Fireside Poets
The Fireside Poets were a group of American men in the 1800’s from New England area. These poets included Henry Longfellow, John Greenleaf Whittier,William Cullen Bryant, James Russell Lowell, and Oliver Wendell Holmes.Their work centered around everyday life and American politics. They wrote in a variety of styles most wich allowed for recitation, giving them the name; "fireside poets."
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
-He was born in Portland Massachusetts (now Maine) in 1807.
-Died in 1882.
-He studied at Bowdoin college alongside Nathaniel Hawthorne, a lifetime long friend.
-Was a linguist and followed romanticism.
-Became world-famous for his works such as:
-The Cumberland, Dante, The Galley of Count Arnaldos, Keats, Milton, and Paul Revere's Ride.
Oliver Wendell Holmes
-Born in Cambridge Massachusetts in 1809.
-Graduated Harvard University in 1836.
- Was a phsyician as well as a poet.
- Traveled to Europe as he studied medicine in more dept.
-Returned after 3 years to begin writing.
-Some called Holmes the "poet laureate."
-Most famous poem was "Old Ironsides," this poem appealed to the nationalism of the American people, it was a poem protesting the "scrapping" of a famous ship.
-Other works included:
-The Broken Circle, and Departed Days.
John Greenleaf Whittier
-Born in Haverhill Massachusetts in 1807.
-Had Quaker backgrounds.
-A romantic, he loved the woods, nature, and its beauty.
-Was interested in writing and printing and ended up editing newspapers in Boston and Hartford.
-HIs first poem was published in the Newburyport Free Press.
- Incorporated in the Republican party developement.
-Most famous poem: Snow-Bound, this poem made him a lot of money and allowed him to live comfortably.
-Other works include:
-Ichabod, My Playmate, The Slave Ships, and The Worship of Nature.
James Russel Lowell
-Born in Cambridge Massachusetts in 1819.
-First published A Years Life.
-He replaced Longfellow as the liguist director at Harvard University.
-One of his most famous works; The Vision of Sir Launfal, was a Arthurian work, meaning it dealt with King Arthur and his knights. This poem became famous quickly and was discussed all over the nation in school rooms and meeting houses.
-Other works included:
-Auspex, My Love, and War.
William Cullen Bryant
-Born in Cummington Massachusetts in 1794.
-Considered an advocate for the Republican Party.
-As a child he loved the New England Countryside.
-In his poems he showed this love of nature through his flowery style of writing.
-In his work he described theology. He stressed simplicity and imagination.
Works included:
-Thantopsis, To a Waterfowl, The Murdered Traveler, and The Death of Flowers.
Works Cited
"Arthurian." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2008.Merriam-Webster Online. 24 November 2008 < http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Arthurian>
Curtis, Howard J.. "John Greenleaf Whittier." Haverhill Public Library. 2008. Haverhill Public Library. 24 Nov 2008 http://www.haverhillpl.org/Departments/special/jgwhittier.html
EKES. "Fireside Poets." 2008. Weebly. 24 November 2008. http://ekes.weebly.com/fireside-poets.html
“Henry Wadsworth Longfellow." Eclectic Esoterica. 2008. My Bookshelf. 24 Nov 2008 <http://eclecticesoterica.com/longfellow.html>.
“James Russell Lowell." University of Rochester Libraries.. 2008. University of Rochester Libraries.. 24 Nov 2008 http://www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/auth/lowell.htm.
“Poems by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow." Poetry Archive. Poetry-Archive.com. 2002. 24 Nov 2008 <http://poetry-archive.com/l/longfellow_henry_wadsworth.html>.
“Poems by John Greenleaf Whittier." Poetry Archive. Poetry-Archive.com. 2002. 24 Nov 2008 <http://poetry-archive.com/w/whittier_john_greenleaf.html>.
“Poems by Oliver Wendell Holmes." Poetry Archive. Poetry-Archive.com. 2002. 24 Nov 2008 <http://www.poetry-archive.com/h/holmes_oliver_wendell.html>.
“Poems by Williams Cullen Bryant." Poetry Archive. Poetry-Archive.com. 2002. 24 Nov 2008 <http://www.poetseers.org/early_american_poets/william_cullen_bryant>.