The Fireside Poets Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Oliver Wendell Holmes William Cullen Bryant James Russell Lowell John Greenleaf Whittier
New England Scholars and Patriots 1800s Boston area Harvard educated / influenced (“circles”) Politically active individuals Influenced by the hustle and bustle of the city and harbor
Poetry for the People Simple poems that looked to warm the American heart and give pride in American daily life Optimism, simplicity, regular rhythms, faith in American work Poems were written to be enjoyed by the common man Children began memorizing these poems in American schools