Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Lesson plans for "Paul Revere's Ride" and other poems
|Biography and Background|
|"Paul Revere's Ride"|
|Other Poems|
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Biography, links to e-texts.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Biography, portrait, and links to related sites from Wikipedia.
Longfellow’s Serenity and Poe’s Prediction
As a book reviewer and literary theorist, Edgar Allan Poe often targeted Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. This site offers primary sources / informational text related to the controversy, including remarks from contemporary critics.
Midnight Ride of Paul Revere—Fact, Fiction, and Artistic License
Students discuss and analyze how artist Grant Wood manipulated viewpoint, composition, and scale in his painting "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" to present an idealized view of history. They analyze different perspectives about this event, using primary sources such as Revere's own account of his famous ride. They also synthesize the primary and secondary source works to develop an overall sense of the events. Lesson includes access to Wood's painting and Longfellow's poem; requires Adobe Reader.
"Paul Revere's Ride"
Text of the poem.
Why Do We Remember Revere? Paul Revere's Ride in History and Literature
Students examine the historical facts of Paul Revere's ride and compare them with Longfellow's account. They form hypotheses about why Americans consider Revere's ride so important. This lesson is designed for grades 6-8.
Writing Poetry like Pros
This extensive set of lessons includes an activity using Longfellow's "Paul Revere's Ride".
"Hiawatha"
This 7-minute video is from the book Hiawatha, illustrated by Susan Jeffers, based upon Longfellow's poem.
"Hiawatha" — Identify Cultural Influences
After watching a 7-minute video of part of "The Song of Hiawatha," students identify aspects of Native American life represented in the poem and illustrations. This lesson is designed for grades 6-8.
"The Cross of Snow"
Text of the sonnet.
Sample Lesson from the Gold Book
Brief biography of Longfellow, suggestions for reading "Day is Done," "Evangeline," and "The Song of Hiawatha." Answers are included at the bottom.
"The Village Blacksmith": The Reality of a Poem
In this lesson students analyze the historical context of the poem as a way to understand its theme.
Lessons Learned from Longfellow’s Blacksmith
This blog post comes from a site called "The Art of Manliness," a tongue-in-cheek site. In its playfulness, though, it presents some valuable insights. Consider challenging students to write a similar blog in which tone and content work together as they relate a poem to their own lives.
"The Wreck of the Hesperus"
This lesson focuses on characterization, mood, conflict, and the role of allusions.
