COVE

The American Revolution took place from 1765-1783 and was fought between Great Britain and their American colonies. The war started due to growing tensions concerning Great Britain’s strict control over their colonies and the colonists’ desire to break away from the motherland to create their own government and laws. Many colonists of this time did not agree with the laws that the king, who was ruling them from across the ocean, was forcing them to adhere to. These laws were especially unpopular in Massachusetts, where there was much upheaval displayed by the colonists. By the end of the war, the colonists were able to win their freedom from Britain and became the United States of America (“Prelude”).

The revolution not only won America its freedom, but it also inspired a new generation of writers who began writing in the American Romanticism genre. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow became one of these writers during his lifetime and was famous for publishing the poem “Paul Revere’s Ride” in 1860. This poem sheds a light on the courageous actions of Paul Revere on the night that he warned the American army of the British army’s impending attack. Longfellow specifically commemorates the bravery of everyday American citizens, like Revere, for taking action during the war and for being involved in the cause (“Henry”). Acts like these, in addition to winning a war that granted Americans freedom from Britain, instilled a value of freedom into the American people, which could be seen through the democratic spirit that they carried with them following the war. This demeanor of liberty was also intertwined with the popular writing of this time, which fell under the category of American Romanticism (Wolf). This genre of literature truly captured the American spirit of freedom, democracy, and even nature, as authors commonly showed their appreciation for natural beauty. This is notably observed in Longfellow’s poetry, not only within “Paul Revere’s Ride,” but also within “A Psalm of Life,” where Longfellow disputes what the church thinks about the true meaning of life. His proclamation that life should be lived wholeheartedly and without fear of death goes against what some in the church thought at the time. But since he was writing within the American Romanticism genre, the freedom that he had to disagree with the church shines through in his work. It is also important to note that Longfellow lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts for the majority of his life and was undoubtedly inspired by the rebel spirit that was embodied here during the revolution. Therefore, his poems reflect both the time period and area in which he lived, following the American Revolution.

 Works Cited

“Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/henry-wadsworth-longfellow. Accessed 14 Feb. 2024.

“Prelude to War.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., www.britannica.com/event/American-Revolution/Prelude-to-war. Accessed 14 Feb. 2024.

Wolf, Kaitlyn. “American Romanticism Overview.” Literary Landscapes, 26 Apr. 2019, adhc.lib.ua.edu/site/literarylandscapes/american-romanticism-overview/.