Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 19th century prolific and influential poet
... Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is one of the most prolific and influential poets of the 19th century. ... Longfellow was a boy who knew his way around the text and found himself enrolled in school at the tender age of three. ... As Longfellow grew and began finding his voice in young adulthood, he found himself surrounded by the great minds of his time, singing the praises of the American nation. Emerson, Thoreau, and Hawthorne are just a few of the close friends and colleagues as well as influences had by Longfellow. Longfellow married twice and was left alone twice in his life, with the comfort of five children. ... Throughout his life, Longfellow was affected by joy and sorrow, and chose to write about the things he new best. Watching the activities in the harbors of Maine, Henry gained a sense of duty and cooperation as well as hope, as evident in “The Builders” and “The Building of the Ship. ... ” The prolific works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, such as simple poems, slavery poems, ballads, sonnets, songs and more, encompass the simplistic aspects of life with generally joyous undertones, he was an optimistic poet that liked to see the hope in life. Characteristics of Longfellow’s poetry is very simple and indicative of the times and place in which it was written. Longfellow has two very strong characteristics that are a staple thread throughout every poem that has been written. First, easy rhyme, Longfellow creates a rhyme that is easy to follow and creates almost a melodic feel so that the poem stays with the reader. ... Second, Longfellow uses obvious themes in all of his works, it is not hard to understand what the poem is meant to discuss or meant to convey. Longfellow wrote each poem with such themes in order to make it easier for the masses to understand his work; also it presented a sense of New England optimism that called for immediate response by the readers. Longfellow was very much a New England poet in that nature’s imagery was present in many of his poems, furthered by the sense of tight-knit family situation that is closed from intrusion. ... Also, a theme that is woven through many of Longfellow’s poems is time. The fleeting of time has served to be a great impact on Longfellow as it has been a great influence on his life with the passing of both wives and the growth of all five children, as well as watching a century change, until death in March of 1882. ... Longfellow writes about the subjects he knows and is passionate about. ... Longfellow uses extended metaphors to compare the whispers of his children to the plans of a military attack and is evident in the final stanza when Longfellow compares himself to the “Mouse-Tower on the Rhine. ... Longfellow uses the theme of time in this poem as a strong force to create a flow and meaning throughout “A Psalm of Life.