.A_Psalmof_Life朗费罗.ppt

A Psalm of Life By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) I. His Life Longfellow was born on February 27, 1807, to Stephen Longfellow and Zilpah (Wadsworth) Longfellow in Portland, Maine, and he grew up in what is now known as the Wadsworth-Longfellow House. Henry was enrolled in a dame school (an early form of a private elementary school in English-speaking countries. ) at the age of three and by age six was enrolled at the private Portland Academy. In the fall of 1822, the 15-year-old Longfellow enrolled at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, alongside his brother Stephen. 4. After graduating in 1825, he was offered a job as professor of modern languages at his alma mater. Then he went to Europe to study language, against the wish of his father who thought his son should become a lawyer. For 4 years, he studied languages in France, Spain, Italy, Germany and England. In Madrid, he spent time with Washington Irving and was particularly impressed by the authors work ethic. Irving encouraged the young Longfellow to pursue writing. He served as a professor of modern languages at Bowdoin College from 1829---1835. He taught modern languages at Harvard from 1836 to 1854. 9. His first marriage ended in 1835, when his wife died. In 1843, he married the daughter of a wealthy industrialist who gave him wealth, and domestic happiness. 10. He spent his last days in Cambridge. 11. He is the only American man of letters to be honored with a bust in the Poet’s Conner in Westminster. II. Contribution and Limitation Contribution He is the most important one of the “New England Poets (other poets: William Cullen Bryant, James Russell Lowell, Oliver Wendell Holmes and John Greenleaf Whittier). Based on his knowledge of European literary tradition, he became a master of sonnets and reflective lyric. He did a great service to American literature in domesticating certain forms from European literatue. His search for new forms and his efforts in co