Video: The Song of Hiawatha | Background, Summary & Analysis

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was a romantic writer who wrote The Song of Hiawatha. He was captivated by the Native Americans and was knowledgeable about their folklore. Henry Rowe Schoolcraft and his works influenced Longfellow. Schoolcraft was an expert on Native American tribes, including the Ojibwa.

Longfellow was part of the 'Fireside Poets,' along with Oliver Wendell Holmes and John Greenleaf Whittier—both of whom were romantic poets too. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, romanticism was the primary literary style.

Summary of the Song of Hiawatha

The Song of Hiawatha is about Hiawatha, a Native American hero. The poem tells of his supernatural origin, his relationship with Minnehaha, and his magical feats. The poem is made up of 22 sections and an introduction, each containing around 60 to 115 lines.

'Hiawatha's Childhood' is the third section of the poem. This is where it is revealed that he is the son of Wenonah and West-Wind. He was an excellent athlete and an expert woodsman, plus he possessed magic too. He constructs a canoe after calling on the trees and animals to give him materials.

Hiawatha pursues the chief of Dakotahs' beautiful daughter, named Minnehaha or Laughing Water. He eventually marries her, bringing peace to both nations.

The Song of Hiawatha Analysis

The Song of Hiawatha is an epic poem, like Beowulf and The Odyssey. Epic poems revolve around a hero who reflects the principles and morals of a specific community. Beowulf was about the Great Prince's story. It narrated how he killed a monster and a dragon, then found a great treasure. Meanwhile, The Odyssey was about Odysseus and his journey home after the Trojan War.

In his poem, Longfellow used lyrical words. He also displayed the contrast between extreme happiness and heartbreaking misery. The Song of Hiawatha reflected the style and values of romanticism, more than Native American ideals.