Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet born between 1807-1882. He was part of the "Fireside Poets" known for poems that were read around fires. Longfellow wrote in a lyric style, expressing personal feelings and emotions about subjects. One of his most famous poems is "Paul Revere's Ride", which was published in 1860. The poem dramatizes the ride of Paul Revere to warn the American colonists of the approaching British forces before the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775. Though the poem takes some artistic liberties, it helped establish Paul Revere as a famous patriot and national hero.

1. Henry WadsworthHenry Wadsworth
LongfellowLongfellow
-An American Poet-An American Poet
Early American LiteratureEarly American Literature

2. BiographyBiography
 1807-18821807-1882
 Beloved poet and scholarBeloved poet and scholar
 Part of the “Fireside Poets”Part of the “Fireside Poets”
because his poems werebecause his poems were
read around the fires ofread around the fires of
early Americans. (Think ofearly Americans. (Think of
the songs you’d play tothe songs you’d play to
relax with friendsrelax with friends ))
 Most of his poems wereMost of his poems were
morally uplifting and oftenmorally uplifting and often
sentimental.sentimental.

3. Poetic Style =Lyric PoetryPoetic Style =Lyric Poetry
 Expresses personal feelings and strongExpresses personal feelings and strong
emotions about a subject.emotions about a subject.
 Lyric poets were inspired by life events,Lyric poets were inspired by life events,
scenery and philosophy.scenery and philosophy.

4. "Paul Revere's Ride"
 "Paul Revere's Ride" is one of Longfellow's
best known and most widely read poems.
 "Paul Revere's Ride" first appeared in the
December 18, 1860 edition of the "Boston
Transcript," and then in the January 1861
"Atlantic Monthly."

5. Poetic BackgroundPoetic Background
 Paul Revere was a silversmith in Boston and a
devoted patriot. He was a participant in the Boston
Tea Party and creator of an inflammatory illustration
of what became known as the Boston Massacre.
Revere was also a family man, fathering eight
children with his first wife, and, after her death, eight
with his second wife. After the events described in
Longfellow's poem, he served with the poet's
maternal grandfather, Peleg Wadsworth, in the failed
Penobscot expedition. By 1860, he and his place in
history had been largely forgotten.

6. Poetic Background Cont.Poetic Background Cont.
 The basic premise of Longfellow's poem is
historically accurate, but Paul Revere's role is
exaggerated. The most glaring inconsistencies
between the poem and the historical record are
that Revere was not the only rider that night,
nor did he make it all the way to Concord, but
was captured and then let go (without his
horse) in Lexington, where he had stopped to
warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock of the
impending attack.

7. Poetic IntentPoetic Intent
 Longfellow's intention was not to write a
history; it was to create a national hero and he
was successful at doing so. During a time of
great national upheaval, people seized on Paul
Revere as an example of the county's noble
past. His is still a household name and today
visitors to Boston can visit Revere's house and
follow in Revere's footsteps as outlined by
Longfellow as they walk along the Freedom
Trail.

8. Project AssignmentProject Assignment
 Phase I : Student will work in their colleaguePhase I : Student will work in their colleague
collaboration groups to memorize & recite onecollaboration groups to memorize & recite one
(1) stanza of Mr. Longfellow’s poem “Paul(1) stanza of Mr. Longfellow’s poem “Paul
Revere’s Ride”Revere’s Ride”
 Phase II: Students will interpret & summarizePhase II: Students will interpret & summarize
their assigned stanzas; in addition totheir assigned stanzas; in addition to
presenting their interpretations to the class.presenting their interpretations to the class.