Though the poet may not have been talking about himself, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow indeed became one of the “great men” reminding many young Americans that they too can “make their lives sublime” in a time when the country was developing and slowly but eventually moving towards Civil War. In his famous poem “A Psalm of Life”, he tells us that “Lives of great men all remind us we can make our lives sublime…” In this era, Longfellow became one of the most popular American poets, drawing admiration from greats such as Charles Dickens and Walt Whitman. The writer’s poetry inspired many with a sense of confidence and triumph, boosting morale of the young nation and later soothing the nation in a time of war. Henry was not without his own adversities, however. The creative genius’s own losses threatened to nearly drive out his passion for poetry. After a time, Longfellow learned to draw from these experiences to help him with his exalting works. The events of 19th century America, coupled with personal experience, serves to influence the captivating and gentle writings of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Born in Portland, Maine while it was still a part of Massachusetts in the early 19th century, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow grew up in a well-to-do, yet large, family. He had a romantic mindset as a child, reading many adventurous tales of foreign setting. Longfellow first fell in love with Mary Storer Potter after graduating from Bowdoin College. They got married in 1831 after he returned from studying language in Europe to teach at his former alma mater. Unfortunately, the young author’s happiness did not last, as four years later Mary died due to a miscarriage. After a year-long grieving period, Henry began to teach at th...
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... nature in its entirety. Longfellow may not have been the best poet, but his many friends made him one of the most important. Even after his death, Longfellow is “still achieving, still pursuing; [and telling us to] learn to labor and wait” (Longfellow).
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Paul Revere’s great ride through the night to save the americans from the huge british force was a big piece of American history during that time. Many have written about Paul Revere but longfellow doesn't tell the whole story. Longfellow's poem doesn't tell the whole story but Paul’s letter does.
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His pieces were considered the best of the time. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, born in 1807, is one of the most renowned authors of the Romanticism Era, with one of his most famous works being “A Psalm of Life” which is still treasured by the American society. On February 27, 1807, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine to Zilpah Wadsworth and Stephen Longfellow, an excellent lawyer and Congressman. Longfellow’s grandfather was General Wadsworth and he was named after his uncle on his mother’s side, Henry Wadsworth, who died while serving in the Navy. He was the second child born to a family with only one other boy, but that would soon change as he has a total of three brothers and four sisters.
Walt Whitman was a great poet who profoundly influenced American culture. From his humble beginnings on the Long Island shore to his early careers working as an office boy and apprenticeship to “The Patriot”, Whitman began to develop his ideals and educate himself. Looking back to the events of his childhood, Whitman began to author great poems and wrote his famous book “Leaves of Grass.” Whitman gave America cultural roots and set an example for poets to follow. Whitman truly was America’s poet.