| Author |
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth, 1807-1882 |
| Title |
The Song of Hiawatha: An Epic Poem
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| Note |
Reading ease score: 68.5 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
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| Credits |
Juliet Sutherland, Leonard Johnson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
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| Summary |
"The Song of Hiawatha: An Epic Poem" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is an epic poem written in the mid-19th century. This work draws heavily upon Native American traditions and myths, weaving them into the tale of the titular character, Hiawatha, and his journey alongside various tribes and natural elements. The poem explores themes of unity, creation, love, and the connection between humanity and nature, making it a notable representation of the Romantic movement’s interest in folklore. The opening portion of the poem introduces the singer Nawadaha, who is depicted as a conduit for the stories and legends of the Native American people, specifically those of the Ojibway and Dacotah tribes. Nawadaha narrates how the concept of Hiawatha arose from the rich cultural landscape filled with nature’s scents and sounds. Through a series of poetic verses, it sets the stage for the epic's exploration of Hiawatha's birth, his connection to the elements, and the early stirring of his character and destiny as a hero. The mystical environment and the invocation of natural imagery lay the groundwork for the adventures and lessons that will follow in the subsequent cantos. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
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| Subject |
Indians of North America -- Poetry
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| Subject |
Hiawatha, active 15th century -- Poetry
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| Subject |
Iroquois Indians -- Kings and rulers -- Poetry
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
30795 |
| Release Date |
Dec 29, 2009 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Oct 24, 2021 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
356 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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