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Library's collection Library's IT development CancelHenry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882) was very
productive to establish his achievement in literature, not only
in America, but also in England and all Europe (Wilbur, 9) . He
gave an important contribution to the important relationship
between America and European literature (Unger, 487) by producing
essays, poems, proces, dramas, lectures, and translations.
Thus, eventhough all these works cannot maintain their eminence
after 50 years of Longfellow's death and cause
Longfellowto be considered as a minor poet, he is still a
great author in the history of American and European literature
.
One of his works which actually is not his great literary
work except for political history in America is Poems on Slavery
. This anthology consists of eight poems. All poems
generally talk about the slavery. Moreover, these poems
particularly declare the sympathy and endorsement for the slave's
rights. This work, somehow, is very appealing since
Longfellow, as the "white" author, affirmed himself to probe
Afro-American people in slavery time of America.
In expressing his idea in literary works, Longfellow often
wrote something which is based on his own experience. He
used to assign all thoughts and feelings through his images.
Therefore, most of his literary works, especially poetry, used
imagery dominantly (Unger, 487). Thus, the writer tries to
probe Longfellow's idea in Poems on Slavery and its image of
reality which might be revealing the historical reality of
America. More particularly is the historical fact of endur-ance
as one of Afro-American survival techniques which is the
process of the acceptance of the African as a part of Western
culture and citizenship. (Davis, 674)
Therefore, this thesis interweaves Longfellow's idea by
analyzing the imagery which contains in Poems on Slavery.
The imagery, which is used to reflect the slave's life, is
drawn near to a real scene of this work to attain to
sociological study. As a result, the writer can figure out
the significance of this Afro-American historical life.
Finally, this thesis considers that literary works and
history can influence each other. Sometimes, literary works
can be a written record to reflect what had happened in a
certain time. Furthermore, literary works give more value to
encourage mankind to see the past as the important thing.
Actually this is one of Longfellow's point of view toward the
flow of time and the consciousness, from present to past.
(Unger, 495)