Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s The Song of Hiawatha is celebrated for its lyrical beauty, rich use of Native American themes, and rhythmic mastery. However, it faces criticism for cultural appropriation and historical inaccuracies. While captivating, some may find the epic's pace slow and its portrayals dated. Overall, a notable work in American literature.

Readers who appreciate epic poetry, Native American folklore, and rich, rhythmic narration will enjoy The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Fans of Longfellow's work or titles like The Iliad by Homer and Beowulf will find similar enjoyment in this timeless tale.

The Song of Hiawatha is an 1855 epic poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that blends Indigenous and Western influences to tell the story of Hiawatha, a mythic Ojibwe hero, as he embarks on various adventures and unites his people. The poem explores themes of nature, spirituality, and love, embedded in a rich tapestry of American myth and legend. Descriptions of settlers and assimilation may be sensitive for some readers.

Nostalgic / Melancholic / Fantastical / Inspirational / Contemplative

- The Song of Hiawatha is notable for its use of trochaic tetrameter, a metrical pattern that is more commonly associated with Finnish and Estonian folk poetry, such as the Kalevala.
- Written in 1855, the poem contributed to popularizing Native American culture among European Americans by employing figures from Native American oral traditions, though it has since been critiqued for its cultural appropriations.
- The poem has had a significant impact on popular culture, inspiring numerous adaptations and references in music, theater, and parodies, including compositions by Antonín Dvořák and a musical setting by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Adult

Novel/Book in Verse

Fiction

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The Song of Hiawatha Summary and Study Guide

Background

The Song of Hiawatha Background

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Canto Summaries & Analyses

Introduction-Canto II

The Song of Hiawatha Introduction-Canto II Summary & Analysis

Cantos III-VI

The Song of Hiawatha Cantos III-VI Summary & Analysis

Cantos VII-XII

The Song of Hiawatha Cantos VII-XII Summary & Analysis

Cantos XIII-XVII

The Song of Hiawatha Cantos XIII-XVII Summary & Analysis

Cantos XVIII-XXII

The Song of Hiawatha Cantos XVIII-XXII Summary & Analysis

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

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Themes

The Song of Hiawatha Themes

Symbols & Motifs

The Song of Hiawatha Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

The Song of Hiawatha Literary Devices

The Song of Hiawatha Further Reading & Resources

Introduction

The Song of Hiawatha Teacher Introduction

Before Reading

The Song of Hiawatha Before Reading

During Reading

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After Reading

The Song of Hiawatha After Reading

The Song of Hiawatha

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