William Cullen Bryant William Cullen Bryant was a man with many different abilities and he was well-rounded between political, religious, and writing matters. He had very strong opinions on matters that greatly influenced the United States. William Cullen Bryant had many historical and political contributions through his life as a writer and a free-willed man.
William Cullen Bryant had a very successful early life. He was considered to be a puritan since a young age. “The religious training the young boy received at his hands left such a mark upon him that Bryant the mature poet has sometimes been called a puritan” (Unger 151). Bryant was pushed by his father and his teachings to be a puritan and keep up puritan ways. Coming from Puritans,
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He had such a riveting way with his poetry. Bryant lets his mind free, and differs from other poets and he writes in a way that is unmistakably his own (Unger 152). His poetry had a way of inspiring others, and his work was so unique it was phenomenal. Being a fireside poet created awareness for National American Literature, and it gave the idea that poetry played a beneficial role in “the world of human affairs and sympathies” (“Bryant, William Cullen” 3). Bryant was a such a famous poet along with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, John Greenleaf Whittier, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and James Russell Lowell. Through all of their works, like Bryant, they showed values of the mind and the true desires of the mind in such respectful ways. “In Bryant’s poetry and literary criticism, he promoted nationalism and individualism for American Literature” (“Bryant, William Cullen” 3). Two of Bryant’s most famous works were, “Thanatopsis,” and “To a Waterfowl.” These works were very inspiring and had many aspects of romanticism. Bryant had a way with his words and he will mostly be remembered by those famous …show more content…
“These diverse issues included slavery, sectionalism, the national bank, currency stabilization, the creation of Central Park, the need for prison reform, labor rights, copyright laws, and freedom of the press (“Bryant, William Cullen” 3). Bryant didn’t want to be in politics but he used his writing to show his opinion on all of his political related topics. Although he did not intend to be in politics, that was a very strong area for him. Bryant joined the Democratic Party and made the Post an organ of free trade, free speech, abolition, and workingmen's rights. He later was a founder of the Republican Party (“William Cullen Bryant” 1). The topic of slavery was one of Bryant’s biggest struggles. He had a very strong opinion against slavery and was in some cases considered to be an abolitionist. Bryant devoted his time to trying to stop the spread of slavery. Bryant's beliefs against slavery hurt the Evening Post and was eventually hated in the south because of his edits against slavery. He put up the slogan above the masthead of the editorials: “Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Trade, and Free Speech,” which was the slogan for the Barnburner wing of the Democratic Party, which made people hate him even more (“Bryant, William Cullen” 3). Bryant thought in a way that slavery would dissipate on it’s own, but however that was not the case. With many issues legally among the savery, he began to write immensely
Two very influential men, Thomas Woodrow Wilson, born 1856, and William Jennings Bryan, born 1860 came onto the scene at one of the most critical points in American history. Thomas Woodrow Wilson was what you would call a late bloomer, yet in his later years that late "bloom" turned out to be a remarkable blossom. In other words, the impact he had on human society was colossal. William Jennings Bryan was a brilliant orator. His amazing speeches won him widespread recognition. While these two men worked along side each other in the realm of politics, sometimes in harmony and sometimes not, their lives would forever transform
Poetry as a literally work in which the expression of ideas and feelings is given strength has had great authors overtime who took different perspectives in this genre of literature. These poets used distinctive rhythm and style to express their styles, poetic themes, outlook on life, and had their share of influence on the American society. This paper uses the basis of these styles, themes, outlook on life and subsequent influence on the American society to compare three prolific poets who ventured into this literature genre: Robert Frost, Mary Oliver, and Maya Angelou. Robert Frost (1874-1963) holds a unique and almost sole position in the career span which mostly encompasses
Poems consist of a variation of different techniques in order to convey a message or idea to readers. Wilfred Owen, Thomas Hardy, Adrienne Rich, Bruce Dawe and Robert Browning are great poets who explore these issues, conveying their emotions, which influences a perception of an issue. In each of their poems they express the hidden message of hope, along with their main message. They use similar techniques to express their ideas, which illustrates their purpose to the reader.
Bryant had thoughts that were triggered by nature. Bryant often speaks of birds, flowers, the sky, bodies of water, and fields which lead to Bryant taking notice of his surroundings. Bryant’s love for nature is nothing short of amazing. Nature speaks to his heart, which allows nature to be more of a feeling than just trees, birds, plants, etc. Bryant’s writing is charming and simplistic. Bryant is fond of nature’s beauty. He never speaks of the “ugliness” in nature. He has a way of making everything come alive and seem even more beautiful than what it already is.
Poetry is an art that has been passed down from generation to generation; it acts as a way to express emotion or to show a message to readers. In 2017, it is not as popular as it was in the past as many believe it is a common art left behind in the new era of technology. Although many students may call it it to be boring or something they are not interested in, it does have some relevance in today's world. Poetry can show the reader true emotional perspective, just by reading a single stanza. Today, most people are afraid to show what they are feeling. If just a few words on paper allow an individual to be free, then yes, in 2017 poetry is still relevant. Secondly, formulating poetry requires specific mental skills; skills in showing complex thoughts, using poetic devices, and many more literary techniques. This knowledge is something every student can benefit and grow from as an individual. Some may call it old school, but the benefits of learning poetry will remain relevant for a very long time.
Douglass worked by being a famous orator preached against slavery and eventually joined the Republican Party where he worked with Lincoln and the party to promote and work toward the end of slavery. By 1858 Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass were saying the same thing, preaching the same antislavery politics. Liberty or Slavery must become law of the land” (Oakes 5) Beyond Garrisonian newspapers, he began to embrace abolitionist politics and the idea that the Constitution supported slave emancipation. “Lincoln saw the Constitution as neither a clarion
Why would Bryant pair the images of a woman with earth, and death with a pleasant sleep? It would not make since unless you view the poem from the correct time period, and then the purpose and themes of the poem become clear. Transcendentalism started in the 1820’s and 1830’s, right when William would be writing this poem. Promoting the rejection of the Theistic God and the love of nature, transcendentalism obviously had an impact on young Bryant’s mind. In Thanatopsis nature takes a lead role as a God like figure to take us when we die, and to take our hopes, dreams, and sorrows. So going back to the earth would be an honor, which is exactly how he expresses it in the poem. He views going back to the “Earth Mother” as the ultimate goal. His
Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor are two of the most distinguished and fervent Puritan poets. Yet this similarity has proven to be one of the few, if not only between these two. One cannot help but find it intriguing that poets who belong to the same religious group and style would write so differently. Many of these differences are not even subtle or hidden beneath the text itself. The differences themselves hold implications and ideas that differ between each poet.
William Lloyd Garrison, a white man from Massachusetts became a part of the anti-slavery movement, or abolitionist movement, in 1830. Right away, William Lloyd Garrison published a weekly paper called the Liberator, which directly stated the need for “immediate and complete emancipation of all slaves.” William Lloyd Garrison saw that the only way that slavery could end was by persuading those who would read his pieces. Garrison realized the only way to prove how bad slavery is, was to show how immoral and unjust it was for there to be slavery in our country. He felt so strongly about his views, e once burned a copy of the Constitution because this documented stated the right to own slaves. Garrisons paper had received very harsh responses and many states wanted to charge against Garrison for a felonious crime and would reward others who found those who distributed his paper. (28a. William Lloyd Garrison and The Liberator) The reason why Garrison had received such severe reactions from people was because of his non-government theories and his idea that the government was a form of compromise, explaining how slavery would not end with compromise. He also wrote in the Liberator and “denounced the Compromise of 1850, condemned the
His experience as a former slave enabled him to gain sympathy for his cause, and he was very influential in the attainment of rights for African Americans. The message in his bibliography sent to Americans was a turning point in American history. His brilliance served as evidence that both black and white were born with equal intellectual potential and were capable of equal achievement. His speeches, compositions, and general display of intellect played a crucial role in the emancipation of the slaves and the way Black people were viewed in
William Cullen Bryant was well known for writing poems on nature, and he beautifully shows us the Romanticism view of one of their key themes. As with numerous other poems from the Romanticism Period, Bryant uses the imagery and ideas of a woman to convey his love for nature. An example of this trait is in the poem, “Thanatopsis”, Bryant’s most famous work. The first three lines of the poem shows both his love for nature and that he is going to use the image of a woman for the rest of the poem. “To him who in the love of nature holds/ Communion with her visible forms, she speaks/ A various language; for his gayer hours” He expressly says
Whitman wrote broad stanzas and focused on the whole of America as his inspiration. His lines covered a wide range of topics and generated multiple points of view for the reader. He called his life’s work “Leaves of Grass”; stressing the
In 1831 William Lloyd Garrison found a newspaper “The Liberator” a very powerful voice for the antislavery movement and in this way he was making powerful enemy for himself. In 1833 Harriet Beecher Stowe had a trip to South by her first trip to South she had a big change on her life by what she saw and it impact on her way of writing. In 1837 John Brown after failing in his business and murder of an antislavery activist he devotes his life to the cause. In 1838 Frederick Douglass run away from slavery and he joined William Lloyd Garrison for an antislavery movement. Douglass became a very powerful public speaker in North with presenting his own personal life story as a slave. Because of his old owner he went to U.K and he experienced a free life. In 1847 he came back to U.S.A and he own an antislavery paper. In that year John Brown met Douglass in Massachusetts and he shared his radical to him to raise army to free the slaves. In 1852 Harriet Beecher Stowe published Uncle Tom’s Cabin. This book changed the heart and mind of Americans through slavery. In 1859 John Brown had a secret meeting with Frederick
Whitman was able to change people’s views on life and was able to give people something that they wanted and were looking for in his creation of a new writing style. His writing about real life experiences connected him well with the common man, which is another aspect of the Romantic period. Whitman is also thought of as the “father of free verse.” He enjoyed using free verse because it could further distinguish him from other writers of the past, and of his time.
Robert Frost is perhaps one of America's best poets of his generation. His vivid images of nature capture the minds of readers. His poems appear to be simple, but if you look into them there is a lot of insight. Robert Frost spoke at John F. Kennedy's inauguration. He is the only poet to have had the opportunity to speak at a presidential inauguration. Through his poetry people learn that Robert Frost is a complicated and intellectual man who has a place in many American hearts. (Richards P.10)