Romanticism In Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's A Palm Of Life

Phillis Wheatley is a gem of her time; the first African-American woman to have her poetry published. Though purchased as a slave, her life was far from most African-Americans during the 17th century. She was educated and became deeply rooted in her faith: Christianity. From an outsider, her life may be viewed as an adopted child rather than a slave to the Wheatley family. However, she did not forget where she came from or those less fortunate than herself. Wheatley used the education she was afforded and her new-found spirituality to fight against slavery through the use of words (751). One of the greatest examples of this is her poem “To the University of Cambridge, in New England” addressed to perhaps the well-educated group of

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

Phillis Wheatley’s, ‘On Being Brought from AFRICA to AMERICA’ is a testament to writing that utilizes irony and satire to produce a salient argument. As Susan Martin, states in her analysis of Wheatley’s poem, “a young woman who sought to assert her views on the passage from freedom to slavery, ignorance to knowledge, darkness to enlightenment” (Martin, 157). In particular, Wheatley’s aim was to construct a piece which addresses the ideals expressed by Martin utilizing irony and satire. Moreover, Wheatley, at the time of writing this poem, was amongst those enslaved. In fact, Wheatley published her first book in 1773. This is a time before America’s independence and most certainly a time where slavery was prominent. This book, which contained numerous poems, proved those enslaved were more intelligent than previously thought. Within Wheatley’s book, her famous poem, ‘On Being Brought from AFRICA to AMERICA’ was read. Read by those who supported slavery and those who opposed it. Typically, Wheatley addresses Christianity and avoids any discussion of race. However, this poem addresses racial issues straight on. On the surface of this poem lies words that when first perceived, appear to support slavery and her deposition from Africa. Moreover, Wheatley utilizes irony and satire to provide a deeper message that speaks out against slavery. More importantly, satire and irony allow two views to form. Through analysis from authors, Levernier, Loving, and Martin, their multiple perspectives can be formed into one. This analysis, will allow a better understanding of Wheatley’s intent with each line and a closer analysis of her clever rhetoric. Furthermore, Wheatley aims to reveal the improper treatment of, “Negros, black as Cain” (Wheatley), while also allowing the poem to be perceived as an appraisal of slavery. Furthermore, Wheatley utilizes each line to provide discussion on different issues regarding slavery in terms of criticizing white Christianity. Furthermore, Wheatley makes her viewpoint of slavery clear; an improper treatment that will not last.

Reading the works of Phillis Wheatley are more so confused on the high praise that she bestows upon the Europeans that we know have taken her from her homeland due to the enslavement of the African people. Her passion to write about the importance of the Christian religion is reflected in her work including her poem “On Being Brought from Africa to America.” In this poem, she explains her appreciation for the white race. Being of the enslaved people during this time, is puzzling to read such things but intrigues one to comprehensively understand why she feels this way. She touches on different themes such as race, religion, and self-identity. Wheatley makes a bold statement to express how being introduced to Christianity has modified her

……In 1845 an extraordinary piece of work by Frederick Douglass was published “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave”; this was the life of a man who through many adversities stood tall with his head in the heavens. Douglass was the more proactive abolitionist as his work was to demolish slavery while detailing his life experience as a slave and expressing is deep emotions and theory on slavery. In the “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave” he expresses the way religion and its literature, the bible, had an effect not only on slavery but also with white Christianity. His position on slavery was strong and compelling. Douglass used powerful authoritative words from the start of his narrative to grasp our hold and attention and keep us enflamed while realizing God is embedded in the words. ……Phillis Wheatley overcame obstacles most people would quiver against. She showed us slavery and she showed us faith. In the poem, she tells us “Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land, Taught my benighted soul to understand” (Wheatley, line 1-2) Right from the beginning , Wheatley shows us religion through her use of subtle but powerful words. She uses the words “Mercy, Pagan

American religion shifted significantly to personal religion because of the Great Awakening. People began to view their faith as less of a group and as more of a personal calling. Unlike the Anglican Church, preachers in the colonies did not require training. Instead churches in the colonies encouraged altar calls, a practice in which anyone could come up to the front of the church and preach their message. Colonists also institutionalized slavery in their life. In the mid-1700’s, around seven thousand slaves were imported to the colonies. By 1763, 15 to 20 percent of Americans were slaves. The religious people of America rationalized race-based slavery by saying that blacks had the “curse of Cain” and therefore were less than human. Though entrenched in other societies, America’s belief in inherited slavery. Unlike in other places where slavery was something one could work out of, Americans made slavery an inherited job based upon the mother’s side. The institutionalization of slavery was a uniquely American trait to accommodate for the want of cheap labor and a lot more workers. Americans also had a different lifestyle than the British. Americans dressed in animals clothing and had very little furniture. Americans adopted words from the Indians, French, and African languages being spoken around them. The American-English language became so unique that some British people could not even

In the early eighteenth century through the mid-nineteenth century slavery was arguably the most controversial topic in the newly formed United States. Testimonies such as those found in Common Sense, American Yawp, and Narrative of Sojourner Truth, are just some examples of the cruelty and harshness slaves endured. Many people of different races and social standings rose together in Christianity and spoke out against slavery in hopes to reform the new country. Those such as Harriet Jacobs, Charles G. Finney, David Walker, and Sojourner Truth’s testimonies and speeches still ring throughout history today.

Wheatley also presented herself as an African who was orphaned by American slavery and sought for freedom amongst the society. Despite the prodigiousness acceptance of slavery through the capture of Africans and the impulsion of eighteenth century colonist to retain black inferiority, Phillis Wheatley still found her identity as an African and expressed it throughout her poetry. Wheatley’s expression of her African identity, which is coherent in her poetry, is an invention of a pagan converted Christian speaking to a community of other Christians. The autobiography of “On Being Brought from Africa to America” recounts Wheatley’s journey from her “Pagan land” to Christianity. This particular poem reminds Wheatley's “fellow Christians of what they might have forgotten about their core belief; every Christian's ultimate goal of securing a place in the "angelic train" transcends natural circumstances like skin color, social placement, and national origin” (Adéeko). The African in “On Being Brought from Africa to America” has left Africa behind and recollections of the past brings security and reassurement in the new location. As a literate, black, Christian speaker, Wheatley ventriloquized the illiterate, enslaved, African’s voice in order to address the institution of slavery to her audience of slave

Colonial New England ideologies were strictly religious in their puritan beliefs. Clergymen were highly educated and forced religious practices in the name of being righteous and holy. Conformity to religion was not considered a rational choice to those that were forced unto American soil and forced to live a way of life so different than their own. Enslaved Africans brought with them their own religious, marriage and funeral, and medicinal practices. These practices prompted radical puritans to fear these religious traditions that were so unlike their own, condemning blacks and the various ways they expressed hope in oppression. McMillan states, “As blacks occupied the lowest rung within society, their ability to survive the ordeals of

Phillis Wheatley was an African American poet who contributed to American literature, but also influenced African Americans living in America, and inspired their knowledge about how they were treated during the Revolutionary War. Phillis Wheatley was an African American female who was born in 1753 in West Africa, and she died on December 5th, 1753 in Boston Massachusetts. (“Phillis Wheatley.” Discovering Biography). In 1761, she was captured and brought to America and was sold to John and Susanna Wheatley. Unlike other household slaves, Wheatley was treated well and had a very upright education. (“Phillis Wheatley,” UXL Biographies). Wheatley started to write poetry when she was twelve years old and published her first poem when she was fourteen years old. Later in her life, having not yet found her sense of freedom, Wheatley promoted her work and became well known during the Revolutionary War. (“Phillis Wheatley.” Discovering Biography). She was granted freedom in 1773 and moved to Providence, Rhode Island where she pursued her career once more. Later in 1784, she died after a miserable marriage to John Peters, but her legacy still lives and emphasized problems of equality during the Revolutionary War. (“Phillis Wheatley,” UXL Biographies). Phillis Wheatley’s, “On Being Brought from Africa to America,” demonstrates her personal experiences upon leaving Africa as a slave and demonstrates African equality beyond her Pagan background and life living as a servant in

Phyllis Wheatley was one of the most iconic figures in the American Revolution on the side of the colonists because she was the first black female to be published in America. This was very important because it was a kickstart in generating authentic American culture and a lot of it. Phyllis Wheatley was born in Africa and brought over to be sold in the slave trade. She was purchased by John Wheatley and unlike other slave owners, John and his family committed to educating Phyllis just as they would their own son and daughter. Mrs. Wheatley was teaching Phyllis literature, theology, mythology, English, Latin, Greek and ancient history by the time she was 10. Wheatley was not necessarily a physical threat to the British powers per say but what she stood for definitely made a mark in the colonists’ views of freedom. The basis for the American Revolution was that the colonists wanted freedom from Britain. They wanted to govern themselves and live how they wanted without interference from an English power that was not even on the same land as they were. The colonists were fighting for their dignity in individual freedom and Phillis Wheatley was reinforcing that by transforming the idea into words to form poetry. Phillis Wheatley achieved many great things by being an anomaly of the slave trade and because of that, proved to be an influential figure to many leaders of the

In 1918, at the age of twenty six, Sarah’s life encountered a major turning point. While joining her father on a trip to Philadelphia she met many well-known Quakers. While talking with the men, Sarah found that she was interested in their beliefs and views on life and what was occurring in society. This intrigued her to ask them their opinion on male and female equality. When they responded that they were in favor of equality, she left the Anglican religion, as well as her family, and moved to Philadelphia to become a Quaker. (VanBurkleo, 2000) However, as she studied and lived with them, she soon discovered how they felt about slaves and African Americans in general. At this time, her younger sister Angelina came to live with her and the two began protesting at Quaker meetings.

Despite this, many African Americans contributed to literature, religion, and science. Phillis Wheatley was an African American poet who wrote about her life as a slave. She brought attention to how women and African Americans were treated in America. A religious leader and writer, Richard Allen, opened the first independent black denomination in the United States. He used religion as a way to show how slavery was an unreligious aspect of life.

Emily Dickinson, who lived from 1830 to 1886, also had a large impact in the American Romantic period. However, she would never know of the impact she had due to the fact that her writings were not published until after her death. The subject of her poetry ranged from religion to nature, which both are large influences to this time. One poem that fits in very well with this era is “Because I Could Not Stop for Death.” The poem begins by saying, “Because I could not stop for death, he kindly stopped for me; the carriage held but just ourselves and immortality.” This poem deals with human immortality and what occurs after we die. The desire for knowledge and wanting to understand what we currently do not are influences in American Romanticism. Dickinson seemed to be consumed with death and what happens to humans after death, she even wrote to a priest to ask what the state of mind was of a friend she had while he was on his deathbed. Her fascination with death played a major role in many of her

One of Wheatley’s better known pieces of poetry is “On being brought from Africa to America.” While it is a short poem a lot of information can be taken away from it. She begin the poem with establishing her experience with slavery as a beneficial thing to her life. She makes this clear by telling the reader that slavery brought her to Christianity, an important piece of her life. One reason the subject of Christianity is prevalent in the poem is because as an African American poet not many subjects were “safe” to write about without receiving criticism or even punishment. Christianity, however, was one of the more accepted