Reflection-Fireside Poets

The Fireside Poets were and still are an American icon. They are a superb example of romanticism style poetry. The smooth and rhythmical phrases combined with the entertaining subject matter keeps the reader and listener engaged.

The subject matter of the Fireside Poets was different from the Puritan writing style. In the Fireside Poets writings they wrote about simple things like snow fall and a ship as well as evoking emotions of pride and patriotism. In the poem “Old Ironsides” the author, Oliver Wendell Holmes, writes in a way that gives the reader an emotional connection with the battleship, the U.S.S Constitution. In the poem, Holmes writes, “Her deck, once red with hero’s blood, Where knelt the vanquished foe” (Holmes 211). This phrase gives the feeling that the ship was very victorious. It had won many battles and conquered the enemy. It was the place where many great men had fallen. Such phrases stir in the heart’s of the readers a sense of national pride. The Puritan writers use things like experiences and use them as instruction for the reader. Their writing is very faith heavy. There are many references to the providence of God. In “Of Plymouth Plantation”, written by William Bradford, there are several references to God. “I may not omit here a special work of God’s providence.” (Bradford 15) Here Bradford is saying that without the help of God, and God’s sense of humor, the man would still be bothering them. The basis for all of the Puritan writing is that everything happens for a reason and everything happens because of what God has done.

I believe that the subject matter of the Romanticism period and the Rationalism period are the same, but they are presented in different ways. In the Rationalism writings, especially Benjamin Franklin’s writings, the topic is usually a natural event, or something that happened to him or someone else. In Franklin’s autobiography he writes, “I found myself very feverish and went to bed; but having read some where that cold water drunk plentifully was good for fever, I followed the prescription and sweat plentifully most of the night. My fever left me…” (Franklin 106) These sentences show the whole idea of the Rationalism period. For everything that happened there was a scientific reason why it happened. However, Romantics’ writings were made bigger than life, elevating them to an almost mythological point. In “Old Ironsides” Holmes writes, “And give her to the god of storms, The lightning and the gale!” (Holmes 211) It seems like Holmes is putting this ship into the category of legends. Sending the ship to the “god of storms” is making the ship a sacrifice to him. Everything is made larger then life and exaggerated. The Romanticism writings also brought a feeling of emotion to the reader. “No more feel the victor’s tread, Or know the conquered knee;” (Holmes 211) The reader feels sorry for the ship. This is a strange emotion for someone to have for a ship, but that is the reason that Holmes wrote it. He wanted the ship to not be torn down.

The content of the Fireside poets are almost the same as the Puritan and Rationalism writing styles, but they are portrayed differently.

Holmes, Oliver Wendell. "Old Ironsides." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 97-99. Print.

Franklin, Benjamin. "from The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 97-99. Print.

Bradford, William. "from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 97-99. Print.