Henry Longfellow Flashcards
What was he the first American to do?
Have his bust placed in the poets corner of Westminster abbey
What did 19th century readers call Longfellow?
Their poet
What did he use the greatest variety of?
Genres and verse forms when compared to other New England school poets
When did his best works occur?
After the death of his 2nd wife
What is a sonnet?
A lyric poem of 14 iambic pentameter lines who eventually rhyming according to one or two patterns
What genre is Mezzo Cammin considered?
A sonnet
What does Mezzo Cammin mean?
Half way up the road
Explain. “Some tower of song with lofty parapet”
The tower he wants to build is poetry
What is the point of Mezzo Cammin?
It is a self evaluation of his accomplishment, a review of his experience and an anticipation of the future.m
What is the metaphor in MC?
Road and scenery along the road
What does his perspective suggest?
Disappointment
Explain. “A city in the twilight dim and vast”
The past is compared to a city
What does the last line have a startling reference to?
The cataract of death
What is Divina Commedia about?
The blessing of prayer
DC- what is it part of?
A larger effort of his translation of Dante’s divine comedy from Italian to English
