The Great Philippe (Doesn't that sound sophisticated?)
Freneau is definitely a recognizable pre-Romantic. Just like Wheatley, however, he insists on destroying all dreams of romanticism in the last stanza.
In The Indian Battle Ground, for example, Freneau describes "The Indian, when from life releas'd/ Again is seated with his friends," in the most poetic language. He can't help but destroy the image at the end by saying, "And reason's self shall bow the knee/ To shadows and delusions here."
Freneau does the same exact thing in The Wild Honey-Suckle. He goes on and on about this pretty little flower. Then he says it dies. "For when you die you are the same." A little depressing, actually.
Those two are pretty clear. Now for the questions. In To The Memory of the Brave Americans, what does "Tis not the beauty of the morn/ That proves the evening shall be clear." I am not sure how that relates to the rest of the poem, but it sounds fairly significant.
I would also love to hear what people think of "The Republican Genius of Europe." I think Freneau is trying to say that Republicanism is overtaking the old monarchies in Europe. Like his contemporaries, Freneau probably felt that Americans were the inheritors of a new empire. They must perfect the republicanism which originated in Europe. I like the image of republican genius- "Round him terrific lightenings play/ With eyes of fire, he looks then through." Kind of scary...
Post, post, post! I promise not to demean your opinions. Or right a ridiculously long post about why you are wrong. I'm not bitter (Matt), I swear.
-Theresa
In The Indian Battle Ground, for example, Freneau describes "The Indian, when from life releas'd/ Again is seated with his friends," in the most poetic language. He can't help but destroy the image at the end by saying, "And reason's self shall bow the knee/ To shadows and delusions here."
Freneau does the same exact thing in The Wild Honey-Suckle. He goes on and on about this pretty little flower. Then he says it dies. "For when you die you are the same." A little depressing, actually.
Those two are pretty clear. Now for the questions. In To The Memory of the Brave Americans, what does "Tis not the beauty of the morn/ That proves the evening shall be clear." I am not sure how that relates to the rest of the poem, but it sounds fairly significant.
I would also love to hear what people think of "The Republican Genius of Europe." I think Freneau is trying to say that Republicanism is overtaking the old monarchies in Europe. Like his contemporaries, Freneau probably felt that Americans were the inheritors of a new empire. They must perfect the republicanism which originated in Europe. I like the image of republican genius- "Round him terrific lightenings play/ With eyes of fire, he looks then through." Kind of scary...
Post, post, post! I promise not to demean your opinions. Or right a ridiculously long post about why you are wrong. I'm not bitter (Matt), I swear.
-Theresa
posted by L Lazarow | 10:07 PM
1 Comments:
In "To The Memory of the Brave Americans," Freneau definitely uses an emotional tone, which makes him a pre-Romantic, as discussed in class today. Also, he uses a religious tone when he says, "We trust they find a happier land, A brighter sunshine of their own," because he is saying that these soldiers who died will go to heaven. He describes the retreating Britons as the "Parthian," making reference to the Parthian civilization that was in Northeastern Iran, ruled by monarchs, and eventually defeated by the ancient Romans. By comparing Britons to Parthians, Freneau is saying that Britain will not be victorious, and also pointing out that monarchies are ineffective forms of government.
"The Indian Burying Ground" shows both Neoclassic and Romantic qualities. Freneau says, "...life is spent, And not the finer essence gone," which means that the Indians might be dead, but their souls are living on and they are continuing in their daily activities. By speaking about the Indians' souls as being eternal, Freneau uses the romantic theme of the life cycle and nature. He also says, "Here still lofty rocks remain...Here still and aged elm aspires," which shows the romantic theme of nature being more powerful than humans. Even if humans are no longer above ground, nature still lives on above ground and is supreme. One important Neoclassic element of this poem is when Freneau says, "And reason's self shall bow the knee To shadows and delusions here." I believe Freneau is saying that people have reason (Neoclassic theme), and their reason is what makes them pay respect to these Indians.
In "The Wild Honey-Suckle," Freneau uses both a realistic tone by describing the life of a flower, as well as an emotional tone that the flower dies ("I grieve to see your future doom"). These two tones of rationalism and emotoinalism, make him a precurser to Romanticism. He uses a religios tone, like he used in "To The Memory of the Brave Americans," by mentioning the Garden of Eden. His religious tones are probably due to his theological training.
I agree with Theresa that "The Republican Genius of Europe" is about republicanism taking over the monarchies in Europe. Freneau not only shows republicanism as the "victorious" form of government, but characterizes monarchies as "bad" and republics as "good." He uses the word "despotic" twice, both as the second to last word in the second to last line of the first and last stanzas, which is a snarl word which immediately sends a negative felling through the reader. He parallels republicanism to "reason" and a "active, great, sublime" "Being", which are purr words that immediately send positive emotions through the reader. By relying on the emotional effect of this poem, Freneau uses a Romantic characteristic, and by placing "reason" on the side of republicanism, he uses a Neoclassic characteristic.
--Caroline
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