a narrative of her life and how slavery might have been the best thing that happened to her.
...ws in effect in the United States from the 1870’s to the 1960’s that segregated African Americans from Caucasians, made it clear that the woods the speaker was referring to were only supposed to be traveled by Caucasians and African Americans knew that not having a fence up did not excuse them from entering into the woods. These restrictions are also what made the speaker in Moss’ poem bitter, angry, filled with hate and jealous. She was bitter because she was being unfairly treated solely based on something that was beyond her control, the color of her skin tone, and this bitterness, translated into anger and hatred towards Caucasians and those feelings, translated into jealously. She was jealous of the Caucasians because she wanted nothing more than to be treated with respect, like she mattered, like she was a human being with feelings, irrespective of her race.
...a working class man, but nothing to show for his labor. “There’s no one left to see his hands lifting from the engine bay, dark and gnarled as roots dipping river mud [and] how my father drags his body into a beat-up van and gropes for the ignition” (66-67). As a reader, although I see the struggle, I find no comfort at the end, because there is no reward. My favorite in this section is “Former Future King.” This poem perfectly captures the elusiveness of the American dream which is like sitting “on a bench in front of the crown you ought to have worn, which reside on a pillow, in a locked glass box, in the furthest wing” (71). It shows the disappointment that comes with an unfulfilled dream.
Hayden, Robert. ”Those Winter Sundays.” Making Literature Matter: An Anthology for Readers and Writers. Ed. John Schilb and John Clifford. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012. Print.
Frances E.W. Harper and James Whitfield are two of the most influential anti-slavery poets of all time. Both individuals use poetry as a form of resistance and as a way to express themselves during a time of great racial tension. Their poems reach out to many different audiences, shedding light on racial injustices that were present in America. Harper’s and Whitfield’s poetry, like many other works that were written during this time, help us to better comprehend the effects of slavery on African Americans.
Though this poem is only a small snapshot of what I personally thought Douglass was going through, I could never adequately understand the frustration he must have had. My hope in writing this poem was not to provide a psychoanalysis or theoretical idea structure to any audience, but rather to show that even today, a modern audience member like me, can appreciate the struggle of a fellow human and speak against injustices, specifically in Douglass’s time.
Baym, Nina, and Robert S. Levine. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. New York London: W. W. Norton & Company, 2012. Print.
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. “Winter Dreams.” American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. Seventh ed. Vol. II. New York: Norton & Company, 2008. 1010-25. Print. The Norton Anthology.
Tobias Wolff is framing his story Hunters in the Snow, in the countryside near Spokane, Washington, where three friends with three different personalities, decided to take a trip to the woods for hunting in a cold, snowy weather. The whole story follows the hunting trip of these three friends. The reader can easily observe that the cold, hostile environment is an outward expression of how the men behave towards one another. Kenny, with a heart made of ice is rather hostile to Tub, while Frank is cold and indifferent to Tub and his pleas for help.The environment is matching the characters themselves, being cold and uncaring as the author described the two from truck when they laughed at the look of Tub: “You ought to see yourself,” the driver said. “He looks just like a beach ball with a hat on, doesn’t he? Doesn’t he, Frank?”(48). Near the beginning of the story the cold and the waiting surely creates an impact in the mood of the character. Tub is restless from the wait and the cold adds on to it. He complains about being cold and Kenny and Frank, his friends tell him to stop complaining, which seems to be very unfriendly. Wolff builds up the story on the platform of cold weather and the impact of the cold on each character slowly builds up.
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. “The Cross of Snow”. Elements of Literature: Fifth Course. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2008. 198. Print.
The era of the American Revolution was a time of great nationalism, hope, and unity. People who were once only colonists were now citizens of a new and exciting nation. As the years wore on, however, the citizens of the United States were faced with the reality of building a country. The nation strove to find a place for itself, to become secure against the power of the rest of the world. Industry grew along with the population, but what the new country gained in strength it lost in spirit. Regional tensions emerged as well as burning political issues. In the aftermath of the civil war the still young nation attempted to regain this nationalism that was once the strength of the country. One area this attempt was prominent in was literature. Two poets specifically sought to find a national mythology by examining what American's value and why it is necessary to pass it on through tradition. The poems by John Greenleaf Whittier and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow are a call for preserving the roots found in the land of America and in the heart of an American.
Greenblatt, Stephen, and M. H. Abrams. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 9th ed. Vol. A. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012. Print
Have you ever seen snow before? That white fluffy stuff that covers the ground completely. Well if you have, I am sure you have overcome an obstacle in your life and have reached something “irreplaceable and beautiful” (102). Just like Sister Zoe had said when she saw that snow falling from the sky. This story was very enlightening because the way the author brought in herself and portrayed herself through the character Yolanda was very intriguing. She brought the subject to life in many ways. However, the author of “Snow” uses two specific elements, its symbolism and its character to prove how overtime one individual will be able to overcome obstacles. Not only does theses elements point this out but the narrator also makes an impact of the reader as well.
Julia Alvarez. “Snow”. Portable Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing. Ed. Lauren G, Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell. 8th ed. Boston, Wadsworth 2011. 75-76. Print
Belasco, Susan, and Linck Johnson, eds. The Bedford Anthology of American Literature. Vol. 1, 2nd Ed., Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2014. 1190-1203. Print.