美国文学 期末考试 总结三.docVIP

美国文学 期末考试 总结三 　　1. A Psalm of Life 　　Analysis: 　　Henry Wadsworth Longfellow begins his poem “A Psalm of Life” with the same exuberance and enthusiasm that continues through most of the poem. He begs in the stanza to be told “not in mournful numbers” about life. He states here that life doesn’t abruptly end when one dies; rather, it extends into another after life. Longfellow values this dream of the afterlife immensely and seems to say that life can only be lived truly if one believes that the soul will continue to live long after the dies. in the first. Longfellow states this clearly when he writes, “And the grave is not its goal.” Meaning that, life doesn’t end for people simply because they die; there is always something more to be hopeful and optimistic for. Longfellow begins discussing how humans must live their lives in constant anticipation for the next day under the belief that it will be better than each day before it: “But to act that each to-morrow / Find us farther than to-day.” 　　In the stanza, Longfellow asserts that there is never an infinite amount of time to live, but long after its creator dies. 　　In the stanzas, Longfellow likens living in the world to fighting on a huge field of battle. 　　He believes that people should lead heroic and courageous lives and not sit idle and remain ineffectual while the world rapidly changes around them: “Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife!” His use of the word “strife” is especially interesting, since it clearly acknowledges that life is inherently difficult, is a constant struggle, and will never be easy. Longfellow then encourages everyone to have faith and trust the lord and not to rely on an unknown future to be stable and supportive. 　　2. Commentary for A Psalm of Life 　　Sensory language 　　Rhyme scheme 　　ABAB 　　Uses descriptive language 　　Uses similes 　　2. Excelsior 　　Summary: Excelsior is a poem about a traveler who had only one goal stuck into his head that was to get higher and nothi