Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Influences

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, an American novelist, playwright, and poet in the 19th century, has become an American icon through his famous works, serving as a source of reassurance and connection for his readers. Longfellow's childhood consisted of observing the Maine coast and taking in the nature around him. These childhood memories were preserved and relayed in many of Longfellows notorious poems such as “My Lost Youth” and “Dedication”, many of which established him as a fireside poet: one who “wrote about American politics and New England landscapes.” As Longfellow’s family had been extensively involved in the American Revolution, many of his works included themes prevalent in the American Frontier. “Paul Revere’s Ride” for instance, was a poem written after Longfellow had spent a great deal of time learning about the
His output was small, publishing essays and poems to papers such as the United States Literary Gazette and Portland Advisor. (Poetry Foundation) However, these publishings allowed Longfellow to travel across Europe in order to explore literature and language. This trip sparked Longfellows blend of American and European literary elements, setting up many of his future pieces. However, this successful period of Longfellows career would also prove to be one of the most tragic in his personal life. In 1835, Longfellow's wife, Mary Potter, suffered a miscarriage and died. (The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica) This tragic event was the beginning of the transformation of Longfellow's writing, “awakening a new sense of emotional expression” in his poetic works and allowing him to make an emotional connection with his readers. In 1837, Longfellow was again crushed when Frances Appleton, a young girl who he had met in Switzerland, rejected his marriage proposal. Once more, Longfellow focused on his work, increasingly incorporating emotion into his