James Russell Lowell

• He wrote [of Harvard], "During Freshman year, I did nothing, during Sophomore year I did nothing, during Junior year I did nothing, and during Senior year I have thus far done nothing in the way of college studies."

• "I was as great an ass as ever brayed & thought it singing."

• Poet Walt Whitman said: "Lowell was not a grower—he was a builder. He built poems: he didn't put in the seed, and water the seed, and send down his sun—letting the rest take care of itself: he measured his poems—kept them within formula."

• Praised by all kinds of writers of the time

Read “The Courtin’

• How is Lowell formulaic in his poem?• Explain 2 reasons for why Lowell’s poetry

would appeal to the masses? (HINT: Think style and topic here).

• Answer study and discuss questions 1 and 2 on pg. 317

“Publication---is the Auction/Of the Mind of Man”

• Didn’t write for money, fame, or publication

• Only published 7 of nearly 1800 poems while she was alive– All anonymously and some

against her wishes• Most works published

posthumously– T.W. Higginson and Mabel

Loomis Todd

Wrote “letters” to the world that described love, celebrated nature,

and personified death

Did this insightfully despite being “closed off” from the world for the

last 10 years of her life

How did she accomplish such insight?

• Perspective–Lived “outside” of her life like an observer

Her Poetry

• Traditional and unusual• Subjects are mostly the connection

between the happenings of everyday life and the world of the spirit (similar to works of older New England writers)

• Rhythms based upon the rhythms of church hymns

• Concise, informal, often abrupt• Common theme if faith, believing in

something/someone you cannot see

“This is My Letter to the World”

• Letter of introduction to her unknown readers

• Purpose---to relay the news that “Nature told”

• Request---to “judge” her “tenderly”