1. Romanticism
Fireside Poetry

2. The Five fireside poets
William Cullen Bryant
Oliver Wendell Holmes
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
James Russell Lowell
John Greenleaf Whittier

3. Fireside Poetry Written for the common people.
Modeled after European literary traditions – standard form, regular meter, rhyme.
Written for the common people.
Subject matter was comforting, rather than challenging.
Uniquely American in the sense that they chose American subject matter:
American folk themes
American landscapes/settings
Abolitionist issues
American Indian culture
Celebrations of American people, places, and events

4. Fireside Poetry Cont’d
Titled as such because families often gathered to read poetry at the hearth (fireside) of homes.
One of the few forms of entertainment available during this time.
Produced some of America’s most famous poets.

5. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
An American poet and an educator; Fireside poet.
Poetry offered comfort and assurances to an audience who faced industrialization.
Although comforting, his poetry did not illuminate or challenge.
He reminded Americans of their roots and in the process became an American icon himself.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

6. John Greenleaf whittier
A Quaker poet (Fireside poet) born into a poor family; poorly educated.
Abolitionist; wrote poems, essays, and articles concerned with abolition.
Shoemaker, schoolteacher, and editor.
Wrote mainly of religion, nature, and rural life (comforting topics).
John Greenleaf whittier