'Hiawatha 's Childhood' by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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Downward through the evening twilight,
In the days that are forgotten,
In the unremembered ages,
From the full moon fell Nokomis,
Fell the beautiful Nokomis,
She a wife, but not a mother.
She was sporting with her women,
Swinging in a swing of grape-vines,
When her rival the rejected,
Full of jealousy and hatred,
Cut the leafy swing asunder,
Cut in twain the twisted grape-vines,
And Nokomis fell affrighted
Downward through the evening twilight,
On the Muskoday, the meadow,
On the prairie full of blossoms.
"See! a star falls!" said the people;
"From the sky a star is falling!"
There among the ferns and mosses,
There among the prairie lilies,
On the Muskoday, the meadow,
In the moonlight and the starlight,
Fair Nokomis bore a daughter.
And she called her name Wenonah,
As the first-born of her daughters.
And the daughter of Nokomis
Grew up like the prairie lilies,
Grew a tall and slender maiden,
With the beauty of the moonlight,
With the beauty of the starlight.
And Nokomis warned her often,
Saying oft, and oft repeating,
"Oh, beware of Mudjekeewis,
Of the West-Wind, Mudjekeewis;
Listen not to what he tells you;
Lie not down upon the meadow,
Stoop not down among the lilies,
Lest the West-Wind come and harm you!"
But she heeded not the warning,
Heeded not those words of wisdom,
And the West-Wind came at evening,
Walking lightly o'er the prairie,
Whispering to the leaves and blossoms,
Bending low the flowers and grasses,
Found the beautiful Wenonah,
Lying there among the lilies,
Wooed her with his words of sweetness,
Wooed her with his soft caresses,
Till she bore a son in sorrow,
Bore a son of love and sorrow.
Thus was born my Hiawatha,
Thus was born the child of wonder;
But the daughter of Nokomis,
Hiawatha's gentle mother,
In her anguish died deserted
By the West-Wind, false and faithless,
By the heartless Mudjekeewis.
For her daughter long and loudly
Wailed and wept the sad Nokomis;
"Oh that I were dead!" she murmured,
"Oh that I were dead, as thou art!
No more work, and no more weeping,
Wahonowin! Wahonowin!"
By the shores of Gitche Gumee,
By the shining Big-Sea-Water,
Stood the wigwam of Nokomis,
Daughter of the Moon, Nokomis.
Dark behind it rose the forest,
Rose the black and gloomy pine-trees,
Rose the firs with cones upon them;
Bright before it beat the water,
Beat the clear and sunny water,
Beat the shining Big-Sea-Water.
There the wrinkled old Nokomis
Nursed the little Hiawatha,
Rocked him in his linden cradle,
Bedded soft in moss and rushes,
Safely bound with reindeer sinews;
Stilled his fretful wail by saying,
"Hush! the Naked Bear will hear thee!"
Lulled him into slumber, singing,
"Ewa-yea! my little owlet!
Who is this, that lights the wigwam?
With his great eyes lights the wigwam?
Ewa-yea! my little owlet!"
Many things Nokomis taught him
Of the stars that shine in heaven;
Showed him Ishkoodah, the comet,
Ishkoodah, with fiery tresses;
Showed the Death-Dance of the spirits,
Warriors with their plumes and war-clubs,
Flaring far away to northward
In the frosty nights of Winter;
Showed the broad white road in heaven,
Pathway of the ghosts, the shadows,
Running straight across the heavens,
Crowded with the ghosts, the shadows.
At the door on summer evenings
Sat the little Hiawatha;
Heard the whispering of the pine-trees,
Heard the lapping of the waters,
Sounds of music, words of wonder;
'Minne-wawa!" said the Pine-trees,
Mudway-aushka!" said the water.
Saw the fire-fly, Wah-wah-taysee,
Flitting through the dusk of evening,
With the twinkle of its candle
Lighting up the brakes and bushes,
And he sang the song of children,
Sang the song Nokomis taught him:
"Wah-wah-taysee, little fire-fly,
Little, flitting, white-fire insect,
Little, dancing, white-fire creature,
Light me with your little candle,
Ere upon my bed I lay me,
Ere in sleep I close my eyelids!"
Saw the moon rise from the water
Rippling, rounding from the water,
Saw the flecks and shadows on it,
Whispered, "What is that, Nokomis?"
And the good Nokomis answered:
"Once a warrior, very angry,
Seized his grandmother, and threw her
Up into the sky at midnight;
Right against the moon he threw her;
'T is her body that you see there."
Saw the rainbow in the heaven,
In the eastern sky, the rainbow,
Whispered, "What is that, Nokomis?"
And the good Nokomis answered:
"'T is the heaven of flowers you see there;
All the wild-flowers of the forest,
All the lilies of the prairie,
When on earth they fade and perish,
Blossom in that heaven above us."
When he heard the owls at midnight,
Hooting, laughing in the forest,
'What is that?" he cried in terror,
"What is that," he said, "Nokomis?"
And the good Nokomis answered:
"That is but the owl and owlet,
Talking in their native language,
Talking, scolding at each other."
Then the little Hiawatha
Learned of every bird its language,
Learned their names and all their secrets,
How they built their nests in Summer,
Where they hid themselves in Winter,
Talked with them whene'er he met them,
Called them "Hiawatha's Chickens."
Of all beasts he learned the language,
Learned their names and all their secrets,
How the beavers built their lodges,
Where the squirrels hid their acorns,
How the reindeer ran so swiftly,
Why the rabbit was so timid,
Talked with them whene'er he met them,
Called them "Hiawatha's Brothers."
Then Iagoo, the great boaster,
He the marvellous story-teller,
He the traveller and the talker,
He the friend of old Nokomis,
Made a bow for Hiawatha;
From a branch of ash he made it,
From an oak-bough made the arrows,
Tipped with flint, and winged with feathers,
And the cord he made of deer-skin.
Then he said to Hiawatha:
"Go, my son, into the forest,
Where the red deer herd together,
Kill for us a famous roebuck,
Kill for us a deer with antlers!"
Forth into the forest straightway
All alone walked Hiawatha
Proudly, with his bow and arrows;
And the birds sang round him, o'er him,
"Do not shoot us, Hiawatha!"
Sang the robin, the Opechee,
Sang the bluebird, the Owaissa,
"Do not shoot us, Hiawatha!"
Up the oak-tree, close beside him,
Sprang the squirrel, Adjidaumo,
In and out among the branches,
Coughed and chattered from the oak-tree,
Laughed, and said between his laughing,
"Do not shoot me, Hiawatha!"
And the rabbit from his pathway
Leaped aside, and at a distance
Sat erect upon his haunches,
Half in fear and half in frolic,
Saying to the little hunter,
"Do not shoot me, Hiawatha!"
But he heeded not, nor heard them,
For his thoughts were with the red deer;
On their tracks his eyes were fastened,
Leading downward to the river,
To the ford across the river,
And as one in slumber walked he.
Hidden in the alder-bushes,
There he waited till the deer came,
Till he saw two antlers lifted,
Saw two eyes look from the thicket,
Saw two nostrils point to windward,
And a deer came down the pathway,
Flecked with leafy light and shadow.
And his heart within him fluttered,
Trembled like the leaves above him,
Like the birch-leaf palpitated,
As the deer came down the pathway.
Then, upon one knee uprising,
Hiawatha aimed an arrow;
Scarce a twig moved with his motion,
Scarce a leaf was stirred or rustled,
But the wary roebuck started,
Stamped with all his hoofs together,
Listened with one foot uplifted,
Leaped as if to meet the arrow;
Ah! the singing, fatal arrow,
Like a wasp it buzzed and stung him!
Dead he lay there in the forest,
By the ford across the river;
Beat his timid heart no longer,
But the heart of Hiawatha
Throbbed and shouted and exulted,
As he bore the red deer homeward,
And Iagoo and Nokomis
Hailed his coming with applauses.
From the red deer's hide Nokomis
Made a cloak for Hiawatha,
From the red deer's flesh Nokomis
Made a banquet to his honor.
All the village came and feasted,
All the guests praised Hiawatha,
Called him Strong-Heart, Soan-ge-taha!
Called him Loon-Heart, Mahn-go-taysee!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Hiawatha's Childhood: A Study of Longfellow's Artistry
As I read Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem "Hiawatha's Childhood," I am struck by the poet's masterful use of language and imagery to create a portrait of a young boy's life. Longfellow brings to life the customs and beliefs of the Ojibwe people, interweaving them with the story of Hiawatha's growth and development. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes and motifs in "Hiawatha's Childhood," examine Longfellow's use of language and imagery, and consider the poem's place within Longfellow's body of work.
Themes and Motifs in "Hiawatha's Childhood"
"Hiawatha's Childhood" tells the story of the young Hiawatha, who is raised by his grandmother, Nokomis, in the woods of the Ojibwe people. The poem is rich with themes and motifs that explore the natural world, the importance of family and community, and the passage of time.
One of the central motifs in the poem is the natural world. Longfellow describes the woods and waters of the Ojibwe people in vivid detail, using sensory language to immerse the reader in Hiawatha's world. For example, he writes:
By the shores of Gitche Gumee, By the shining Big-Sea-Water, At the doorway of his wigwam, In the pleasant Summer morning, Hiawatha stood and waited.
Here, Longfellow paints a picture of the lake and the woods, creating a sense of peace and tranquility as Hiawatha stands and waits for his grandmother.
Another important theme in the poem is the importance of family and community. Hiawatha is raised by his grandmother, Nokomis, who teaches him the ways of their people. Longfellow writes:
From her, too, he learned the lesson Of all beauty, in behavior, Beauty in the form of virtue, In the heart-revealing manners, Beauty in the thought of wisdom, Gracious manners, noble customs, In the laws of the Great Spirit, In the rules of the Sacred Writings.
Through Nokomis's teaching, Hiawatha learns about the values and traditions of his people. He grows up to become a leader who brings his people together and promotes peace and unity.
Finally, the passage of time is an important motif in the poem. Hiawatha grows from a young boy into a man who is able to lead his people. Longfellow describes this passage of time using the image of the sun:
From the full moon fell Nokomis, Fell the beautiful Nokomis, She a wife, but not a mother. She was sporting with her women, Swinging in a swing of grape-vines, When her rival, the rejected, Full of jealousy and hatred, Cut the leafy swing asunder, Cut in twain the twisted grape-vines, And Nokomis fell affrighted Downward, downward through the ether, Thinking of her grandmother, Of the good Nokomis, fallen, Fallen all alone and helpless, Floating, sinking down the hollow, Tubes of falling water seized her, And she plunged into the lakelet, Sank down in its depths unfathomed, To the palaces of Pauguk, To the land of the Hereafter.
In this passage, Longfellow describes the death of Nokomis and her journey to the afterlife. He uses the image of the sun setting to show the passing of time and the end of Nokomis's life.
Longfellow's Use of Language and Imagery
Longfellow's use of language and imagery in "Hiawatha's Childhood" is masterful. He draws on the sounds and rhythms of Ojibwe language to create a musicality in his own writing. For example, he writes:
In the wigwam with Nokomis, With those gloomy guests that watched her, With the Famine and the Fever, She was lying, the Beloved, She, the dying Minnehaha.
Here, Longfellow uses repetition and alliteration to create a sense of rhythm and sound. The repetition of the "w" sound in "wigwam with Nokomis" creates a sense of harmony, while the repetition of "with" and "the" creates a sense of urgency and foreboding.
Longfellow's use of imagery is equally impressive. He describes the woods and waters of the Ojibwe people in vivid detail, using sensory language to create a sense of place. For example, he writes:
And the bluebird, the Owaissa, With his sweet Owaissa-singing, And the robin, the Opechee, And the whippoorwill, Wawonaissa, Sang their many songs together, In the paleness of the moonlight, Sang the songs of Hiawatha, Sang the songs of Hiawatha.
Here, Longfellow evokes the sounds of the natural world, using the names of different birds to create a sense of harmony and beauty.
"Hiawatha's Childhood" in Context
"Hiawatha's Childhood" is part of a larger collection of poems by Longfellow called The Song of Hiawatha. The collection tells the story of Hiawatha, a legendary figure in Ojibwe culture, and his role in bringing his people together and promoting peace and unity.
The Song of Hiawatha was published in 1855, at a time when Americans were becoming increasingly interested in Native American culture and history. Longfellow drew on a variety of sources for his poem, including the works of Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, a government agent who wrote extensively about Ojibwe culture and history.
While Longfellow's portrayal of Native American culture has been criticized for its romanticized and stereotypical depictions, "Hiawatha's Childhood" stands out as a powerful example of Longfellow's artistry. His use of language and imagery creates a vivid portrait of Hiawatha's world, and his exploration of themes like family, community, and the passage of time gives the poem a timeless quality.
Conclusion
In "Hiawatha's Childhood," Henry Wadsworth Longfellow showcases his mastery of language and imagery, creating a vivid and powerful portrait of a young boy's life. Through the story of Hiawatha's growth and development, Longfellow explores themes like the natural world, the importance of family and community, and the passage of time. While his portrayal of Native American culture has been criticized, "Hiawatha's Childhood" stands out as a powerful example of Longfellow's artistry, and a testament to the enduring power of poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry has always been a medium of expression for human emotions, thoughts, and experiences. One such masterpiece is "Hiawatha's Childhood" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. This classic poem is a beautiful portrayal of the childhood of Hiawatha, a Native American boy who grew up in the wilderness of North America. The poem is a part of Longfellow's epic poem "The Song of Hiawatha," which is a tribute to the Native American culture and traditions.
The poem begins with a description of the natural beauty of the wilderness where Hiawatha grew up. The author describes the "deep and dark" forests, the "mighty rivers," and the "wide and wavy prairies." The imagery used by Longfellow is vivid and powerful, and it transports the reader to the world of Hiawatha's childhood.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It is a nostalgic and wistful tone, as the author looks back on the childhood of Hiawatha with fondness and admiration. The author describes Hiawatha as a "noble child," who was "strong and fearless" even as a young boy. This sets the stage for the rest of the poem, as the reader is introduced to the character of Hiawatha and his adventures in the wilderness.
The second stanza of the poem introduces the character of Nokomis, Hiawatha's grandmother. Nokomis is a wise and loving figure in Hiawatha's life, and she teaches him about the natural world around him. She tells him stories about the animals and plants that live in the wilderness, and she teaches him how to hunt and fish. Nokomis is a nurturing and supportive figure in Hiawatha's life, and she helps him to develop a deep connection with the natural world.
The third stanza of the poem introduces the character of Mudjekeewis, the West Wind. Mudjekeewis is a powerful and mysterious figure in the poem, and he represents the forces of nature that Hiawatha must learn to respect and understand. Mudjekeewis teaches Hiawatha about the power of the wind, and he shows him how to use the wind to his advantage when hunting and fishing. Mudjekeewis is a symbol of the natural world, and he helps Hiawatha to develop a deep respect for the environment around him.
The fourth stanza of the poem introduces the character of the Red Squirrel. The Red Squirrel is a mischievous and playful character in the poem, and he represents the playful side of nature. The Red Squirrel teaches Hiawatha about the importance of play and laughter, and he helps him to develop a sense of joy and wonder in the world around him. The Red Squirrel is a symbol of the playful and joyful side of nature, and he helps Hiawatha to develop a sense of balance and harmony in his life.
The fifth stanza of the poem introduces the character of the Bear. The Bear is a powerful and majestic figure in the poem, and he represents the strength and courage that Hiawatha must develop in order to survive in the wilderness. The Bear teaches Hiawatha about the importance of strength and courage, and he helps him to develop a sense of bravery and determination in the face of adversity. The Bear is a symbol of the strength and courage that Hiawatha must develop in order to become a true warrior.
The sixth stanza of the poem introduces the character of the Deer. The Deer is a graceful and gentle figure in the poem, and she represents the beauty and grace that Hiawatha must learn to appreciate in the world around him. The Deer teaches Hiawatha about the importance of beauty and grace, and she helps him to develop a sense of appreciation for the natural world. The Deer is a symbol of the beauty and grace that Hiawatha must learn to appreciate in order to become a true warrior.
The seventh stanza of the poem brings all of these characters together in a beautiful and harmonious scene. Hiawatha is shown as a young boy, surrounded by the natural world and the creatures that inhabit it. He is shown as a strong and noble figure, who has learned to respect and appreciate the natural world around him. The scene is a beautiful portrayal of the harmony and balance that can be achieved between humans and nature.
The eighth and final stanza of the poem is a nostalgic and wistful reflection on Hiawatha's childhood. The author looks back on the adventures and experiences that Hiawatha had as a young boy, and he reflects on the lessons that Hiawatha learned from the natural world around him. The poem ends with a sense of longing and nostalgia, as the author reflects on the beauty and wonder of Hiawatha's childhood.
In conclusion, "Hiawatha's Childhood" is a beautiful and powerful poem that celebrates the natural world and the Native American culture. The poem is a tribute to the wisdom and beauty of the natural world, and it teaches us about the importance of respect, appreciation, and harmony in our relationship with nature. Longfellow's use of vivid imagery and powerful symbolism creates a world that is both magical and real, and it transports the reader to the world of Hiawatha's childhood. This poem is a timeless masterpiece that will continue to inspire and captivate readers for generations to come.
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